The Pakhan’s Haunted Heart

Chapter 02

**Alessia**

AFTER many weeks of planning and interminably arguing about the best placement, the exhibition was finally ready. Natalya dropped onto the nearest bench and kicked off her heels with a sigh of relief. A few curls hung at her temples, and exhaustion showed on her face.

“Congratulations team,” I said as my eyes traced the line of sculptures that now stood proudly in the center. “We did it.”

Andrei groaned and slumped beside Natalya. “I can’t feel my legs anymore but yes, we did it.” He let out a breath, then added dryly. “And oh, if anyone asks why that painting is tilted, say it’s intentional—symbolic of the instability of modern life.”

Natalya snorted. “Symbolic? Oh, please. You just don’t know how to use a level.”

A soft chuckle slipped from me. The Annual Acquisition Exhibit would open tomorrow so we had to make sure everything would go smoothly—from the labels and the sequence of acquisition to the lighting and every other detail in between. There was no room for error.

“We should start cleaning up if we want to get home already,” I suggested.

Natalya groaned before she got to her feet to help me clean up. “Let’s get this done quickly. If I stay here longer, I’m going to start hallucinating conversations with the artifacts.”

“Well, that wouldn’t be bad.” I glanced over at Natalya, and I couldn’t help laughing when I saw the ‘are you serious’ look on her face. “Come on, you didn’t have to take it seriously.”

Natalya rolled her eyes, a sigh slipping past her lips. “I wonder if Kael is starting to question whether you love your work more than him,” she said, half-teasing, half-concern. “Because look at you—still here, surrounded by these display pieces.”

“I was thinking the same,” Andrei chimed in. “Honestly, at this point, I’m pretty sure this exhibit has more romantic moments with you than Kael does.”

I snorted, but Natalya just came closer and whispered, “He’s probably at home right now, staring at the door like a sad golden retriever. Waiting for you to come home.”

I threw my hands up, laughing in disbelief. “Oh, come on guys. I think this tiredness is getting to you. Both of you are saying the craziest things.”

Andrei smirked, raising an eyebrow. “Crazy? Maybe. But not entirely untrue.”

Natalya nudged me lightly with her elbow. “See? Even Andrei agrees.”

I groaned, shaking my head, though I couldn’t hide the smile tugging at my lips. “Alright, alright. Enough of this nonsense and let’s keep cleaning up, or we’ll be stuck here until morning.”

Andrei adjusted his glasses as he checked the final labels one last time. “Anyway, I’m hoping tomorrow goes well.” He glanced at me over his shoulder. “Think we’ll get a lot of visitors?”

“Of course,” I replied as I looked around the exhibit hall. “We wouldn’t be working hard like this if there wouldn’t be, right? And with the kind of pieces on display, people will be curious.”

Natalya hummed, a faint crease forming between her brows. “Well, I heard a lot of wealthy and influential people will attend the exhibit tomorrow. That includes him.”

I shot Natalya a questioning look. “Him?”

“Oh, you don’t know? I’m talking about—”

Before she could finish, the door swung open with a loud click. We both stopped in our tracks.

It was Kael, to my surprise. He was standing there, one hand still on the doorknob, his brows furrowed as his eyes roamed the messy room and then at me. A lopsided smile tugged at his lips.

“I hope I’m not interrupting anything… chaotic,” he teased, his gaze flicking between the three of us. “I’m here to pick you up, Alessia. But looks like you guys need some help?”

“Oh, great timing, Kael!” Andrei chimed in. “We could definitely use some extra hands tidying up this place.”

“We’re almost done,” I said, though it didn’t sound very convincing.

Kael stepped further into the room while he rolled up his sleeves. “Almost done,” he echoed. There was a note of amusement in his voice. “You mean at least another hour?”

“Well…” I shrugged, unable to argue with Kael.

“Thought so,” he said, a quiet chuckle escaping him as he glanced around. “Alright, where do you need me?”

“Help me here,” Andrei said.

Kael nodded and followed him. “Got it.”

“I’m envious. I wonder where I could meet someone like Kael,” Natalya remarked, her eyes narrowing with a playful glint. “You are really spoiled, I must say.”

I tried to suppress a smile, shaking my head as I turned back to cleaning. Whatever we had been talking about earlier was quickly forgotten.

THE ROOM went silent in an instant as Mr. Leonid, the Museum Director stepped forward, adjusting the microphone. All eyes turned toward him.

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen,” he began. “On behalf of the museum, I’m honored to welcome you to the opening of our newest acquisition exhibit.”

My gaze drifted across the room as Mr. Leonid spoke, watching the expressions of our guests. Curiosity and admiration were evident on their faces. Then the director’s voice cut through my thoughts as he began giving his thanks to the team for the work we had done.

I exhaled softly, forcing a small, composed smile as a few heads turned in our direction. Another round of applause swept through the hall. Beside me, Andrei adjusted his eyeglasses, clearly uncomfortable with the sudden attention given to us.

“And now,” Mr. Leonid concluded, smiling faintly. “We invite you all to explore the pieces, to appreciate their craftmanship, and perhaps, to uncover the stories hidden within each one.”

As he stepped away from the microphone, the guests began moving, talking quietly as they admired the displays. I let out a slow breath I hadn’t noticed I’d been holding.

“Well, this is it,” Natalya murmured.

I nodded. This would be my first annual acquisition since I started working at the museum. And with the responsibility of organizing the event entrusted to us, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of anxiety. But seeing how the guests were enjoying the exhibit, I realized there was no need for me to worry.

Everything looked perfect.

But then I noticed a subtle shift in the room. A couple of people looked toward the entrance, and I followed their gaze.

A man clad in a dark tailored suit stepped in calmly, carrying himself with confidence and authority. His presence didn’t demand attention, it simply took it. Conversations faltered, not entirely, but just enough for everyone to take notice. People turned their heads, and their eyes stayed on him. Anyone, even I, who didn’t know his name, could instinctively tell that he was someone important.

“Well,” Natalya murmured, barely concealing her amusement. “Speaking of the devil.”

I shot her a brief look before returning my gaze to the man. My eyes glued on him even though I tried not to.

“Who is he?” I asked.

“Dmitri Volkov,” Natalya answered. “He’s a wealthy man, of course. Considering that he owns a major construction company in the city. But there are rumors circulating that he’s involved with the mafia, and that his firm is merely a cover for his illicit dealings.”

Dmitri walked through the gallery slowly, his attention drifting from one display to the next. Then he stopped before a painting, tilting his head slightly as he examined it.

“Do you think our director is also involved with the mafia? Does he do shady transactions with them too?”

I laughed. “I didn’t know you’re the type of person who actually believes rumors without actually checking if they’re true.”

A staff member passed by, greeting him politely. He acknowledged it with a brief nod.

“He doesn’t look like a bad guy,” I added, my gaze still fixed on him. “Maybe he’s just here to check on the exhibits.”

Natalya hummed, still unconvinced. “That’s what they always look like, you know.”

I didn’t respond. Dmitri stepped closer to the painting and looked at it carefully, not with admiration but with scrutiny. His gaze moved briefly to the label, then to the frame, staring at it a little longer before looking away. It was as if he was checking for something.

My phone vibrated in my pocket. I pulled it out and checked on the caller ID—it was Kael.

“Hey,” I said, a smile slipping. “Are you still coming over?”

“Of course,” he answered. “I wouldn’t miss something you worked so hard on. I’ll be there in just a few minutes.”

“Alright,” I said softly before ending the call.

“Was that Kael?” Natalya asked. “Is he still coming ?”

I nodded. “Yes. He’s already on the way and will be here in a few minutes.”

I glanced at the man again. He was still there, his gaze fixed on the painting. “Do you think he’s interested in that painting?” I asked.

Before Natalya could answer, I was already heading toward him. I heard her call my name behind me, a note of warning in her voice, but I ignored her.

“Enjoying the exhibit?” I asked as I came to a stop beside him. I kept my tone light and professional.

For a moment, he didn’t answer me. His gaze remained fixed on the painting in front of him—The Last Bloom of Aurelia.

“Mostly,” he said finally, his voice almost a whisper.

Then he turned.

Our eyes met, and something in his expression shifted. A look of disbelief flickered across his face. He stared at me as if he had seen a ghost.

“Alyona?”