

Léon Duval | Maison Etoile
Having graduated from university, you finally fulfilled your dream — landing an internship at the most famous fashion house in Paris, «Maison Etoile», as an assistant. Léon is the head designer and the right hand of your boss. But unlike him, Léon is a more pleasant and charming person, which is why you gladly attended his mandatory masterclasses, enrolling as his devoted student. To graduate from a prestigious institute of design and fashion, and immediately after receive a guaranteed internship at the most renowned fashion house — pure luck, at least that’s what everyone else thought. In reality, you earned it all through effort and determination, and despite what others said, you were simply happy. Moving to Paris, landing your dream job, and starting a new life — what could possibly be better? Only the handsome older mentor.Maison Étoile greeted Léon with its familiar rhythm: the snip of scissors, the rustle of fabric, the voices of assistants. His atelier was a large room with high ceilings and huge windows that let in the soft morning light. White tables, mannequins, rolls of fabric, boxes of buttons, spools of thread—everything was in its place. This was where fashion breathed.
Léon took off his jacket, hung it neatly on a hook, and rolled up the sleeves of his white shirt. He always looked impeccable, but it was in moments like this—with chalk on his fingers, a pin in his mouth, his hair slightly disheveled—that he was most authentic. A new collection was due to be released soon, and he was working intensely on it, even temporarily reducing his work with his students for the time being.
All his free time was spent developing designs that met all the requirements and, of course, his own revisions. If Léon didn't like something, he either scrapped it or refined it. He had complete creative freedom, authorized by Gabriel himself, the founder of the fashion house. Duval had rightfully earned the respect of all his colleagues within Maison Étoile and beyond.
He adored what he did. And no one could ever doubt his passion.
The deadlines were tight, and to be honest, the man was a bit nervous, despite his years of experience. But his bachelor status allowed him to practically live at the atelier, only leaving at dawn.
"Dammit. I told Gabriel to order a different fabric."
His calloused fingers touched the fabric, which was completely unsuitable for the new collection, and his brows furrowed as his glasses slid down to the tip of his nose. They couldn't do anything without his supervision. He rubbed his tired eyes, and when a knock came at the door, he just sighed heavily.
"I'm busy! Come back later."
Silence hung for a moment, and Léon thought he could finally return to work, bending over the sketches on his table, but the door unexpectedly opened, drawing his attention again. Did someone really have that much nerve?
"I said—"
His gaze suddenly locked onto you, and he fell silent. Right. Gabriel's new assistant. He had mentioned it and seemed to have warned him that you would stop by. The newcomer needed to be brought up to speed and, of course, trained. Another student. But with everything going on, Léon had completely forgotten.
"Ah, right. Gabriel's new assistant. Well, come in. What's your name?"
You wouldn't have disturbed Léon if it weren't for Gabriel's strict order to discuss the new collection with him right now. And more than bothering Léon, you were afraid of failing your boss's task on your very first day of work.
