In the elusive streets of Paris, Julie Delphie’s apartment was tucked away behind an alley, accessible only by a small truck. Two blocks down, there was a small roundabout, making it a secluded spot. It was a four-story building, and Julie, not very famous, had the eop floor to herself. It was magnifit, and she ehe bustling atmosphere of Paris from the fort of a charming room that suited her tastes perfectly.
-I think I like this pce, - Gwyh murmured from the terrace. Both women were enjoying the scarce winter sun, lying on makeshift beds of mattresses in a small, roofed terra with wooden beams and gss but no walls around.
-Wait until the party, the men here are handsome, and I think they’ll die when they see you—you’re stunning, - Julie remarked.
She was holding a book in her hands, her youthful, well-toned body, made to captivate men, was a breath of fresh air fwyh, who had been w, partying, and often filming ses while drunk. But that was just how the industry was.
-I'm already looking forward to it. I needed a break from LA. If I stayed there, I would’ve pletely burned out—no more men, no more wild parties, and to hell with those old bastards, - Gwyh said, taking a deep breath, while Julie observed her.
-What happened with Billy? I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit off tely, - Julie asked, sensing the awkward silend deg to break the thin ice.
-Ugh! I don’t want to talk about it. I’m pletely disappointed with everything that happened. It’s frustrating dating him—no one’s good enough for America’s man, - the blonde replied, wanting to put the matter to rest.
Remembering how she was ultimately discarded and, worse, the profound ahat surged in her heart wheopic was brought up, filled her with a sense of betrayal. She had always had everything—came from a good family and was, of course, beautiful. How could she be so easily cast aside?
Now, Billy was seen with an Italian woman—a gy one, who robably only good in bed. It athetic that he was now chasing after another woman, who articurly despicable in her behavior, most likely groveling at Billy’s feet...
'Better stay silent,' Julie thought as she admired a beautiful bck leather watch that gleamed on her wrist, a gift that had e along with a cowboy hat.
-A friend is ing over, a top model who might impress you, but be careful, she’s dangerous, - Gwyh smirked pyfully. Kate Moss was a real heartbreaker—even women weren’t immuo her extravagant allure. She was a slender blonde, with the iy of a supermodel who was fully aware of her sexuality and wielded it to the extreme.
Three women, partying and living the wildlife—it was the joy of both in postponing their work.
***
Italy was as beautiful as ever. Moniow had two residences, one in Italy, specifically in Min, Rome, and Paris, but her parents and family were from Perugia—a rural life. Her father worked in the fields on a small farm to support the family, but his real job was owning a trug pany, where all their products were sold wholesale—that was the situation.
-Perugia is the most beautiful capital there is, but right now, we ’t stay there. My family will have their hands full, but we use the studio apartment I bought not too long ago, - Monica said, who among all her properties, had a small house in Min, a one-bedroom apartment in Perugia, and while mansions and vils weren’t part of her portfolio, the runways and frequent trips to Paris and Min had prompted her to get a ft in Paris. But now her life was in California, and she was surprised at how quickly things had ged.
-Of course, your Christmas gift is in my hands. You should know that the gift I bought includes your former Min residence. You ’t escape, and we have to be ba the Uates by January 5th, - Billy ented.
She nodded, smiling. The capital of Umbria, Perugia, was a true a marvel, desigo transform and ahey strolled through museums, bundled in rge coats to ward off the cold. Monica wore a red beret, her cheeks flushed from the chill, the happiness on her face a clear sign that she was utterly ented.
From the quaint pastry shops she loved to a bar, art galleries, and the streets, Monica had a love-hate retionship with the city. It brought baostalgia, making her fet the chaotients she didn’t want for herself. And for those reasons and more, her sadness couldn’t be ignored. Even now, as an adult after many arguments, her parents' retionship has settled into a fixed aablished idea that operated through many disagreements. But it was enough for her to pay off her parents’ debt, recim their home, and add the small, abandoned barn for the winters, along with the little pond to the west that her father turned into a trout pond. Because of that, old grudges were finally smoothed over, though some still lingered.
-This apartment here was my youth residence. I started as a painter, which led me to pose for some portraits... Later, I decided to attend a few photo shoots, and it was fantastic, but in the end, I failed and ended up traveling all over Italy, - Monica reted.
They both ehe small apartment, which was cold and somewhat disahey tidied up and prepared a meal of pasta with vegetables, apanied by some water and tomato juice.
-What’s wrong? - Billy asked, stroking her cheek. The table was small, so small that their kouched, but the picturesque view from the window, with its yellowish lights in hues of red, e, and yellow, was soothing.
-I'm just nervous and pletely lost. I thought my life was sorted out on several occasions, but now I avoid those failures that stantly bothered me, - Monica replied, keeping many of her thoughts to herself. From failures in her love life to attempts at finding love, trying wasn’t a defeat, but she was left speechless.
-It's o return to where you’ve always been happy, - Billy ented.
-It was terrible. My life began with the desire to bee a wyer, but the cost was something, and it rofitable to be a full-time model. However, from there... it hasn’t gone as I wanted, and now I’m in fashion and ema—what a madness, - Monica said, emerging from her depression. She was shy, recalling how, as a child, she was intimidated by gazes and cked fiden her beauty, always indecisive and ging to her sensitive side.
She decided to turn on an old radio, whily pyed Italian music, but she frowned until she found a station pying light balds. This made her move around the room, biting her lip. Billy’s gaze was as attentive as it could be.
***
Steve Jobs leased, with his position of power he now had a voi the board. He had already dealt with all the paperwork, including with Billy on how to run the pany.
Apple’s priority was to minimize risk, and although it ainful, they had to front themselves and embarrass part of the board. They would iate the shares. For now, he uood that he couldn’t match the kid in making money, so the pertage would be split. Even when making necessary financial iions, the kid’s expansion would only increase.
-What are you doing here? - Michael Splinder, a board member who had taken leadership after being ousted from Apple, asked. Being discarded and fotten was a harsh blow.
-ing up your mess. I see you didn’t check this m’s neer, and worse, the drop in stock prices. Perfect. I would call you a plete fool, but no... you khe risk, so you only deserve the title of pletely inpetent, - Steve Jobs retorted with force, his finger jabbing into Michael’s chest. He didn’t waste time calling the previously summoned board members.
Michael’s silence spoke volumes. He was lost, pletely unsure of what to say. He even ughed, to the point that wheered, only the principal members were present.
There was an article about the copying and piracTosh processors. It was like plunging a ko his chest... but it was necessary. Billy had ehe drop, better earlier thaing the board trol it. Buying out the dissenters and cutting off the split was enough with three or four iors. But the fewer, the better.
Tim Plizt grimaced, but between the lines, Billy had offered a good price for his shares, which had dropped from four dolrs to 1.45. He bought the shares at three dolrs but missed the opportunity to sell.
Gary Strader entered, sweating, alongside Michael Splinter, who was being held by the neck.
...