Page 66 of The Heart of Winter

His tone was so formal, it felt like I was speaking to a bureaucrat. I stared at my hands for a moment.

"Unfortunately, my father hopes I will be a good future heir of DevApp."

Winter raised a single brow. "Is that a problem?"

I scoffed slightly, mirroring his expression.

"I think it’s unfair. Why me? Why not you? You’re far more capable, far more dedicated to this company, and far more deserving. That’s how things should work."

I immediately sensed Winter’s slight surprise. It was like something shifted in his energy, he furrowed his brows, thinking deeply for a moment.

Then, avoiding my gaze, he said, almost… softly?!

"Sariel, I assure you, I wouldn’t have suggested taking you if I didn’t see potential in you. I was shocked that you worked so hard, and the mock-up you created… Some of Werner’s designs are not that detailed, that well-researched, so inventive. I can see how creative your mind is. I think you should continue growing in this field, if you enjoy it. Your father mentioned that you struggled for a long time with your plans for the future, since your interests are somewhat interdisciplinary. And with fields like that, the early stages are never easy. It requires a lot of self-learning, and you clearly did it… Also, you have a knack for it. Which is even better. It would be a great waste of your potential to keep doing silly icons."

Now our eyes met. God, that pleasant shiver down my back, it was blissful. I stayed silent, almost hypnotized, as I immersed myself in his silver irises. I could remain like this forever. Looking at him was… intoxicating.

The scene felt like a painting, the light from the window cast a soft aura around him, a delicate silvery glow, like the sky outside. His hair shimmered with the softness of silk. His skin was pale as alabaster, his lips resembled peony petals.

He didn’t look thirty-four. If I didn’t know his age, I’d have guessed twenty-six, maybe.

Slowly, I stood up.

Winter blinked, slightly startled, as I leisurely walked over to the window and looked outside. Moving around so freely in my director’s office could definitely be seen as a form of arrogance, or even outright audacity.

But, interestingly enough, he also stood up and walked over to the window.

Now we were both staring down at the city below. A light drizzle fell once again. A thin layer of mist clung to the skyscrapers at this height.

"Did you always want to be a programmer?" I wasn’t sure why I asked. Maybe because I wanted to extend our time together. Maybe because I genuinely wanted to know him better.

Winter’s light eyes remained fixed on the city skyline.

"No. I wanted to study music. I come from a family of musicians, we all played instruments. But something happened that changed everything. My older brother ran away from home… with a much older man."

"I'm sorry. That had to be hard for your parents."

His voice remained calm, but there was a heaviness behind it.

"Yes. After that, a shadow fell over our house. The jam sessions that used to be a regular thing just… stopped. My father and Dad couldn’t bring themselves to organize them anymore. And for a year or two after River left, not much music was played in our home. I’d always been good at math, and eventually, I realized, I didn’t have the heart for music anymore either. So I chose a different path, one that felt more secure."

I stayed silent for a moment before asking, "What did you play?"

"A few instruments. But my favorites were bass and piano."

"Sounds so cool. I wish I could hear you play."

Winter didn’t respond.

"Musical and mathematical talents often go hand in hand," I murmured, casting him a brief glance, trying to picture him slapping a bass.

"That’s true. A few of my brothers are programmers, Skye and Rain. And one cousin, Nathaniel. Two are musicians by profession. And the other two… well, they do something else."

"Do you like programming?"

Winter let out a sound, almost like he was exhaling sharply.

"Yes, I do. I’ve always had a mathematical mind. Since I’m a director, I have less time for it, but I still do some coding here and there, just to stay connected to our products. To know everything I need to when talking to clients."

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