As per Seymour’s instruction, his office was left undisturbed. Sven had come in twice after Seymour’s death to collect important documents.
Once they were seated in the private conference room, Sven explained the history behind Dune Industry and the lifeblood of their trade. He could tell Annalise was overwhelmed with the massive information she’d digested over the last few days. He had her dossier, which was prepared by a private investigator. Annalise had been a straight-A student until the six grade—the year her father fell ill. The family moved from San Diego to Brooklyn, New York. From there her academic record plummeted. By high school, she was consistently at the bottom of her class. Since she was eleven, she had been taking on any part-time job she could find. Baby-sitting. Dog walking. Running errands for the elderly. By the age of sixteen, she started working at the grocery store. At eighteen, she added waitressing.
Sven admired her her hard work and dedication to help out her family, even if it meant sacrificing her youth.
“You know, your real name is hard to pronounce,” said Annalise. She had Seymour’s old journal in her hands. “Svaen—Svaening—“
“SvæiningR Torviksøn,” he corrected.
“That doesn’t sound like a Russian name at all.”
“Why do you think I’m Russian?”
“You’re not?”
“No. I’m Norsk. But I traveled with the Roma all across Russia from the time I was an infant.”
“Roma?”
“Most Americans call them gypsy. My parents were said to be Norwegian. I don’t remember them, since I was so young. They joined the caravans from Bergen. I was born in Petrozavodsk. During our journey I became an orphan. Then a year later, I met your uncle. I was running away from the Roma.”
“Why?”
“I think because I stole food or something. Or maybe the beatings. I was the only one who had light skin, and all the kids bullied me. Anyway, your uncle found me just when I was about to freeze to death. He saved me. Gave me food and shelter. Taught me and sent me to school. I owed him my life. Owed him where I am now.”#p#分页标题#e#
“I had no idea you had such a tough childhood. And here I thought I had a difficult life. And your name— SvæiningR, what does it mean?”
“It’s Old Norse of Sven, which means young lad.”
“Young lad? Interesting.” Annalise grinned.
Sven joined the grin. It was infectious. “But your uncle nicknamed me Skogkatt.”
“Skogkatt?”
“That means forest cat. I was a wild boy. I couldn’t sit still for long periods, and I was always into mischief.”
“Really?”
He nodded.
“How about Torviksøn? What does it mean?”
“My father’s name is Torvik, and I’m the son of Torvik, so I was named Torviksøn. It’s an old Norsk patronymic naming tradition. When I became an American citizen, I updated the spelling and shortened my name to Sven Torvik. It’s easier to pronounce and write in legal documents. I should have changed it into Steve to sound more mainstream.”
“Nah, Sven is way cooler. I wish I had an exotic-sounding name too. Annalise is so boring.”
“I must disagree with you. Annalise is a very pretty name. It’s Latin.”
“Seriously?”
“It means Graced with God’s Bounty.”
Annalise snorted. “The only thing I was graced with is my girth. I wish I was slimmer. They stop making cool looking clothes at size fourteen.”
“There’s nothing wrong with you. You are perfect the way you are.”
“So you like fat chicks?”
Let’s see. I like my woman healthy, low maintenance, adventurous eaters and festively curvy with a natural E-cup chest...” He raked his gaze on her. Yes, that’s about right.
“Don’t tell me you’ve been snooping at my lingerie drawers.”
“It is perfectly normal for a husband to know his wife’s measurements.”
“Pervy.”
He smiled.
“Anyway, I’ve always wondered if Uncle Seymour ever adopted you. You said you were his protégé. It makes more sense that he’d chose you as his successor.”
“It was his plan at the beginning, until we had a dispute.”
“Dispute? Why?”
“Let’s just say we had ideological differences, which lead me into resigning from my position in Dune Industry and starting my own company.”
“Were you on speaking term with Uncle Seymour?”
“Yes, of course. This dispute didn’t affect our personal relationship. Though I’ve always thought this arranged marriage was one of his tactics to pull me back into Dune Industry. He always wanted me to pick up where he had left.”