Page 2 of Mister Stark

I was left in shock by the turn of events and the introduction of Dylan Stark. I had no idea Mr. Stark even had a son, or that his son helped him run his billion-dollar business. It was a piece of information I missed. Either I was so caught up in Daxon Stark’s brilliance, or it was possible he kept Dylan out of the public eye. But the media was cutthroat and the odds of that were low.

I was too consumed by his dad.

Sure, Mr. Daxon Stark was rich, famous, single and extremely good looking for his age, but that wasn’t what drew me to him. I was drawn to his intelligence and the way he had built his company from the ground up. Everything about his brilliant mind fascinated me, and I had to learn more. He was easy on the eyes, but Mr. Stark has other attributes I was far more interested in. Especially if his skills helped me figure out my big dream.

The auditorium filled with a welcoming applause as Mr. Dylan Stark took to the podium and adjusted the microphone to reach his height. His father was about the same height as him. He was not that much older than me and I wouldn’t doubt we were the same age. He cleared his throat, but didn’t appear at all nervous as he smiled a mouthwatering smile and pushed back his brown hair. His gaze fell over the audience and my heart leapt into my throat. Mr. Dylan Stark was a heartthrob and a complete hunk. Not to mention he was filthy rich because of his dad.

“It’s a pleasure to be here. I’m Dylan Stark and I’m thrilled to be leading this lecture today for all eager business-minded alike.” Dylan introduced himself and fixed his black tie. “There will be many of you who take this lecture seriously and for some of you it will be a stepping stone towards another path in your life.”

His serious eyes gazed over each one of us, and I could swear I felt him look deep into my soul. His message was clear and his dark eyes made the statement firm. This was a make it or break it moment and I intended to hang on for the journey.

“The business world is ruthless. It’s cutthroat, cold and calculated. Each step forward could be a step back. One day, you could be on top of the world and the next lost in space.” Dylan said as his tone appeared wise and in charge. “But one thing I’ve learned is that perseverance is the key to success and after that it doesn’t stop coming because you’ve finally broken through in the business world.”

I twirled strands of hair between my fingers and got lost in the lecture. The talk of the right attitude, business and money. His wisdom at such a young age, and his voice completely took me. The depth of tone was rich and smooth like chocolate. The layers melted inside my ears and created a heavenly tune. I could get lost in the sound of it for days and never come back.

I bit the pen cap between my teeth and wished I could bite into him just like every other woman in this auditorium. Dylan Stark fascinated me, and he left me in awe. His brilliant words were just like his father’s and I was sure he learned so much from the best. I know I had, and I was not even related to him. I would give anything to be close to these fascinating men and see a glimpse inside their world. But I was a nobody business student and everything I did would have to start from the ground up.

Just like Dylan’s father.

Minutes turned into an hour, but I didn’t realize until I glanced down at my watch when Dylan took a sip of water. He excused himself for a moment and I watched as his Adam's apple bopped in his throat. The liquid cleared a path for his voice to return, but he gestured over towards the chairs in front of him before he continued.

“I would now like to introduce you to someone who started D.S. Industries. Many of you may know him for his tremendous success in the business world and his motto to always be on top. Not to mention his face on every magazine cover.” Dylan chuckled as the crowd did the same and I admired the sweet sound of it. “My father, Mr. Daxon Stark of D.S. Industries.”

Mr. Stark’s salt and pepper hair caught my eye as the crowd applauded. He was poised and ready to take charge. He fixed his tie, got to the front of the podium, and shook his son’s hand. I saw him whisper something in Dylan’s ear. I wished I could hear every word as Dylan kept a straight face, but left the front of the room.

It was Daxon Stark’s turn to be front and centre, and after my first impression, I knew this would be strictly about business. There was no room for error in Mr. Stark’s eyes and his intense glare roamed across the room. The heat fused and everyone would surrender to it. They would follow his every command because Daxon Stark was the leader. He knew it; he breathed it and he lived it. No one was better than him, and he made sure everyone in the room understood.

“Thank you, son, for the introduction, but Dylan explained the business world like a professional. He has lived in the eyes of it all from birth and I’ve ensured he knows everything there is to know. The world of business is a lonely place and you have to learn how to adapt on your own. You need to have the patience and perseverance to keep your business afloat. If you don’t, then your days are numbered. There are always more eager businesses in the world that would kill to have what you do. So, once you’re on top, you’ll do anything to keep it that way.” Mr. Stark said as his deep stare overlooked the audience and he glanced down at his expensive wristwatch. “But there’s not much more for me to say. Time is money and money is time. If you have questions, I’ll be happy to answer them for you here at the front.”

And with that, the most critical session of my life ended.

The lecture could be repeated, and I could stay lost in their world forever. I could mesh into their world repeatedly, but Mr. Stark’s wise words hung in the air. Time is money and money is time. If I wanted to earn money, I had to invest my time. My internal clock was dead set on meeting Mr. Dylan Stark.

But I’d have to meet his bossy dad all over again.

TWO

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