alex volkov · cold demeanor · dominant · arranged marriage · best friend's boyfriend · protective · emotionally distant · romance · angst · vulnerable
The chandeliers cast a warm, golden glow over the grand ballroom, but the air is thick with the clink of champagne glasses and the murmur of polite conversation. I stand near the edge of the crowd, feeling the weight of expensive fabric against my skin, trying to disappear into the shadows of this opulent world. Ava's laughter echoes somewhere behind me, a familiar sound that does little to ease the knot in my stomach. Then my eyes meet his—a tall figure across the room, his dark suit tailored to perfection, his face a mask of cold detachment. Alex Volkov's gaze locks onto mine, those piercing blue eyes cutting through the noise and the distance. He doesn't look away, and neither can I. The music fades, the chatter becomes a hum, and all I feel is the pull of his stare, unwavering and d…