Craved by the Wrong Volkov-Chapter 246: What is his mission

Braelyn’s POV

My breath caught as soon as I saw him. He looked different and immediately something stirred in me. It was as if I knew what was about to happen.

The man who walked into the room wasn’t Lucien Volkov but Killian Orlov.

The noise in the hall didn’t rise when the doors opened, it dulled, like the air itself shifted. Conversations lowered into murmurs, attention pulling toward the entrance in slow, curious waves. Like a celebrity had stepped in, only that it wasn’t a celebrity but the newest business titan making waves.

At first I only glanced up out of curiosity because Raphael couldn’t look away. I felt Raphael stiffen for a moment and his fist curled up like he understood what was happening. "You’ve got to be kidding me," he chuckled deeply.

Lucien walked in front of a group of executives wearing New Horizon badges. We were all given badges for the summit indicating who we were representing. He wasn’t wearing a badge.

It wasn’t just his presence that stunned me, it was the way he carried himself. Lucien had always moved with a careless kind of confidence, an effortless arrogance that made it seem like nothing in the world could truly touch him. But the man walking through those doors now felt different. He wasn’t in the shadows anymore. He had stepped into the light on purpose.

His dark suit fit like it had been tailored for war, the clean lines giving him a commanding edge the Lucien they all knew couldn’t possess.

His hair was pushed back, neatly styled with precision. Even his expression had changed. There was no teasing glint in his eyes, no lazy amusement curling at his lips. His face was calm, almost detached, like he was stepping into a room that already belonged to him.

The executives beside him weren’t leading. They were keeping pace, following him. No one approached the group and let them move forward.

A chill slid down my spine as the realization settled heavily in my chest. He wasn’t trying to stay in the shadows anymore. He wasn’t pretending. He wasn’t hiding.

He was here to declare who he was. The war was about to start.

Killian Orlov, the name that had been circling boardrooms like a ghost. The unseen force behind New Horizon’s sudden rise. The man Volkov Apex had been trying to counter for months without ever seeing his face.

Most of the people were stunned. They recognized that face as the bastard son of the Volkov family. Never in their minds could they imagine it was Killian Orlov, the man who had shaken Volkov Apex and become a nightmare.

And now he had walked straight into this summit in person. He was out in the open. That left the question. Why now?

My thoughts tangled over each other, scrambling for logic. A public reveal? A calculated power move? A humiliation planned so carefully that Raphael wouldn’t understand what was happening until it was already too late? Nothing about this felt impulsive. This felt like it was planned.

I watched him the entire walk to his row, my heart beating unevenly in my chest. Some part of me kept waiting for him to look at me, just once, to give me a sign that beneath that polished, distant exterior he was still the man I think I know. But then again, whenever he was Killian, I didn’t matter.

But he didn’t look at me, not even once.

He leaned slightly toward one of the executives beside him, saying something in a low voice, his expression remaining neutral, almost bored.

I turned my head slightly, studying Raphael from the corner of my eye. His jaw was tight, his gaze locked onto Lucien with sharp, assessing focus. It was the same look he wore when reviewing numbers before a hostile acquisition, controlled on the surface, calculating underneath.

Lucien walked past us and time froze for that moment. He glanced our way but he wasn’t looking at me, he was looking at Raphael. A small smirk curled up his lips as he whispered something to Raphael I didn’t catch, but I noticed Raphael’s fist go white.

Raphael knew something was wrong. "Interesting," he muttered. Then he clicked his teeth softly, impatience slipping through his composure. "Come," he muttered under his breath. "We’re going to our seats," he said, leading me toward our seats which we had left earlier while he was interacting with others. I followed him.

We reached our row, and Raphael stepped aside to let me enter first. I moved in on instinct, but the moment I saw the seating arrangement, my steps slowed. 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Lucien was seated in the row reserved for Volkov Apex right beside my seat. The New Horizon executives he walked in with were seated a few rows behind. I was confused why he was seated there. Wasn’t he the CEO of New Horizon? That seat was meant for a Volkov Apex delegate who was yet to arrive.

Confused, I lowered myself into the chair carefully, sitting next to him, every nerve in my body aware of the space beside me. I didn’t turn to the side. I didn’t trust myself to. My hands rested in my lap, fingers curling slightly as one question kept circling in my mind, louder than the murmurs filling the hall.

Why reveal yourself today? What games was he playing?

Raphael took his seat next to me, sandwiching me between both men, and most of the delegates settled down before the event started. "What are you doing here?" I whispered to him, not sure if Raphael heard me.

He smiled. "I am attending the summit, Viper. Is anything wrong?" he muttered, leaving me confused.

"But..." I blurted.

"Focus on the summit, Viper," he stopped me halfway.

I wanted to ask why he came in with New Horizon. Why was he sitting with Volkov Apex instead of New Horizon, but I could not ask, and besides, Lucien seemed to have no intention of answering any questions.

The summit was a blur. I could barely keep up with most of the things going on. My mind was buzzing. Toes curled, waiting for the moment.

The entire time there were curious gazes in our direction. To be more direct, beside me. They were glancing at Lucien, wondering why he came in with New Horizon. Was it just a coincidence?

It was almost impossible trying to figure out what was going on in Lucien’s mind.

Soon the award ceremony started. There was a round of applause as the host went up the stage.

The first award was the Rising Star Award. This was an award presented to executives who performed excellently and were recognized for their talent. Lucien glanced toward Raphael, a smile curling up his lips. "Who do you think will win, Raph? I hope you do, to save face for Volkov Apex," he said sincerely, but it felt like a taunt.