Malfoyish
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Hi, this is a sample chapter in one of my many novels...I wanted to share something...or at least, give an idea of my writing style. Hope you guys enjoy this.
---------------------------Malfoyish
The big black Mercedes slowed when the road transitioned from blacktop to
gravel. The car showed pride of ownership with a finish that looked like a
silver-black mirror. Everything that Gadwin Maxwell owned was pampered,
expensive and exclusive; the Mercedes was no exception. Today he had
driven himself to a business meeting, where he intended to purchase a
run-down motel in the shabby section of town. Ordinarily, he would have
avoided this area like the plague, but this acquisition was for the purpose
of besting a rival, and he'd drive to the outskirts of Hell for such
pleasure.
Gadwin had the proverbial deprived childhood and he considered himself to
be entirely a self-made man. His origins differed slightly from his
boasted version, but most of his accomplishments had been his own. A
couple of connections with the right people at the right time gave him a
leg up in the business world, and some shady politics plus some
less-than-noble transactions put him on solid ground. His main business
was mining, and he picked up subsidiaries and related interests like a
little boy collects marbles. Along the way he had lost any compassion or
humility. Few people liked Gadwin Maxwell these days, but by God, they
damn well respected him!
Now, he oversaw all operations from a spacious high-rise office in Apache
with a spectacular view of the Colorado mountains. Not very long after he
had taken command over the mines, a new vein was discovered and he struck
it rich. He made his own hours, hired and fired at whim, and didn't have
to lift a finger as far as actual labor; yet he spent most of his time in
the office, anyway. He was a man of forty-six, well-groomed and impeccably
dressed. Henrietta was another of Maxwell's acquisitions. She had been
the high school and college sweetheart of Gadwin's rival, and Gadwin had
not rested until Henrietta was his. They had married in their mid-twenties
and a son and a daughter had been born shortly thereafter. Their children
were raised with privilege, and were spoiled rotten. Henrietta was both
mother and father to Matthew and Lauren, while Gadwin was merely an open
checkbook. Lauren was in her senior year of high school and drove to her
classes, when she felt like attending school, in a brand new Mustang
convertible, pink of course. Matt had his motorcycle and a very expensive
cabin cruiser moored at the Apache Marina on Lake Cheyenne. At least
Lauren was making a show of high school; Matt dropped out in his junior
year and supposedly was working on his GED. Gadwin had dreams of his son
eventually joining him in business, and hoped Matt would settle down soon.
For now, the Maxwell Paterfamilias tolerated a few wild oats.
Gadwin's ruthlessness is what brought him to this rundown building today.
Word had arrived at his office that the Mountainview Motel was up for sale,
and his former high school and present-day business rival, Mason Whitman,
had plans to buy it. Gadwin was on his way over to double Whitman's offer.
Why? Because he could. Whitman wanted to buy the place, tear it down and
build condominiums to inject some life in this part of town. Urban renewal
meant something to men like Mason and he believed in taking an active part
of the community. Philanthropy was not a word in Gadwin's vocabulary.
Power was. If he could one-up a rival, the expense was worth it.
The black Mercedes looked out of place in front of the shabby motel.
Gadwin got out of his car, and brushed imaginary dirt from his lapels. A
smirk crossed his face as high school conquests played in his mind. The
place had been a dump even then, with cheap hourly rates even he could
afford. Illegally purchased liquor eased the way for many young women to
become a notch in Gadwin's belt. He scowled now, for the beauty he desired
had not been one of them. She had belonged to Whitman, and Gadwin tasted
bitterness again at the memory. Today he'd best Whitman with this
purchase. He was prepared to double the offer Mason had made, if
necessary. A few band aids, some cosmetic work, a bribe or two to the code
inspectors, and Mountainview would keep its doors open to the junkies, the
hookers, and the horny high school crowd. With his business smile in
place, Gadwin made his way down the dirt path. He stuck his hand in his
pocket, double-checking to make sure his checkbook was still there.
It was.
---------------------------Malfoyish
The big black Mercedes slowed when the road transitioned from blacktop to
gravel. The car showed pride of ownership with a finish that looked like a
silver-black mirror. Everything that Gadwin Maxwell owned was pampered,
expensive and exclusive; the Mercedes was no exception. Today he had
driven himself to a business meeting, where he intended to purchase a
run-down motel in the shabby section of town. Ordinarily, he would have
avoided this area like the plague, but this acquisition was for the purpose
of besting a rival, and he'd drive to the outskirts of Hell for such
pleasure.
Gadwin had the proverbial deprived childhood and he considered himself to
be entirely a self-made man. His origins differed slightly from his
boasted version, but most of his accomplishments had been his own. A
couple of connections with the right people at the right time gave him a
leg up in the business world, and some shady politics plus some
less-than-noble transactions put him on solid ground. His main business
was mining, and he picked up subsidiaries and related interests like a
little boy collects marbles. Along the way he had lost any compassion or
humility. Few people liked Gadwin Maxwell these days, but by God, they
damn well respected him!
Now, he oversaw all operations from a spacious high-rise office in Apache
with a spectacular view of the Colorado mountains. Not very long after he
had taken command over the mines, a new vein was discovered and he struck
it rich. He made his own hours, hired and fired at whim, and didn't have
to lift a finger as far as actual labor; yet he spent most of his time in
the office, anyway. He was a man of forty-six, well-groomed and impeccably
dressed. Henrietta was another of Maxwell's acquisitions. She had been
the high school and college sweetheart of Gadwin's rival, and Gadwin had
not rested until Henrietta was his. They had married in their mid-twenties
and a son and a daughter had been born shortly thereafter. Their children
were raised with privilege, and were spoiled rotten. Henrietta was both
mother and father to Matthew and Lauren, while Gadwin was merely an open
checkbook. Lauren was in her senior year of high school and drove to her
classes, when she felt like attending school, in a brand new Mustang
convertible, pink of course. Matt had his motorcycle and a very expensive
cabin cruiser moored at the Apache Marina on Lake Cheyenne. At least
Lauren was making a show of high school; Matt dropped out in his junior
year and supposedly was working on his GED. Gadwin had dreams of his son
eventually joining him in business, and hoped Matt would settle down soon.
For now, the Maxwell Paterfamilias tolerated a few wild oats.
Gadwin's ruthlessness is what brought him to this rundown building today.
Word had arrived at his office that the Mountainview Motel was up for sale,
and his former high school and present-day business rival, Mason Whitman,
had plans to buy it. Gadwin was on his way over to double Whitman's offer.
Why? Because he could. Whitman wanted to buy the place, tear it down and
build condominiums to inject some life in this part of town. Urban renewal
meant something to men like Mason and he believed in taking an active part
of the community. Philanthropy was not a word in Gadwin's vocabulary.
Power was. If he could one-up a rival, the expense was worth it.
The black Mercedes looked out of place in front of the shabby motel.
Gadwin got out of his car, and brushed imaginary dirt from his lapels. A
smirk crossed his face as high school conquests played in his mind. The
place had been a dump even then, with cheap hourly rates even he could
afford. Illegally purchased liquor eased the way for many young women to
become a notch in Gadwin's belt. He scowled now, for the beauty he desired
had not been one of them. She had belonged to Whitman, and Gadwin tasted
bitterness again at the memory. Today he'd best Whitman with this
purchase. He was prepared to double the offer Mason had made, if
necessary. A few band aids, some cosmetic work, a bribe or two to the code
inspectors, and Mountainview would keep its doors open to the junkies, the
hookers, and the horny high school crowd. With his business smile in
place, Gadwin made his way down the dirt path. He stuck his hand in his
pocket, double-checking to make sure his checkbook was still there.
It was.