Hours slipped away as Andrei stood to watch over his father's work routine. Ministers at a cabinet-level would enter the room and discuss policies with his father, briefing him on reports. Andrei's eyes followed his father's every move, entranced by how effortlessly he managed it all in a cool and composed manner.
Occasionally, Alexander would speak on the telephone in a different language, fluidly and flawlessly communicating with the person on the other end. Andrei was in awe of his father's linguistic skills and yearned to surpass him one day.
The weight of the expectations placed upon Alexander's successor was not lost on Andrei. He knew that it would be a monumental task to fill his father's shoes and that anything less than excellence would be unacceptable.
