Pete had business out in tinseltown, he was there to check up on his unions and see some of the new female leading stars.  He loved Hollywood, the people were all actors wanting to hit the bigtimes and be on the silver screen.   Pete ran the product unions; he controlled the stage hands and sound productions.  No set no movie, no sound no movie.  No one went to see the old screen plays since film makers started using sound.  Pete could strongarm any of the major studio’s.  He didn’t need the actors, he could choose the actors and the directors so they all played ball.   Pete started a talent agency scoping out new beautiful faces and sending them out to Hollywood.  He liked playing the part of Studio Manager.  

He spent a week out there but didn’t see anyone that caught his eye.  So he returned to New York.  He was walking down Fifth Avenue when he bumped into this young lady.  She had a look about her that said strong and unafraid .  Yet she also had a smile that said innocent and curious.  Pete quickly assessed the situation and apologized for not paying attention.  She gave him a look as if she accepted his apology but wasn’t buying it.   He helped her pick up the items she dropped.  She looked agitated because one of the gifts was broken.   She grumbled that that was for her sister to say thank you for bringing her to New York.

Pete offered to purchase another since she just came out of the store.  To his surprise she said you altto pay, you broke it mister.  Pete liked the fire in her as she spoke her mind. He asked where she was from and she just looked at him and said why were not dating, just replace it so she could go. She was running late.  Pete smiled as he knew she had no clue as to who he was, nor did she seem to care, she was unaware of the dangers in New York.   Pete called her a feisty little bugger and she gave him a look that said if she was a boy she'd knock his lights out.  Pete smiled and shook his head and stretched out his arm indicating for her to lead the way.

Pete replaced the item that was broken with a bigger better item. It took him a few minutes to convince her to accept it.  She didn’t appear to be impressed with his money; she was pressed for time.  He told her he would drive her and she quickly rejected that she was not in the habit of riding with a strange man she just met, especially one that can pay attention to where he is walking.  Pete laughed at her comment as he had to agree.  Then she gave a smile and shook her head.  She apologized for her behavior and explained that she was warned about the men of uptown New York and young women from the south.  

Pete assured her that he was not that type of guy but she wasn’t buying that as he was dressed like the type, flashed cash like the type and spoke like the type.  Pete thought about it and said he may be guilty of a crime I never committed based on those allegations.  Then she told him a gentleman would introduce himself to a young lady where she was from.  Pete's eyes widened as he just realized he never gave her his name nor asked her her name.

“ I’m sorry, please allow me to start over, Hi Miss my name is Peter Gangi and I do apologize once again for bumping into you like that and breaking your item and for not introducing myself properly. May I have the pleasure of knowing whom I am addressing?”

She replied Ava.  

“Ava”. Her curt reply accompanied by one raised brow should have further indicated her annoyance with the man. But in the same instance, her curiosity was getting the better of her.  His confidence did intrigue her. Ava looked him up and down, in a not-so-shy manner, as a curve tugged at the corner of her lips. Her grin, giving away her presumed agitation at being held up and the loss of her gift. His attire and confidence did not go unnoticed and after all, the gift was generously replaced, at twice what she could afford, so she supposed she at least owed him a small debt of gratitude.

Ava outstretched her hand to Peter as her way of apologizing for her rude behavior. She was nervous and in a rush. Today was a day she had longed for many years. And she didn’t want to be late. First impressions were everything to her.

“Thank you for replacing the gift, I do mean that. I suppose that I am partly to blame; had I not been clouded in my haste, I would have noticed you.. in my way”, she now smiled rather playfully at her indication that he was indeed at fault. “But I am late, I am due for an audition and it is awfully important that I get there in time”.  She only had a couple of blocks to go and wasn’t interested in getting in a car with the handsome stranger. Ava gathered the bagged purchase and then smoothed over her dress, hands running firmly down her midsection and tugging slightly at her hips. Tilting her head, with a slight nod, she replied, “I bid you a good day, Peter, thank you again but I must be off. Perhaps one day, we will meet again”.

When Ava stated that she was on her way to an audition a few blocks away Pete nodded knowing that he was going to be there she would be auditioning at his agency in New York.  He didn’t want to let on he wanted this to be a surprise.  He smiled as she apologized and his eyes followed her hand as she smoothed out her dress.  She then turned and left the store.  Pete waited a few seconds as he looked at the people in the store.  None of them knew who he was or what he did for a living.  He kept a low profile and yet he was a little hurt that he was not known.  

Pete quickly left the store as he figured she was now a block further down the street. He quickly got to his car which was parked behind the store they were in.  He realized that he never got the items he was going into the store for.  He sped off to the agency and parked close to the doors and ran in.  He ask Chelsey at the service desk if there was a lady named Ava coming in for an audition.   Chelsey checked the list and said yes she should be in there in a half hour or so but she has a few more documents to fill out and so far everyone was running on time.  Pete nodded and thanked her then told her when Ava comes in don’t mention that he was there or ask if she knows him he wants to gage her talent without her knowing.  

Pete then went in with his talent managers Heather, Keith and Chad.  They spoke for a minute about normal stuff then he told them that he met a very attractive young woman named Ava.  He wanted them to really pay attention and see if she has potential.  If she does sign her, if not cut her loose.  He was going to sit in the back with a newspaper covering his face causing a slight distraction.  They looked at him puzzled. Normally they try to toss Pete out on the very attractive women at the auditions so they can evaluate them fairly while he tries to take them out on dates, now he’s asking them to evaluate this one.  They agreed but looked at each other as if he was pulling a fast one on them.

Pete went to the back of the room and then realized he needed a newspaper.  Keith always had one and when he turned to ask Keith was handing him one.  Pete smiled and thanked him and sat in the back corner.  Pete waited until Chelsey brought Ava in.  Chelsey stated all her paper work was completed and she was ready to audition for a small role in a movie.  Keith explained that the role was of a highschool girl growing up and had an older male suitor about four years older than her chasing after her.  She was attracted to him but had to act calm and collective so he puts in the work to get her attention.    They wanted to see her walk away, turn back and look then walk back and act as if she was rearranging flowers in a vase.  

As she started to audition Pete ruffled his newspaper as she just realized there was someone else in the room.  Chad told her not to worry, that was their boss.  Ava smiled and gave a nod that she was ready.   Pete listened intently and couldn’t wait to reveal who he was to her.  He kept the paper in front of him and as Heather asked her to say certain lines Pete would ruffle the paper just a little.  If he ruffled it alot Heather knew to ask her to read another line in the role Ava was auditioning for.   

Ava had arrived with a solid ten minutes to spare. Trying not to hyperventilate, as she was ushered in by the receptionist to meet the waiting talent managers Heather, Keith and Chad. After brief pleasantries, Ava removed her Halo hat, patting it gently atop her handbag awaiting on a nearby chair. A quick glance around the room, before she steadied her way toward the designated spot and nodded to the talent managers that she was ready. As she began her lines, a slight rustle of paper filled her ears. Ava pursed her lips, glancing at the direction of the disturbance, but promptly brought her gaze, full focus, on the scouts before her. She read her lines with flawless perfection, even as she was obviously being taunted by the avid reader.

This was not a huge part, but it would be her first part in a motion picture so Ava was pleased as punch when Heather asked her to read a few more lines, and then a few more. Each request followed another rustle of newspaper and Ava did raise a brow to the hidden figure but pressed on. But Ava became more confident with each added reading and it showed in her intense green eyes.  

When her audition was complete, Ava turned to gather her bags and hat. Looking back, over her shoulder, she was surprised to find this mysterious boss still sitting and still concealed. As her eyes scanned from top of the newspaper down to the man’s shoes, she was of the mind- perhaps half mad- to march right over to him and demand his intentions for his odd behavior. And then it clicked, the shoes. Not many could afford such expensive Italian leather Oxfords; but Ava assumed he could. Heels clicking with increasing intensity, Ava now stood before the shrouded stranger, “Peter…Gangi, is it? Why have you followed me? I demand an answer. Why would you try to mess with my audition”?!. She cleared her throat as it occurred to her that perhaps he was indeed “the boss”. Ava tried to compose herself and had not noticed the talent managers had scattered like mice and left the pair alone in the room. She waited with waning impatience, as he slowly lowered his paper.

Pete was smiling as Ava was wrapping up her audition.  His talent managers were going to talk about which candidates were the best choice.  Then Pete heard Ava call out his name with just a hint of doubt.  Pete lowered his paper and smiled.  He greeted her again, but she had a look that said she could kill him which caused him to laugh.  He stood up and gave her a bow then told her she did pretty good.  If she didn't they would have told her they would be in touch.  Then Pete saw her face mello just a tad.  Pete being himself asked if he could give her a ride home.

Then Pete took a step back as she sucked on her own tongue then rolled her eyes and asked him why is he still trying to get her in his car.  Pete looked at her and told her he wants to start a new business as an agent representing actors and booking them in movies for a fee.  He told her she has the face and the height and body shape that would land her in a lot of movies to include leading roles.  Pete waited as she shook her head and told him she doesn’t believe him.  She might be from the country but she’s country smart and knows when a man is flirting and he was over doing it.  

Pete looked at her and then grabbed her by the hand and took her to the front office.  He asked Chelsey for the current business proposal he presented two weeks ago.  Chelsey went to the file cabinet and pulled out a folder handing it to Pete.  Then Pete handed it to Ava and told her to read page seven.  As she read there it was the new planned goals to create a management agency over the next eight to twelve months.  Their objective is to represent actors in their new movie contrats and or negotiate current contracts with any and all major movie studios.   As Ava looked at the paperwork she gave a smirk.  Then she told him that it was very convenient that this file was so readily available.   

Pete then shook his head and just at that moment the scouts came back standing by Chelsey's desk and congratulated Ava on her performance and stated they would like to submit her for the role.  Pete then smiled and then looked at Chelsey.  Chelsey handed Pete an agent representative contract.  Pete then handed it to Ava.  Ava became excited and thanked the talent managers then she looked at Pete as he was trying to get her to sign a contract.  Ava stated that she needed to read the contract over and then think it over.   She might have to talk to her brother-in-law.  He has family members that are attorney’s then she smiled and said see, country smart.  

Pete then asked her again if he could give her a ride home,  Ava said she has taxi fare and there is also a bus line just a few blocks away.  She looked at Chelsey and asked was Pete always this aggressive?  Chelsey laughed and said yes most big businessmen are.  Pete laughed with them.  He wondered what was really going through Ava's mind at the moment. Ava turned towards Pete and just gave him a gaze as she slowly looked him up and down slowly.  Pete smiled and told her he would be happy to walk her home or ride the bus line or share a taxi-cab.   

Ava was pleased with her audition and even more please that the scouts and Peter Gangi thought she had done well too. But did he just proposition her for another ride? He had. Ava smiled and shook her head, “You don’t take no for an answer, do you Mr. Gangi”? Just then her stomach rumbled loudly. Embarrassed, she shuffled her feet, hoping it was not too noticeable. But as her gaze lifted, she saw him smiling again with that air of confidence. There was something about him that intrigued and slightly frightened her. He seemed the type that always got what he wanted. She wondered briefly if he ever had done a hard day's work in his life. He seemed very wealthy at a time when most could scarecely afford a proper meal. 

“Very well, I will allow you to accompany me for a taxi ride, if you can recommend a decent Italian restaurant. Nothing too far out of the way, you must be very busy, being such an important businessman”, she smiled as she clutched her bags tighter. Ava was excited about the role and wanted to look over the contract right away but her stomach reminded her that she hadn’t eaten for over a day. Trying to remain composed, she added “Maybe you can tell me a bit more about your agency, or this movie, or the fee associated with my signing”. Her excitement coupled with gnawing hunger had her words tumbling out and she held her breath a moment to pause. “Will you lead the way?