Hollywood Art: System of sunnys

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 entire top floor to herself. It was magnificent, and she enjoyed the bustling atmosphere of Paris from the comfort of a charming room that suited her tastes perfectly.

-I think I like this place, - Gwyneth murmured from the terrace. Both women were enjoying the scarce winter sun, lying on makeshift beds of mattresses in a small, roofed terrace room with wooden beams and glass 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 for Gwyneth, who had been working, partying, and often filming scenes 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 completely burned out—no more men, no more wild parties, and to hell with those old bastards, - Gwyneth said, taking a deep breath, while Julie observed her.

-What happened with Billy? I’ve noticed you’ve been a bit off lately, - Julie asked, sensing the awkward silence and deciding to break the thin ice.

-Ugh! I don’t want to talk about it. I’m completely 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 anger that surged in her heart when the topic 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 clingy one, who was probably only good in bed. It was pathetic that he was now chasing after another woman, who was particularly despicable in her behavior, most likely groveling at Billy’s feet...

'Better stay silent,' Julie thought as she admired a beautiful black leather watch that gleamed on her wrist, a gift that had come along with a cowboy hat.

-A friend is coming over, a top model who might impress you, but be careful, she’s dangerous, - Gwyneth smirked playfully. Kate Moss was a real heartbreaker—even women weren’t immune to her extravagant allure. She was a slender blonde, with the intensity 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. Monica now had two residences, one in Italy, specifically in Milan, 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 trucking company, where all their products were sold wholesale—that was the situation.

-Perugia is the most beautiful capital there is, but right now, we can’t stay there. My family will have their hands full, but we can use the studio apartment I bought not too long ago, - Monica said, who among all her properties, had a small house in Milan, a one-bedroom apartment in Perugia, and while mansions and villas weren’t part of her portfolio, the runways and frequent trips to Paris and Milan had prompted her to get a flat in Paris. But now her life was in California, and she was surprised at how quickly things had changed.

-Of course, your Christmas gift is in my hands. You should know that the gift I bought includes your former Milan residence. You can’t escape, and we have to be back in the United States by January 5th, - Billy commented.

She nodded, smiling. The capital of Umbria, Perugia, was a true ancient marvel, designed to transform and organize. They strolled through museums, bundled in large 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 enchanted.

From the quaint pastry shops she loved to a bar, art galleries, and the streets, Monica had a love-hate relationship with the city. It brought back nostalgia, making her forget the chaotic moments 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' relationship has settled into a fixed and established idea that operated through many disagreements. But it was enough for her to pay off her parents’ debt, reclaim 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 recounted.

They both entered the small apartment, which was cold and somewhat disorganized. They tidied up and prepared a meal of pasta with vegetables, accompanied by some water and tomato juice.

-What’s wrong? - Billy asked, stroking her cheek. The table was small, so small that their knees touched, but the picturesque view from the window, with its yellowish lights in hues of red, orange, and yellow, was soothing.

-I'm just nervous and completely lost. I thought my life was sorted out on several occasions, but now I can avoid those failures that constantly 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 nice to return to where you’ve always been happy, - Billy commented.

-It was terrible. My life began with the desire to become a lawyer, but the cost was something, and it was profitable to be a full-time model. However, from there... it hasn’t gone as I wanted, and now I’m in fashion and cinema—what a madness, - Monica said, emerging from her depression. She was shy, recalling how, as a child, she was intimidated by gazes and lacked confidence in her beauty, always indecisive and clinging to her sensitive side.

She decided to turn on an old radio, which only played Italian music, but she frowned until she found a station playing light ballads. This made her move around the room, biting her lip. Billy’s gaze was as attentive as it could be.

***

Steve Jobs was pleased, with his position of power he now had a voice on the board. He had already dealt with all the paperwork, including with Billy on how to run the company.

Apple’s priority was to minimize risk, and although it was painful, they had to confront themselves and embarrass part of the board. They would negotiate the shares. For now, he understood that he couldn’t match the kid in making money, so the percentage would be split. Even when making necessary financial injections, 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 forgotten was a harsh blow.

-Cleaning up your mess. I see you didn’t check this morning’s newspaper, and worse, the drop in stock prices. Perfect. I would call you a complete fool, but no... you knew the risk, so you only deserve the title of completely incompetent, - 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, completely unsure of what to say. He even laughed, to the point that when he entered, only the principal members were present.

There was an article about the copying and piracy of McTosh processors. It was like plunging a knife into his chest... but it was necessary. Billy had ensured the drop, better earlier than letting the board control it. Buying out the dissenters and cutting off the split was enough with three or four investors. 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 dollars to $1.45. He bought the shares at three dollars but missed the opportunity to sell.

Gary Strader entered, sweating, alongside Michael Splinter, who was being held by the neck.

...