The Grandvue, even the women who joined that family were cursed. It was impossible for them to predict or foresee something that would not occur at a point in time in the family. Jeanette was no different but Tibor did not care much for family tradition. One goal was clear for now. Wilson, his father needed to know that his son can take care of himself and he did not need him after he completed his conditions to crash anymore of his life.
Jeanette followed to help Tibor to put the bags down. They said boys were the mother's child. In Tibor case, the opposite was more appealing. He was worried more about what his father would do or would say to him or behind him. His entire focus, attention, and even affection ran toward his father. Wilson was able to see it at some point seeing how he defied him every time, but it was too late. He did not need a son anymore. He had someone to train for life tomorrow, and if life forced him to leave him, he would know he did his job. One more fact is the Grandvue did not fear death and speaking of dying was not a taboo for the family. Jeanette kept her emotional restraint about the subject, but she got mostly used to it over her years with Wilson and his stepfather Dylan when he visited them for the holidays.
“Goodbye Mom, I will text you as soon as I land.” Tibor moved his lips to pronounce the words and they did not come
After putting his bags down and receiving help from his mother, Tibor held her in each top of her shoulder and cracked her up in his surrounding arms. Of course, his mother responded well even if she was ready to be strangled. When he let go, she trapped his head in her hands and tapped him twice before letting him disappear in the crowds with the thousand strangers who were heading in their respective way. Jeannette knew this trip was inevitable the moment Tibor started acting out. She had never mentioned a word in the situation until Wilson really did not have a choice but to put his large foot down. Jeannette looked through the multitude of crowds and hoped to see him one more, but she knew better. She guided back to the black Nissan she drove him here and initiated like she just sent Tibor to Grandpa or grandma. It was difficult to understand. Tibor had to learn a lesson, but it would not be with Dylan or others. Just a bit further where he had to rely on his proper actions, reactions, and accept the consequences. Jeannette did not bother looking back. Instead, her thoughts ran to Wilson when she told him she was pregnant. They were married like his father. However, Wilson was not his father and he did not need a scandal in Jeannette family. He chose her and he also did not regret his headshot decision. Jeannette was the best wife to have and the quiet woman to keep the house in peace. She did not like noise, even less Wilson discussion with Tibor.
“Yes, honey, what is wrong?” Jeannette received a call from her husband while driving back to the house. Wilson was at the opposite line and she was curious about his crushing feelings. Was he as worried as she was for their son? Would he be fine? What would happen in the next five years to come?
“Is he gone?”
“Of course, I put him on the plane myself,” Jeannette affirmed to him.
“I miss him already.” (Wilson sighed strong that Jeannette could imagine where he just lay down). “Do you think I will get through to him this time?”
“I think you already have…”
“Thanks, honey.” (Jeannette grasped the short smile). “Listen, it would be better if you go see your sister. She called last week and we have not known her for sometimes. She might be in trouble. Do you think she might be back with this good-for-nothing boyfriend we got her off last time?” Wilson reminded Jeannette one of the horrific moment of her life. Poking this image again in the tip of her imagination did not do her right. She had to breathe. She did not answer. Entered the brake in the car as dry as she can before she crashed and killed someone, and she unbuttoned two of her favorite blue sky shirt.
“Later husband, I will go see Marianne.” Jeanette hung up before Wilson could add a second word or the precise word she did not want to hear. He was right all along. He had always been since the day she met him and he did not take pleasure into it. He just warned people and if they did not listen, he was not responsible for their bad fortunes. This was not Jeannette current preoccupation. The fact remained if her sister was dumb enough to go back with Richard, this crackhead of the street corner in Queens. She was in danger and she could lose her life this time, for good. Jeanette had taken care of her since they were 14 years old. She was her other half twin and they loved each other, but Marianne had never listened to her. In her ignorance and her lack of good judgment, her last boyfriend almost killed and Jeanette was happy to have a husband like Wilson worrying even about the only family she had left.
***
Asia was not close and the plane was not comfortable and Tibor did not have someone he loved in mind. Without much sleep over the gray clouds, he could not join the darkness, the pit that led to the world of dreams. If they were one thing Tibor did not like to miss in his life, was his beauty sleep and cranky was how he got when he did not sleep his faithful eight hours. Getting on the plane was a headache with the passengers looking, asking for a better chair, and complaining from the minute they got on board. The night was rather calm and sensible. Although he was not the only one awake, the rumbling sleep noise did not hurt much to hear. The adventure was not his strong suit and meeting new people who admired his father better than him was not a fun place to start touching the family business. Tibor cared more about his father than he wanted to admit and, even more, the words coming from him than he desired to ignore. Consent, his father haunted his mind. Tibor opened his laptop and grabbed his iPod for some juicy music and some quality reading of the Family Company production.
The Grandvue Family Business did not focus only on a simple production. He had Company productions for almost everything. Cosmetics, food, games, and factories. Of course, Dylan began the Company the minute his son came into the world, but it was Wilson who upgraded it and turned it into a Million Dollar Company. Wilson was a not a businessman and, even less a young entrepreneur, but knowing how his father wanted to succeed in his projects. After high school, he decided to join head with Dylan and tried new ideas. He did not know much of people needs either, but he asked around and Wilson was not the solid Rock he transformed into these current days. Trusting his son and putting his initiative on better base, the Company flourished and the Grandvue family earned his place among the elite of the High society. Wilson had not always agreed with his father, mostly in the class society dilemma. Wilson had known his family poor state when they first started after his father gave up his baseball career. The only proof Wilson had was his father words and the old scores he passed every time he got depressed. Every time, he got better the next day before he reminded his wife, they were going to be ok. Wilson believed his father despite the lack of proof and more, but the racial presence he held until these current days had always put an edge between them. At the end, Wilson most of the times ignored Dylan high society view to prevent bad blood from spilling. Wilson, thanks to his effort and application to the projects of the Company, the family turned a new leaf and he had the means to continue with the projects. However, He was not going to leave the little people behind just so he can be wealthy with his own family, only. He initiated factories and positions for everyone. One of the best worker he had performed and who remained a loyal friend to him until this day was one of the poor employers who started the projects with him and who now was at the same level in position as well as wealth like Wilson. He did not regret his actions and he received an everyday blessing from loyal employees he aided who prayed for him every day. He was not a spiritual man to say he would lead a reform life according to the Bible, but he did not neglect his prayer once in a while, as often as he implied time for them.
“Son, you should pray more and better.” One of the elder's mother and grandmother advised him many times. At the end, Wilson ended up one of the main people who developed the low-class society and surrounded himself with loyal people and real ones who confided in him their devotional
trust. He might be right to do the conventional move, but it was impossible for him to hear a good note from his father accepting his own mistake. It was never gonna happen.
The plane scratched the rigid floor of the field to land and Tibor woke up and unaware if he fell asleep at a certain point during his longest travel in a plane. He had always chosen luxury Mustang, Corvette, and Audi to direct his destination, but in his new hellish life, as he thought, this plane trip was the first and unique he needed to sign off his own death paper. He did not think about it much, but he was able to think about it one way or another. From the look of the field, Asia was not in good shape thanks to the terrible weather and it was only going to get worse. Everyone was in double jackets and heating clothes and coats, one important fact he neglected to verify. Tibor could only think of one person to blame, his father Wilson Grandvue. It was not the first time he blamed him for his own mistakes and his own incapacity to recognize his own doing. Mostly, he knew what he was doing, but a little twist would not hurt he trusted his guts. The Asia International airport was almost empty. You could count the people in the chair, walking, and getting ready to start life in ice like Tibor, return or join family members. People business did not interest him much and he was sure the punishment did not fit the crime.
Tibor Grandvue, wow, Tibor did not expect people to pick him, but here, his name was written in great characters over a white piece of paper, held by a personage he was sure was not older than him.
“Hi, I am Tibor Grandvue…”
“Well, fine…Follow me…We do not have much time…the streets can be jammed in any minute.…hurry up please…”
Tibor had a puzzle in his hands. He had met many workers of his father, but none as aggressive and vivid as this guy, he was the whole definition of brutal and savage. His style of a hard man was normal. Perfect cap, yellow jacket over many classic simple shirts, a navy blue jeans and Timberland boots for the snow. He had the allure of a native builder with a black beard, the old curving lips, and the frowned look under the brows. He did not stop and he did not care if Tibor was behind him or not. He swung through the crowds like a native. Knocking people or not, he just passed right through. Just as expected, a long red Jeep Ford was waiting for them, someone was in it but at the moment, Tibor could not see much with the hurry to get off the senseless snow. He managed to drop his luggage in the back while he ran to the back front and joined the guy with the second person.
The driving was short and brief without much of a hello or a welcome. Tibor could not expect much and he did not. He could not and he had not since he laid his blue eyes on the native man who came to pick him up. He was lucky enough the guy agreed to drop him off. He had to get the only welcome he could afford or reserve.
“This is a motel for you during a month…what you do next is your problem. There is a truck that picks everyone up in the morning. It comes around 6 and 7 AM, manage to be on time.” He did not bother forcing Tibor to pay attention or raising his voice to hold his manhood over him. He just applied everything at once. He had better things to do.
“One last thing, it will be better if you change your name, because no one loves the Grandvue like you might imagine.” That one, Tibor heard and for a man who did not care he sure warned of his family name and the repercussions that could bring. Before Tibor could get inside, the guy drove off in the old muscle Jeep Ford, sending the welcome Tibor was expecting through the dirty watering snow he got in every piece of his clothes. He was covered and he had not started to work yet. Asia had his way and he was sure not to get used to it anytime soon.
Chapter 3
The Grandvue Company in Asia fabricated Coats, jackets, cotton clothes, with double or not. They envisioned the need of the people that lived in the cold temperature every day and tried to relieve most of their worries to have the proper clothes to resist and to lead a normal life. Snow cleaning trucks, Muscle trucks for transportation, resistant materials to block out the below zero degrees, and importation and exportation of reliable cold proof tools in every sector of a society to prevail in the cold season. Asia factories and Companies had Canada and Arizona affiliated to major productions and sales of the finish products of the tools, materials, and possible some of the trucks. Of course, Canada and Arizona had their own trucks, but Asia trucks were superiors and in better shape to perform the sweeping of tones of Snows only, after one single day of a natural white cloud of snow.
Tibor entered the motel and he almost ran off back to the demonic snow. Unfortunately, he did not want and he could not since he had to accept his new way of life. Accept it was too much of a word for Tibor to apply at his new circumstances. The Old Western time was far from being ancient. Tibor could only read the angry eyes who flashed all over him as soon as he walked through the double door window to announce his insignificant presence in town. He had the welcome he desired, the welcome a new sling shooter attracted from the unknown outlaws who did not share the town they turned into hell with no one to save it. Old hats, yellow jackets, big black and orange pants, not to forget the classic hard skin boots with the rolling spike at the end. Tibor did not remain amazed at the old Western routine every time someone pushed these door windows. He walked to the bar with the old guy in his sixties, his hat bent way behind his head to see better, his face folded with all the wrinkles old age brought, and he was the simplest with an old white shirt, black trouser with suspension.
“Do you have any business in this little corner of the world?” He sang to Tibor. Even the words were the same with the same grounding sound, the same wooden background with plenty of liquors bottles, and same vibe with his thick lips curving down on the left side.
“I have a room here for a month. Know anything about it?” Curious, the old man grasped the entire posture of Tibor, analyzing him from head to toe until he answered him with no prejudice.
“Can't say I have, kid?” he raised up the left corner of his lips.
“Then, give me a glass of scotch, on the rocks.” It was not every day a stranger came into town and asked for a hot scotch on the rocks. Some eyes twitched and a cute face joined the old man on the counter of the bar. Tibor made a quick remark and it was not the only he was going to perceive.
“Hey old man, enough.” A new face came out and Tibor seemed better at ease. He smiled and the young girl responded him with a tiny one. She was not that impressed with him, seeing he was new. The Asian people did not take too kindly to strangers. They had to prove their conviction and Tibor was a man without one, he had nothing to prove and everything to lose. He just did not care or did not know it yet.
“I am new in town and the person who dropped me off confined to me that I have a room here for a month. That is all.”
The young lady looked upon Tibor, pushed herself to the counter to grasp his entire feature before he tended her smooth hand for his identification.
“So, this is you. I suppose it can't be helped.”
The alteration of her eyes projected the desire to avoid Tibor, her twitching nose, and her fading smile that was gone before Tibor could manufacture another smile to seize her in a conversation.
“It is true. I hope you enjoy your room...Mr. Tibor…”
Before Tibor could address her a few more words, she disappeared and the old man directed him to the room with the old rotten key he lent him for the month. Tibor got into his new room or home and the old man went down to continue his services in the motel and the bar.
“So, anything to say about the person you picked up at the airport?” Gaston was always not in the mood to speak to no one, except Alicia.
“It was no man. A kid in need of a lesson. I am sure he will not last a month here. I will bet my next pay…”
“I will take that bet, honey…”
Alicia high-pitched soprano voice with the low tone pierced through the five people standing and everyone was in shock to hear these words from her own lips.
“Wow…this is good...Beginner luck…I am with Alicia o
n this one.”
Gaston flickered a peek at Antonio, but he was not in the mood to please him like he had always done.
“Baby, you have never bet in your life. What makes you…Wait…”
“Careful what you say next, I am not in the mood to play. We are betting or not?” Alicia interrupted him before he crashed the table and everyone ran and left without a word.
“Alright…do not give me any excuses when you lose.”
Alicia was a young woman and fantastic friend. Calm and serene but a bit reserved with lack of confidence most of the times. She was raised in the old ways to be a perfect wife and a good mother. The plan was for her to get married between 18 to her 20 years old, but she was in her 22 years old and Gaston was nowhere ready, according to his sister to walk the aisle and waited for Alicia. Every time Gaston should propose, her sister insisted he was not making the right choice by choosing the time. Each time, it was something. As far as Alicia was concerned, she was not anymore in the hurry the minute she passed her elective year of her age. She was still chilling with Gaston and Naomi had seen some sight that did not stay within the circle of the companionship of two people.
“Do not do the same, Gaston. I know you.” Alicia persisted until everyone busted into laughs.
“Alright, it is a bet baby.” He clashed his palm with hers. When Alicia wanted her hand back, she was pulled into Gaston's arms and they kissed with the spectators in good terms with the exercise that occurred. Alicia felt the water on Gaston while she tried not to offend him while Gaston enjoyed pressing his thick lips against hers. If it was for that, Helene did not have a problem for them to be fiancée.
Beasts Awakened Page 27
