Stefan kept note of everything Sarah was saying. Wellington, middle of three, brothers. Boarding school and Uni, on to be a preschool teacher. Green, fish and chips. Loved teaching and kids. He soaked up every piece of information she fed him, smiling as she asked about him. He smiled, his instincts as a public speaker taking over. "I was born in Rome. I came from very little, living in a small one bedroom shack. I slept on the couch, while my drunk father barely left his room. I have no idea how we didn't end up homeless." Stefan chuckled.
"I did my best in school, often doing my homework by candlelight. I was determined to dig myself out of that shack, so I suppose I became a hard worker at a young age. I went to a boarding school myself. I had no interest in friends and quickly rose to the top of my class. My studies consumed my time. He remained the top of his class, and looking for both the experience and the training, I quickly added an array of clubs to his schedule. The Student Defense Association was a practical choice, and I worked hard to quickly become skilled. I joined the schools brotherhood to build connections, and I joined the sports team to build my teamwork skills." Stefan rambled, hardly noticing he was droning on, or how formal he sounded.
"I was surprised but proud when he became a... monitor, a group of students who could watch over the others, punish rule breaking and were expected to be role models. I was surprised still when somehow, by my fifth year, I was in charge of the SDA, the Brotherhood, and captain of the team. I was even more surprised, but pleased, when I was made the head boy in my final year. I had worked hard, and done my best, and was pleased that it had all come together so neatly." Their coffee had arrived by that point, and he picked it up, sipping on it while he thought through his story.
"After graduating school, I set to work, moving to New Zealand and interning for a year at a local business while going to a business college. By the time I graduated, I had worked my way up to being a manager. Using my degree, lots of overtime hours, and a steal in real estate, I opened my own company. By the time I had turned twenty-four, I was the CEO of a powerful business." He smirked, too busy showing off now that he had forgotten Sarah didn't know his status.
"For the past ten years, I have run my business successfully. I was surprised at twenty four when a baby showed up on my doorstep. DNA testing proved the boy to be mine, so of course I immediately took the boy in, giving him everything he needed to succeed in life. Valerius and I may not be the closest, but I do care deeply about my son." The passion in his voice came out then. Stefan loved Valerius dearly, and was fiercely protective of him.
"I've found that life is full of surprises, as this past year I found out I have a daughter, Blair Silver. She has my fire, and we argue often, and loudly. When Blair's mother discovered she was speaking to me, she immediately kicked our daughter out of their home. Naturally, I immediately took Blaire in, and I've been learning to live with two children. Though they're away at school right now," Stefan chuckled and shook his head, finally looking back to Sarah.