Page 8 of Billionaire's Second Chance

"I’m done with this audition. You all may go on, but I’ve got my actress," I informed the rest of the jury and reached for my buzzing phone.

“Hello, Harry," I greeted my manager on the other end of the line.

“I’m sorry I’m not there, Damon. I’m so close,” Harry spoke with urgency while car horns formed a chorus in the background.

“Don’t bother coming. It’s a total bore." I informed him.

I took one look at Agatha and then stared into space.

“Who put Agatha on the auditioning team?” I whispered into the phone.

“That would be me. You asked for the best.” Henry declared proudly.

“Yeah, not the best of the bores," I half-yelled and hung up.

“You could take some time off if you’re exhausted. We’ll handle the rest," Agatha suggested.

“I don’t need time off, Agatha,” I said sternly. “What I need is a star. Not just any star.Thestar. My star. This is a Damon Alexander movie. I don’t do half-baked adaptations of bestsellers. And trust me, I know my stars when I see them. Out there.” I pointed to the door. “I don’t seemystar there.

“Then we call for another audition,” Agatha said.

“The other girl, Ava. What’s so bad about her?” I gathered my eyebrows and faced the three sets of eyes.

They all looked at each other, neither of them wanting to speak first.

“I say we give her the role,” I suggested.

“You’re kidding, right?” Agatha asked.

I narrowed my eyes.

“Since when do I kid about lead roles, Agatha? She made that script come alive. Didn’t you all feel it?”

“She doesn’t have the baring audacity of a superstar. The public would get bored with her," Agatha insisted.

“That’s for PR to worry about. I need someone who can perfect the craft of acting, not some cocky model,” I raised my voice and paced around them.

“Pardon me, Damon, but in my Hollywood experience—" Carl mumbled.

“In your experience, Carl?” I cut him off.

“I was only trying to make a point, Boss,” he stuttered.

“I’ve been in Hollywood longer than you’ve been alive, Carl. I had my first gig when I was nine. How old are you? Thirty-five? And you talk to me about 'experience'?”

“Well, some of us had to work our way to the top,” Carl mumbled, looking down at his feet.

I stared at him in disbelief and clenched my fist.

“I didn’t mean it that way. I was only trying to make a point,” Carl looked up, realizing what he had just said.

I knew what his point was. Carl and his brother probably assumed I had walked into success by virtue of my father’s experience in the industry.

But with four Oscars and three movies in the top charts, I could prove them wrong. Yet, some assholes like them still had the nerve to doubt my ability.

“I know exactly what you meant, Carl,” I assured him, taking a long look at everyone in the room.

“All those in favor of having Ava as our lead cast, raise your hand,” I demanded.

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