The Winner Stands Alone Read Online Free PDF Page B

Glamour.
    Gabriela finds these thoughts irritating. Its definitely not the best way to start a new
     day. Worse, she has a hangover.
    At least theres one consolation. She hasnt woken up in a five-star hotel next to a man
     telling her to put her clothes on and leave because he has important business to deal
     with, like buying or selling films.
    She gets up and looks around to see if any of her friends are still in the apartment.
     Needless to say theyre not. Theyve long since left for the Boulevard de la Croisette, for
     the swimming pools, hotel bars, yachts, possible lunch dates, and chance meetings on the
     beach. There are five fold-out mattresses on the floor of the small shared apartment,
     hired for the duration at an exorbitant rent. The mattresses are sur- rounded by a tangle
     of clothes, discarded shoes, and hangers that no one has taken the trouble to put back in
     the wardrobe.
    The clothes take up more room here than the people, she thinks.
    Not that any of them could even dream of wearing clothes designed by Elie Saab, Karl
     Lagerfeld, Versace, or Galliano, but what they have nevertheless takes up most of the
     apartment: bikinis, miniskirts, T-shirts, platform shoes, and a vast amount of makeup.
    One day Ill wear what I like, but right now, I just need to be given a chance, she thinks.
    And why does she want that chance? Quite simple. Because she knows shes the best, despite
     her experi- ence at schoolwhen she so disappointed her parentsand despite the challenges shes faced
     since in order to prove to herself that she can overcome difficulties, frustrations, and
     defeats. She was born to win and to shine, of that she has no doubt.
    And when I get what I always wanted, I know Ill have to ask myself: do they love and
     admire me because Im me or because Im famous?
    She knows people who have achieved stardom on the stage and, contrary to her expectations,
     theyre not at peace with themselves; theyre insecure, full of doubts, unhappy as soon as
     they come offstage. They want to be actors so as not to have to be themselves, and they
     live in fear of making the one false step that could end their career.
    Im different, though. Ive always been me. Is that true? Or does everyone in her position
     think the same?
    She gets up and makes
    
    
     herself some coffee. The kitchen is a mess, and none of her friends has bothered to wash
     the dishes. She doesnt know why shes woken up in such a bad mood and with so many doubts.
     She knows her job, shes devoted herself to it heart and soul, and yet its as if people
     refuse to recognize her talent. She knows what human beings are like, too, especially
     menfuture allies in a battle she needs to win soon, because shes twenty-five already and
     nearly too old for the dream factory. She knows three things:
    (a) that men are less treacherous than women; (b)that they never notice what a woman is
     wearing because theyre always mentally undressing her; (c) that as long as youve got breasts, thighs, buttocks,
     and belly in good trim, you can conquer the world.
    Because of those three things, and because she knows that all the other women shes
     competing with try to emphasize their attributes, she pays attention only to item (c) on
     her list. She exercises and tries to keep fit, avoids diets, and, illogical though it may
     seem, dresses very discreetly. This has worked well so far, and she can usually pass for younger than her
     age. Shes hoping that itll do the trick in Cannes too.
    Breasts, buttocks, thighs. They can focus on those things now if they want to, but the day
     will come when theyll see what she can really do.
    She drinks her coffee and begins to understand her bad mood. Shes surrounded by some of
     the most beautiful women on the planet! She certainly doesnt consider herself ugly, but
     theres no way she can compete with them. She needs to decide what to do. She had thought
     long and hard before making this trip, money is