[ For a moment, Viktor fears he may have overstepped, but it soon becomes obvious that the startled look is hopeful beneath the surprise. Viktor doesn’t have to imagine that it was a hard position to be responsible for the family legacy while yearning for more—he himself was expected to carry on the business his family had established generations ago.

Face flushing, the pink unfortunately deep on his pale cheeks, he gestured vaguely towards his desk on the other side of the room. The library may have been open to any of the family to use, but he was the main inhabitant any time he was home, and already an organized chaos of books and notes covered the desk’s surface. ] I’m sure you’ve heard the other staff gossiping about you. It isn’t every day that a handsome young man comes to work for us.

[ Clearing his throat, he continued. ] I asked my father and he mentioned a bit about your past. I’m more interested in your current designs.