It Began in Cannes

By Alpha de Monté

"It began in Cannes is a romantic love story in honor of disappearing fairy-tales."

The novel takes place in Cannes on the French Riviera and the people are part of a very diverse make-up. The centre figure of the events is a very young simple girl, an orphan, who lives in Paris and works as an assistant editor in a famous fashion publishing house. One day, the publisher is in a tight spot not having a reporter available to cover the film festival in Cannes. He assigns her to do the job. Since she is a Cinderella-type girl, he suggests a make-over of her clothes and appearance. The plan works and the imagination takes over. When her car breaks down on the road to Cannes, she meets a charming fellow, who, because of his celebrity status as a famous Hollywood actor, introduces himself as the actor's Double, with a pseudo name, falls in love and spends days with her on the Riviera until the day when the Palm d'Or Award was given to him and she learns that he was not the fellow she thought he was. Sad and disappointed at an apparent betrayal she returns to Paris and is comforted and courted by her boss... until the day when the love of her life comes to look for her in Paris...

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse
• Release date: Jun 5, 2014
• ISBN: 9781491865682

Alpha de Monté

Alpha de Monte was born and raised in Europe. The talented artist lives with her husband, Australia-born model actor, and former “James Bond Candidate”-famous in his own right for his international commercial films in Europe-in their country house in Woodland Hills and ranch in the San Diego mountains in Southern California, devoting most of her time to writing and painting. Apha de Monte is the author of four novels: …In Return for…She followed him to Ireland…O’Hara…and It began in Cannes. Painting by Augustin Pardo, Paris/France.

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AuthorHouse™

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Bloomington, IN 47403

www.authorhouse.com

Phone: [phone]

© 2014 Alpha de Monté. . All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, film, television, foreign publication, etc. without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 5/29/2014

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6569-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4918-6568-2 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014903157

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

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For my husband

and

Dr.med.dent. Herbert L. Biebl

- whom I am blessed to call my nephew -

with love.

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"you are the maker

          of your dreams"

mark twain

— 1 —

ONCE UPON A TIME …

Paris in spring…

The sunlight falls in broad, golden rays over millions of dusty roofs. Under the blue cloudless sky throbs a city in full swing. The atmosphere is filled with an air of elegance that can be felt only in Paris.

Life whirls by on the streets. Sidewalks are crowded with people in colorful spring clothes, some walking, others sipping Espresso on the sunny terraces of sidewalk cafes.

Lovers stroll hand in hand along the banks of the Seine, making plans and sealing their promises with lingering kisses.

Old people gaze out of their apartment windows and catch the familiar sounds of cars and people passing by.

Pushing their glasses up on their noses they sigh happily: Ah, it’s good to be alive! Spring is wonderful!

On the second floor of an apartment house, a young girl, with pretty legs, steps daringly on the windowsill to clean the outside of the pane. She furtively glances across the street through the open window of the Publishing House ‘Madame’, where a distinguished gentleman is reading a newspaper.

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— 2 —

The gentleman is Pierre de Vousseau, publisher and heir of the popular fashion magazine ‘Madame’.

Born of a noble French family and into a fashion dynasty, Pierre de Vousseau is one of the most eligible, sophisticated bachelors in the world, an excellent entrepreneur and philanthropist, and Paris’ famous polo-superstar.

Thanks to his father, Baron Francois de Vousseau, - the founder of ‘Madame Magazine’ - he became vastly rich, making a fortune from his Mode Affaires and the list of billionaires at the age of forty.

Pierre de Vousseau sits comfortably in a swivel chair, nonchalantly turning over the leaves of a newspaper, while listening to music on the radio.

Suddenly, the music stops.

Good afternoon. I am Jacques Cheval. And this is CAN, the worldwide leader of International News. We interrupt our program to tell you the latest reports about the world we live in, the newscaster announces.

"A closer look at Mexico’s drug problems…

The violent wars among Mexico’s deadly drug cartels are increasingly spilling over into America, and have been linked to many kidnappings, the bribing of government officials, and more than two thousand brutal murders - among them 49 decapitated bodies…

Mexico is called the murder capital of the world."

I slid their throats, a 14-year-old boy, turned allegedly Mexican drug hitman, is reported to have said. I was drugged by El Negro, and I liked what I did – killing four people.

And from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil…the city of God, guns and gangs…with a $400 million drug traffic per year…where an American gun can be bought for $35,000, and where they go to the streets to rob and kill 3 people every day. When a European journalist asked why all houses are painted green, he was told that only then can noone find out in which house the drugs are hidden.

"A new bulletin from Africa…

Up to 25,000 Tutsi women gave birth after being raped by Hutus during Rwanda’s genocide. Despite poverty and the legacy of violence, Tutsi mothers and the children they bore as a result of rape, try their best to forget. Survivors told their stories for the first time to a Newsweek photographer."

America has hardly gotten over the shocking, failed terrorist bombing of a jetliner over Detroit, Michigan, by a 23-year-old Nigerian, who was hiding a bomb in his under-garment, ready for his mission of terror when it mal-functioned and smoke was discovered by a passenger…when they experienced a new tale of horror, the biggest mass shooting in USA history. A tragic, senseless massacre in a movie theatre in Colorado, at the premiere of the film ‘Batman’. The gunman, a 24-year-old student, who called himself ‘the Joker,’ shot 12 people and wounded 70.

And there is still an international outrage over more senseless killings at Sandy Hooks School in Connecticut this time by a 20-year-old student, who started by shooting his mother in bed first, then went to school and executed 20 children, 6 adults, and then himself.

Who is accountable for these killings?

Who is to blame for these brutal massacres by these young students?

Violent video games?

Mental illness?

The world is more dangerous than we can imagine.

More news after this message.

Pierre de Vousseau puts the newspaper aside, pours himself a glass of water and lights a cigarette, while listening to the rest of the report.

There is encouraging news from Italy about actress Rosa Riva Rocci, the newscaster continues. "She is a rising young film star, and a native of Almese, with no scandal attached to her name. A true artist. A natural country girl. For her sake people park illegally on the street, stop trains, climb fences at airports for a chance to catch her smile or hear her speak.

Last night, the Police Commissioner of Ventimiglia even let the beautiful Italian cross the border without a passport; and a special train load of prominent people on their way to the Cannes Film Festival waited twenty minutes without grumbling.

Stay with me. There is more about the film festival after this message."

Film festival! Cannes! Good heavens! de Vousseau says aloud.

Quickly, he turns off the radio and rings for his assistant.

Then he gets up and paces the room, considering whom he could send to cover the film festival in Cannes.

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— 3 —

Pierre de Vousseau’s executive assistant, Jean-Luc Bernard, enters the office, wearing a suit and black-framed glasses. He is a young, stylish looking gentleman but unfortunately somewhat short. He is also shy and clumsy, especially around women and has a tendency to stutter when he tries talking to them.

You want to see me, Sir?

"Brace yourself, Mr. Bernard, I completely forgot that I promised to send somebody to cover the film festival in Cannes this year.

When does it start?

In one week.

Whom have you chosen for the job?

That is my problem. Alaine is covering the horse races in Ascot Downs. Jacques is at the soccer game in Switzerland. Maurice is still in the Canary Islands of Lanzarote, working on a photo shoot, and Bridget is in Rome, dealing with the wedding of Viceroy di Calabria in Frascati. Whom can I send to Cannes? Any ideas?

De Vousseau draws on his cigarette.

How about Gigi?

"Mon Dieu! – my goodness - you are not serious, are you? She would ruin my magazine.

There is… Mademoiselle… X…ah I can’t think of her name, the young assistant editor I hired several months ago."

De Vousseau never remembers names.

What do you know about the girl? I mean aside from the fact that she is very young, as thin as a rail, hasn’t got an ounce of chic and is shy as a schoolgirl?

Bernard, who is a fast thinker in unexpected situations, labels Mademoiselle X in his mind as a very special young lady.

Ah…Mademoiselle X… he repeats, her name is Marguerite Xaubert, but we call her Mademoiselle X. She is a delicate flower with an iron stem he decides to say poetically.

I beg your pardon?

Mademoiselle X has the working power and perseverance of ten strong men. Her ambition and her devotion to her job are boundless. She is a talented artist and speaks four languages, he says with enthusiasm.

Praise pours out of Bernard’s mouth like bubbling water. He warms up to the subject.

Of course, it would be better if Mademoiselle X would have the chic of Annabelle, the hairdo of Camille and the sidelong glances of Jeanette, but alas, those girls, pardon me, have no artistic talent. In any case, don’t you agree, that it is easier to update an unfashionable dress and a passé hairdo, than to create talent where there is none? Mademoiselle X looks different from other young girls, different from the ordinary.

He pauses, then he adds in a low voice: Besides, in my opinion, Sir, Mademoiselle X is exceptionally attractive.

Finally, Bernard has said what was on his mind and in favor of Mademoiselle X. He takes off his glasses and polishes them nervously. It has gone better than he expected. He hopes de Vousseau will swallow the pill along with the sugarcoating.

Bernard studies the effect of his speech on his boss, who scrutinizes him and realizes that his assistant is very interested in Mademoiselle X.

There is a short pause.

De Vousseau seems relieved.

Is there anything else I can do, Sir?

"Yes. See if you can get the manager of the Carlton Hotel in Cannes on the telephone. His name is Baudouin. I need to talk to him.

Very well, Sir.

Bernard nods and leaves the