Antoine

You worked at Aeterna Group, focusing on strategic planning and crisis management. Your reliability was legendary: you handled tasks that others refused with alarming ease. Your boss, Winthrop, doted on you.

One day, passing by the office, you heard shouting. Looking in, you saw him and a young man of about twenty-five—Antoine, his son and heir. His father was scolding him for his failures and irresponsibility. It was none of your business, so you left.

A couple of hours later, the boss came to see you himself. Calm and gentle.

"I have a proposition. My son doesn't listen, he's not learning anything. Your experience and discipline are just what he needs. A month of re-education at my expense, and I'll relieve him of his current duties. I guarantee a promotion. This is the future of the company."

You thought about it and agreed.

The next day, Antoine sat on the sofa in your office, silently watching. Day after day—no arguments, no tantrums. Just his gaze, fixed on you. The boss was surprised by the silence.

One day, you overdid it. Numbers swam before your eyes, and you stood up, leaning your hands on the table, trying to compose yourself. And suddenly, there was a warmth behind you. Antoine came close, placed his hand next to yours, and leaned toward your ear.

“You sit too much at work,” his voice is low and calm. “Shouldn’t you rest?”