63

GABRIEL
Exclusive still had a reputation for interviewing well-known individuals, so I still had to make a positive appearance for my brand.
“Exclusive is lucky to have the pleasure of having you here, Mr. Stark. First of all, thank you very much for inviting us here,” Carla began.
I nodded. “You’re welcome. It’s my pleasure,” I answered.
“As much as possible, we aim to build a good relationship here between Exclusive and Stark Apparel, so we are going to make this a fun day for everyone. Are you ready, Mr. Stark?”
The only fun I will have today is when this is finally over. “Sure, Carla, Whenever you are ready.”
“Okay. So…” She shifted her leg to the other side. “Everyone already knows that the Stark family is one of the elites of Manhattan, but we never really saw the real face of Gabriel Stark, and this is a great opportunity to see a side of you that we have not yet seen. You play tennis, too, Mr. Stark. Is this another of your dreams that have yet to come true? Becoming a tennis star?”
I chuckled. “Uh, no. I like sports, but I couldn’t see myself standing by the net, but around art all the time, Miss Garner. It is a hobby I shared with my father, Elazar Stark.”
“For a hobby, you are very good at the sport,” she praised. “Tell us about the new venture we should expect at Stark Apparel this year.”
“We are collaborating with a Spanish and a brilliant Italian designer, but the name is still a secret. It’s a surprise, but of course, it is something to be expected from the brand,” I went on. I might as well use this marketing opportunity. “We’ve finally got to see another fusion of my brand together with those famous fashion designers. We certainly have something to look forward to in the coming season.”
Carla nodded. “This is for the winter collection, is it?”
“Yes, correct.” I grinned at her as if I didn’t loathe her.
“Can we also expect another big fashion show in history?”
“Stark Apparel always works for the best,” I answered.
“Shall we take that as a yes?” She grinned back, looking around the crowd and into the camera. “Last year’s fashion show in Paris was a bomb. Maybe we can witness much bigger with the two “still” unnamed famous fashion designers on the line. Did you hear that, Stark Apparel fans? We definitely have something to look forward to.”
She faced me again and continued.
“The Stark Apparel’s success is something everyone admires about the name Gabriel Stark. People chase a position in your company for the opportunities your company creates. Companies in the same industry around you have something to be worried about. How do you keep up and maintain this enormously positive reputation? Do you have a secret weapon?
“It’s not a secret anymore if I tell you,” I meant it as a joke and laughed. “There’s no secret weapon, Carla. It’s hard work, trust, loyalty, and importance to the people who work in the company. The employees love working at my firm because we have fun. Lots of fun. Like this,” I said, referring to the annual sports Fest and like. “Pressure is something unavoidable in the workplace, but I make sure we are all compensated, and we don’t just stick with tradition. We do something new. We listen to each other. We collaborate. We all grow together.”
My employees behind the camera applauded once more and shouted my name in praise.
“Looks like your employees love you, Mr. Stark,” she said with a beaming smile across her face.
“Oh, I can say the same. It’s what my father would always tell me. Give importance to the people who give their all to their job. I always make sure their profiles are something they can be proud of when they wish to seek their own dream. I believe a person does well in his work when he is valued.”
I finally spotted my angel in the crowd, who was smiling sweetly at me. I stole a smile back.
“Very well said, Mr. Stark. I hope everyone out there is listening to what makes a good boss,” she glanced at the paper she was holding. “Now that we heard what we really wanted to know about Stark Apparel, you don’t mind if we get a little bit personal, right, Mr. Stark?”
“Sure.” I nodded. “No problem, Carla.”
“You seem like a person of value, Mr. Stark. Is this something you learned from your father, Mr. Elazar Stark?”
“My father is many things, and that includes his values, so yes, he’s always been my life coach, and he’s a hundred times better than me.” I laughed softly. “But don’t forget my mother. She’s two hundred times better.”
Everyone in the crowd laughed.
“Do you wish to be like him?” Carla asked.
“Who doesn’t wish to become like Elazar Stark?” I looked at the crowd. “But he’d always tell me, have my own identity. That’s why I built my own venture.”
“Your footsteps are definitely worth following, Mr. Stark,” she remarked. “But I think we shouldn’t let the people hang—including the girls. This is actually what everyone is waiting for!”
Carla should be given a trophy for maintaining cheerful composure. I give her credit for that. She could be an actress if she wanted. I remember she manipulated me with her acts and lies.
Though one can play a game.
I laughed at her statement. “Why do I get the feeling that I know what you’re going to ask?”
“Because it probably is!” she giggled. “So, tell me, Mr. Stark, because we are very curious. Do you have someone important in your life that inspires you?”
“I believe everyone has someone important in their lives, Carla.” I shifted my body in front and looked up to see Audrey’s beautiful face, and the smile on her face had spread even lovelier.
She grinned. “Shall we also take that as a yes?”
“I can’t also say no,” I admitted.
An ‘aw’ reverberated across the place.
“Wow, wow, wow! That’s exclusively coming from Gabriel Stark himself. I told you, this is juicy news!” She looked at the camera and then back to me. “After all those rumors about you dating many famous women, we finally have an answer.”
“Because I don’t answer to rumors, Carla,” I pointed.
She cleared her throat. “Then I guess you aren’t open to disclosing a name. But this isn’t Francesca Moretti, the tennis star we are talking about, right?”
I chuckled. “No, we’re just friends. Please. France is a close friend of mine.”
“We believe so too.” She smiled again. “Thank you very much for answering all those questions Mr. Stark,” she said. “But that isn’t where the interview ends. We are going to entertain one question coming from an audience. Let’s invite her here. I think she is one of your guests.”
A young woman stepped forward, and one of Carla’s men gave her a microphone.
“Hi lovely, what is your name?” Carla asked her.
“I’m Gem, and I work in LA Hazel Textiles,” she answered.
“Oh wow. Brave young employee,” Carla commented.
“Ask away, Gem,” I said. Hazel textile was one of our contractor partners of premium fabrics providers.
“You two have been engaged before, Carla Garner and Gabriel Stark. Did you get back together?” she asked without hesitation. “That’s the question.”
I was momentarily stunned. “Let’s remain professional here,” I answered and sighed. “And let’s not talk about old news, okay?”
Someone from the crowd shouted. ”But you look good together!”
“Isn’t Carla Garner who you are talking about?”
“When did you two become engaged?”
“Is this interview finally a start-over?!” another one screamed that I saw her talking to earlier.
I slipped a glance at Carla, who seemed to be enjoying this, smiling sheepishly at me. Did she just press this on me? I knew she was always up to something because my employee would never do this to me, and she was fucking airing this life!
I looked for Audrey again, who seemed to be hiding her eyes in an awkward stance.
Fuck!
“Actually, I’d like to answer the previous question,” I said and shot a stern gaze at Carla, and the smile across her face faded.
“Let’s hear it, Mr. Stark,” she forcibly said.
“I do have a girlfriend. She is here. I don’t want to upset her, so let’s stop it now. Thank you.”
This was why I couldn’t have her in secret anymore. I was done with that. I set my eyes back in Audrey’s direction, and she was looking back at me with wide eyes.
I sprang up and walked in her direction and stopped at the ground where she was standing,
“Come here, angel.” I offered a hand to her, and every eye around us swung in her direction. I didn’t care.
“What are you doing?” she mouthed unbelievably and tried to hide her face.
“Just come.”
She stared back at me, unmoving.
I cocked my head to the side, signaling her again to come with me. But she couldn’t respond, so I just grabbed her hand and took her away.