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Mario picked up the antique, silver-framed photograph and stared at her face. Anyone could see that the shot was taken by a top photographer. She looked absolutely stunning. There were photographs of her all around the apartment; taken on modelling assignments and vacations across the globe. There were framed magazine covers too: Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire. Her beauty was timeless. Even now, in her later years, she still had a level of elegance and poise rarely found in normal women, and a flawless complexion.
In the master bedroom, Mario opened the door to her walk-in closet. Before him, rail upon rail of designer clothes; all the big names. There was the heady scent of expensive perfume and he could imagine the glittering parties and movie premieres she had attended. How lucky he was to know something of her world; a glamorous world of champagne and yachts. Back in the large airy lounge he poured himself a glass of Chardonnay and relaxed on one of the black leather sofas. Sunlight poured through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. He picked up the remote control and turned the volume up on the sound system, listening to the soothing Bossa Nova that filled the room. What a perfect world, he thought. If only he could live like this forever. Sadly, he had work to do.
After finishing his drink, Mario carefully washed the glass and although he was wearing gloves, he wiped everything he had touched with a cloth, which he then put in his bag. He wanted to leave no evidence. Her jewellery had been easy to gather together as most of it was left strewn across her dressing table, and the safe in the floor of the walk-in closet was easy to open as she had told him the combination. There were only forty-thousand Euros, much less than he had anticipated, but she assured him that there was no more cash in the apartment, and he believed her.
She started moving about, struggling against the rope that bound her slender wrists to her ankles, so he knelt beside her and tightened the knots just to make sure it would take her a long time to escape or call for help. Although he had put a gag in her mouth he could hear her muffled screams and see in her eyes a mixture of fear and anger when she looked at him. It didn't matter, no one could hear her above the sound of the music. He had nothing to worry about. Mario picked up his black bag, kissed her on the forehead, and left her apartment.
As he walked away from the luxury building, he wondered why some people are so lucky in life, they have so much. He just wanted a little piece of the same luck, and a chance to give his family all the things they deserved to have. They were good people and it broke his heart to see them with nothing. Although he was ashamed of what he had done, with this money they would have a chance in life. In life, one has to make decisions and take chances when they come. This was his chance.
Six days later, Mario was listening to Bossa Nova at his home on the new CD player he had just bought. He had the feeling that he was about to enter a new chapter in his life. He paid no attention to the sound of two cars stopping outside, and he ignored the sound of men's boots coming towards his front door. After the police arrested him he realised that life simply isn't fair. He had planned everything so carefully, but had left a sample of his DNA in the saliva he left on her forehead when he kissed the rich woman on the head.
Adjectives
antique:
High quality and made a long time ago, and so valuable.
stunning:
Here meaning 'very beautiful'.
flawless:
Perfect. Without any marks or spots.
heady:
Here meaning 'a strong but nice smell that affects you very much'.
airy:
With a lot of fresh air because of being a large open space.
soothing:
Making you feel calm and relaxed.
slender:
Here meaning 'thin' but in a positive way.
muffled:
Difficult to hear clearly because the origin of the sound is covered.
Verbs
attend:
Here meaning 'to go to an event'.
be
strewn:
(strew) Thrown in many places over a wide area.
anticipate:
To expect something to happen and be prepared for it.
assure:
To say that something will definitely happen, or is definitely true.
bind:
(bind, bound,
bound) To tie something to stop it moving.
Nouns
a
shot:
A photograph.
an
assignment:
A piece of work that is given to someone.
poise:
Graceful and balanced, or calm and confident.
a
complexion:
Here meaning 'the appearance of your skin, its quality'.
a
master bedroom:
The main bedroom of a house.
a
big name:
A famous person, or well-known company.
a
premiere:
The first night of a film or play, made into a special event.
a
safe:
A strong box used to keep money.
a
combination:
A special number that allows you to open a lock.
a
Euro:
The currency of Europe.
a
knot:
Here meaning 'a join made in a piece of rope, when you tie it'.
a
gag:
A piece of material put into (or across) someone's mouth to stop them
talking.
a
forehead:
The part of your head above your eyes and below your hair.
a
sample:
An amount of a substance, often used in a test.
DNA:
An acid containing your Genes, which control your growth and
what you look like.
saliva:
The liquid made in your mouth.
Expresions
"rail
upon rail":
upon
means
'on', but here used it is used to mean 'many rails'.