บท 225: A holiday for two
Malibu is only thirty miles away from Los Angeles. Starting from Santa Monica Beach and following the coastline to the west, you can see the seaside city surrounded by countless beaches, waves, and sunshine. The twenty-seven-mile coastline is enough to drive surf enthusiasts crazy, and the landscapes of various state parks, canyons, and rivers make it a paradise on earth. The boundless beauty, peaceful and private living environment, and magnificent sunrises and sunsets have made Malibu a tranquil retreat away from the city.
Malibu has a long history dating back to the mid-16th century. However, this area existed as private property for the aristocracy for several centuries. It wasn't until 1929, when the landowners lost a marathon lawsuit against the state government, that they were forced to agree to the construction of a through-city highway. Subsequently, the owners had to sell and lease part of their properties, forming the embryonic form of present-day Malibu.
In the 1950s, relying on its warm and pleasant beaches and beautiful scenery, Malibu attracted many film crews to shoot here, gradually prospering. Numerous resort-style villas were established in the area, forming a healing vacation zone without destroying the natural landscapes—of course, this privilege was reserved for the wealthy.
It was not until March 1991 that Malibu officially became a city under the jurisdiction of Los Angeles, although it is merely a small county town. It has a population of less than ten thousand people. Despite being only thirty miles away from Santa Monica, a forty-minute drive can take you there, but due to the lack of supermarkets, shopping centers, and other amenities, everyone must drive to Santa Monica to replenish daily necessities. Therefore, Malibu is truly a vacation sanctuary for the affluent. They buy enough supplies in the city and then drive to Malibu to enjoy a secluded life.
If Beverly Hills is the gathering place for stars within Los Angeles, then Malibu is the gathering place for stars along the entire West Coast. Each villa here occupies a vast area, basically shielding itself from prying eyes. Therefore, whether it's the wealthy or celebrities, many high society figures like to enjoy undisturbed leisure time here.
Thus, although the city of Malibu has only been established for two years, the entire city's ecosystem has basically formed. Villa prices naturally remain high, but compared to the 21st century where a single villa could cost tens of millions of dollars, the current prices are relatively affordable. However, this is still the patent of the rich, like a specific circle that only specific groups of people can enter.
And today, Hugo entered this circle for the first time.
Joseph drove with Hugo and Uma into the gate of one of the villas, helped carry the groceries and luggage brought from the supermarket to the doorstep, and then returned to the driver's seat, opening the car door. "Well, I wish you a pleasant vacation. Enjoy this leisurely time."
"Joe, with such a big house, why don't you stay too?" Hugo smiled and extended an invitation. "You've been busy for a year. You deserve a vacation."
Uma, standing beside Hugo, also looked up and smiled. "Yes, Joseph, you should also enjoy a vacation. You've been really busy in the past two months. It's time to rest properly."
Joseph glanced at Uma and recalled the words Charlize had said before they set off, "Believe me, Uma definitely wants to enjoy some alone time with Hugo. When I say "alone", I mean just the two of them, without anyone else. During this time, Hugo belongs to Uma, not our group of friends. Not only should we not join them, but it's best for us to stay far away, I mean absolutely far away, from their sight."
Before this, Joseph had been skeptical of Charlize's words. But now, looking at the smile on Uma's face, he suddenly understood the source of Charlize's words and believed in their truth. Joseph couldn't help but sigh inwardly: Women's world is truly incomprehensible.
"No, I better not," Joseph knew that if he stayed behind, he would probably suffer. "I have two scripts to read. I'll take a look and let you know if there's any news. I'll also keep an eye on "Sleepless in Seattle"."
Hugo patted Joseph on the shoulder and said with a smile, "Don't rush. Let things happen naturally. Having the right mindset is the most important thing."
Joseph nodded, waved goodbye to Uma, and got into the driver's seat, driving away.
Hugo turned to Uma and said, "Hey, now it's really just the two of us!"
A few days ago, Uma proposed the idea of enjoying some alone time together with Hugo. On one hand, it was to make up for the regret of not spending New Year's Eve together, and on the other hand, it was to allow Hugo, who had been working hard for several months, to relax a bit. Hugo thought it was a good idea. He had been in Los Angeles for almost a year and hadn't had a real break. After going through so much on New Year's Eve, Hugo also wanted to give his mind a rest.
After careful consideration, they chose Malibu. Although Hugo didn't have enough means to purchase a villa in Malibu at his current level, there were villa rental services available in Malibu. The so-called rental service was actually more about having someone live in the villa for a long time and maintain its daily operations, so that the villa could remain in good condition. Hugo had the ability to rent a villa for a vacation.
Villas along the coast of Malibu could be considered prime locations. The average daily rent was $20,000, not including maintenance costs such as electricity and water bills. Like luxury items such as sports cars and yachts, the threshold for purchasing a villa was not high, but the cost of maintaining a villa was exorbitant. The real house from "Downton Abbey" TV series that became popular in 2010 was estimated to be worth $400 million, and the annual maintenance cost was as high as $8 million. Cleaning alone cost $1.7 million, and in addition to that, there were expenses for water, electricity, gas, security, lawns, gardens, and maintenance, all of which were quite valuable. This shows that while the cost of purchasing true luxury items is indeed expensive, the cost of maintaining them is even higher.
The $20,000 rent for a Malibu villa was not considered exorbitant, but the related maintenance costs had to be borne by the tenant, which was a considerable expense. However, Hugo was only coming for a short vacation, so he could afford the cost.
Looking at the villa in front of them, Hugo and Uma couldn't wait to enter the spacious house. They immediately began exploring, experiencing what comfort and luxury truly meant.
The villa was located just a few steps away from the Malibu beach, occupying an area of over 6,000 square feet (560 square meters). It would take some time to fully explore the four bedrooms and four bathrooms. The exterior of the house was made of stone walls, with a charming terrace offering pleasant views. The interior design followed an elegant European style. Most rooms faced the pool and the ocean, allowing a glimpse of the blue sky and sea. The breathtaking scenery made every corner of the house picturesque.
This was a true mansion, meticulously designed in every aspect. Luxurious sofas, winding staircases, vintage fireplaces, rustic bookshelves, intricate chandeliers, glass skylights revealing the sky, an indoor bar capable of hosting guests, palm trees casting shadows on the side of the house—every element left a deep impression.
Living in such a mansion was indeed a privilege. Although the space felt a bit too large and empty, Hugo and Uma were enjoying their intimate world and didn't want to leave. Originally, their vacation was planned for only one week, but as the week came to an end, Uma still didn't want to depart.
"We can stay here for a few more days. After all, we don't have any work commitments at the moment. Who knows when we'll have the chance to enjoy such leisure again?" Uma expressed her reluctance to leave.
Hugo couldn't help but smile. He also loved the place, but he maintained his rationality. "But our vacation has already ended, and we need to get back to work. The Golden Globe Awards are about to begin."
"From here to Los Angeles, it's only a forty-minute drive. Even if we have work, we can make it back in time," Uma said, sitting in Hugo's arms, her green eyes carefully studying him. "Besides, didn't Joseph say he would call you if there were any changes in work? Did he mention anything about it during your conversation yesterday?"
"No," Hugo sighed. He was somewhat disappointed by this, but he tried not to dwell on it. After all, every job had its complexities, and Joseph was also working hard. All he could do was patiently wait and trust Joseph.
"Well then, that's settled. Since it's a vacation, let's continue to enjoy it. If work comes up, there's no other choice but to go back," Uma persisted, increasing her persuasive efforts. "Now, let's stay here a little longer!"
Hugo felt somewhat helpless under Uma's persuasion, but a smile formed on his lips. He gently bit Uma's nose, "Well, how many more days do you suggest?" Since this was a leased property, they couldn't stay as they pleased. They had to inform the property agent. However, given that the Malibu villas were often vacant, especially during the winter season, continuing their stay wouldn't be a problem.
"Three more days, how about that?" Uma hesitated as she inquired.
Hugo took a deep breath. "Alright, three more days then." After all, there was no rush to return. They could enjoy life here, and Hugo had brought plenty of books to read, so the days would be fulfilling.
"Yay!" Uma immediately cheered. "Then we need to go to the supermarket, buy some food and fruits, and oh, insect repellent too. There are so many ants here, my goodness! Also, I ran out of sunscreen..."
"You can make a list, and we'll go to the supermarket," Hugo said, sitting up and holding Uma's waist. With a swift movement, he pinned her down on the sofa, then proceeded to trace her lips and collarbone, mumbling indistinctly, "Going to the supermarket from here is not easy, so we can't forget anything..."
And so, Hugo and Uma continued their stay in the Malibu villa. When Joseph heard the news, the first thing he saw was Charlize's eyes filled with an "I knew it" expression. After receiving Joseph's affirmative response, Charlize confidently extended her right hand, and Joseph, Alex, and Karl each placed a dollar in her hand.
Their seven-day vacation extended to ten days, then fifteen days. Finally, Hugo and Uma stayed until the day of the 24th, when they left Malibu in a hurry and arrived in Los Angeles to attend the award ceremony that evening, marking the end of their twenty-one-day vacation.
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