1
The Garcias were held in reverance, not the plastic reverance that graced neither the red carpet, nor the cheap reverance directors showed to A-Class artists. No. This reverance came from hearts that were truly in awe. The Garcias had overtaken the cinema industry in a mere five year span. Anthony Garcia was now one of the richest men in the world, head of Aurastudios, the most successful studio in over fifty years, a position that had firmly rooted him into the soil of politics, power and influence. His wife Camilla, the lovely Italian supermodel whose career seemed far from over, still flashed on the covers of Time, Vogue, Mode and Elle. 2
The Garcias, hence, had nearly everything they desired and in the winter of 1990, they had been graced with a beautiful son. Alessio, they named him, meaning 'the defender'. Alessio turned out to be a spitting image of his father: the same rugged but handsome looks, sharp, clear eyes and a charming good-natured smile. Alessio thought he had a lovely childhood. Busy as his parents were, they found time for him. He registered into a private school in Beverly Hills. He thought it was futile. He would of course, be inheriting Anthony's studio, but his father would have none of it. His son would not be some spineless, doddery boy - he would be a businessman to the bone. And for that, he had to study. 3
Alessio was a good child: never greedy, sometimes clever, but always obedient. His mother was an educated model, and she raised him well. His father, though he had no formal education, was a hard-lined disciplinarian but a loving role model too. So, Alessio shaped out as his parents had dreamed. 4
Money gave them time to spend with their son and it gave Alessio everything he needed.5
So, life continued for him in a manner of perfection. Until his seventeenth birthday. That was the day everything changed.6
29th December dawned clear and crisp and cold. That morning, while the Garcia family took breakfast in the kitchen of their hundred-million-dollar estate house (somehow Anthony and Camilla had never made use of their three dinning rooms), Alessio laughed out aloud. There, at the bottom of his milkshake glass, was what could only be percieved as a set of car keys. 7
Typical, he thought. His mother and father loved surprising their son and he loved being surprised. 8
"Awesome, you guys," he said, fervently shaking the keys out and kissing them. 9
"Wait till you see the rest," said Camilla, winking. Even in the early morning, she looked trimmed and sexy, her red hair like flaming copper, rested gracefully on the shoulders of her pale-gold Gucci dress. 10
"Aha! Come one, kiddo," Anthony said, smiling slyly. They left the kitchen and made their way to the front lawns. 11
The moment he looked outside, Alessio's mouth dropped open. There, gleaming in the sunlight like a star-speckled, glorious monument of perfection was a Bugatti Veyron, Alessio's million-dollar baby. The sides were like gleaming silver, with an incandescent black streak in the middle. Alessio thought he was about to faint. He looked at his parents and gave them a quick hug then rushed over to the car, still feeling this was some euphoric dream. 12
"I love you guys," he said, pulling the car door open. The inside was lush, hand-knit leather, imported and crafted with skill unmatched. It still had that faint smell of newness. Fresh from the industry, through Alessio.13
He started the car and the soft hum of the engine was like music to his ears. It felt great. 14
Little did he know that later this day, his life would change forever. 15
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Elated beyond his imagination, the first call Alessio made was to his girlfriend, daughter of the Grammy-winning Rapper Carlos Hummingway. 19
"Hey babe, Julie, guess who just got a brand new Bugatti?" 20
"Yes, a Veyron."21
"I am not shitting you."22
"Dead serious!" 23
"Ahan, you wanna go for a cruise?" 24
"Be there in a few minutes."25
"Fine."26
"Please, don't -"27
"Oh - ah! Fine, lub' you two, happy?"28
He snapped the mobile shut, grinning still. Life was so good. 29
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*31
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Alessio liked Julie for several reasons, all of them ultimately boiling down to how great her ass looked. She was half-black from her father's side, with angled eyes and a hot body. Though she was not a simple girl, Alessio liked her. He drove to her house, almost at a crawling speed and went straight up to her room, only to find her sitting on her bed in pyjamas screaming at her pet parrot, a naughty snob of a bird. 33
"Beer tastes funny. Beer tastes funny. Beer. Beer. Beer." It croaked loudly. 34
"No, you idiot! Oh god!" Julie screamed. 35
"What's wrong?" Alessio asked. 36
"What's wrong? The bloody thing is broken is what's wrong!" she shrieked. 37
Oh god, thought Alessio. Another rich-girl tantrum. 38
"The thing keeps saying beer!"39
"So?"40
"So? Oh my god, so?"41
"Yea, so?"42
"Look at this face, Leo, look at it! This face cannot have a pet that says beer!"43
Alessio felt like kicking himself. And he was dating this. But nothing could tamper with his mood, he was still happy, though mildly confused. 44
"Just, let it go, Julie," 45
But Julie was not even listening. She strode to her closet and pried it open, taking out a mountain-load of clothes. Small, expensive dresses from Prada and Versace. Casual Abercrombie's. Matching purses and a hundred belts by Gucci. Julie took a bundle and levelled it to the parrot's eyes. 46
"Say Prada!"47
"Say Gucci!"48
"Say fuckin' Hollister!"49
The parrot was silent and then opened its mouth and said, "Beer."50
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Alessio quietly slipped out of her room, leaving the air of insanity behind him, taking it all in with good humor. Julir needed some time alone. Whatever happened up there, Alessio knew he would never see poor Mika the Parrot again. He started the car again and cruised around Hollywood, smirking at the people that looked at him with envious eyes. A Bugatti Veyron could pry a man's look away from a naked woman. 54
The afternoon whizzed by and soon drowning sun hued the sky. Alessio had taken two rounds around Hollywood, enjoying the wonderful sights of the elegant, tall villas and estates and the green that surrounded them. 55
His phone buzzed suddenly. A text. 56
COME HOME
PREMIER OF VAL WOX MURDER
8:00 PM SHARP57
Reluctantly, Alessio turned the car around. 58
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He shovered, changed into a tuxedo, a navy blue Versace and livened himself up with his favorite cologne, the Black Polo. He waited for his parents downstairs in the living room. It was a large hall, with a seventy-inch plasma screen on the wall and plush, leather couches aligned along the walls. An original painting by Bantsy hung adorned one side. 62
He and father were going for the premier alone. His mother was off to an official function. As the spokesperson of Royale she was often called in unexpectedly. 63
His mother came inside, her olive skin practically glowing. She wore a white cotton suit, with an elegant skirt and a furry scarf draped around herself. 64
"Okay, honey, have fun!" 65
Alessio watched her walk out. 66
Seconds later, his father's mobile buzzed. It was right beside him. Alessio opened it.67
AN EYE FOR AN EYE GARCIA
MAY CAMILLA R.I.P68
Alessio rushed to the door, heart beating fast. 69
The limousine sped towards the gate. 70
And then the car exploded. 71
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Gold trophy winner
Silver trophy winner
Bronze trophy winner
Adding your comment:
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Somewhere along the lines you spelled Julies name wrong too, but I really enjoyed it. When the cell buzzed at the end i expected something bad, and boy did something bad happen. Can't wait to read the next part!!
