Penny spent the day before her audition memorizing her monologue. By the end of the day, she could say it in her sleep, word for word. Before going to bed, she practiced her two songs. She also got her outfit ready. She got a pair of black jeans, a white button down shirt, a burnt orange cardigan, and black booties. It was a causal look, but still impressive. It showed effort.
She woke up early to take a shower. Straightened her hair to perfection and applied simple makeup with easy. Her usual look. Before leaving the bathroom, Penny took a good look at herself. She was entering a new life. She was in a new city, about to find a new job.
She set out a sign, looked in the mirror and said, "You can do this. You are awesome and they will see that. Go out there and crush it."
Downstairs, she ate a light breakfast with a large cup of coffee. At this point, she drank so much coffee it barely affected her. She was a true caffeine addict. Afterwards, she sat on her phone and waited for the fateful text from Danny.
She spent a good hour pacing and practicing until she got the text that he was there. She kissed Ms. Birdie on the cheek and rushed to the elevator. Outside, Danny was leaning against his car, waiting for the young woman. She popped out of the front door, and he said, "You ready, my shining star?" He couldn't help but boop her nose.
"As ready as I'll ever be." She was a little bouncy, but she was still smiling. In the car ride, Penny closed her eyes and did some breathing exercises. This is what she did every time before going on stage. It calmed her down and help her enter a character.
She told herself that it wasn't a big deal. It was just any normal audition she would go to at her home city. In reality, though, it was not. This was a huge deal! She is auditioning for Broadway shows. Even Off-Broadway was very elite. Even being cast as a swing in New York City could be life changing.
Danny already set up an audition for Penelope Marshall. The waiting room wasn't too busy since it was by appointment. They found two seats together near the back of the room. While they wait, they were just silent. Neither knew what to say. It wasn't like this was her first audition. Danny could say words of encouragement, but he already knew that she has heard those things a thousand times.
"Everything is going to be fine!"
"You are going to do great!"
Penny knew that she was going to do great, but sometimes great isn't good enough. She saw true talent in this room, talent of all kinds. It is truly up to what the casting director wants. So, she and Danny sat in silence.
Eventually, her name was called.
It was time.
She grabbed her folder full of everything she needed: resume, headshots, and sheet music. She looked at her manager, and they both smiled at each other. Penny turned her head and walked confidently to the woman who called her name.
Penny walked some distance, and they only sound was the steps of her boots and her nervous breathing. The woman guided Penny into a large room, where there was a table, grand piano, and three people, including the man at the piano.
"Hello, Penelope Marshall..." A man said, looking at the paper. He looked up at the redheaded girl to confirm that this was the right person. Penny nodded. "So, you can give us your resume and you can give him," he points to the gentleman at the piano, "your sheet music."
Penny did just that, giving each person a polite smile.
"First, I wanted to see you perform your monologue. After that you will sing for us. There will be no dancing at this audition."
Penny replied with a simple "Okay."
She closed her eyes for a brief second, took a nice breath in, opened her eyes, released the breath, and began. She did it exactly how she did it yesterday and this morning. No mistakes, no slips, no breaking character. She put her everything into the dramatic monologue.
When she was finished, she closed her eyes again and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes to look at the casting director and the other person with him. They both had a natural face on. It was the way with auditions. The people judging cannot express any emotion to lead on the person. It was like poker, in a sense.
The casting director gave her a polite smile and thanked her. He also said, "Are you ready for the next part of the audition."
Penny agreed. The casting director nodded towards the pianist, who played her songs perfectly. Her two songs were played back to back, with very little time between, but she was okay with that. Penny also performed as perfect as possible. She was firm in her timing and was confident in her notes. She watched the two people the whole time, making eye contact every so often. The two people did look like they were enjoying her performance. Of course, though, they could never say anything.
When she was finished, again they both gave her a polite smile and said, "We will let you know soon."
And with that her first New York, Broadway audition was over. And, what, it took a total of fifteen minutes. Penny left in a good mood. She, majority of the time, left auditions in a good mood. They were like a thrill to her, a rush of adrenaline.
Penny was confident in what she was doing.
"How did it go?" Danny said once she was in front of him, with his arms open wide.
Penny embraced the hug, "I think I did well." They let go and were smiling at each other.
He told her how proud he was of her, and how strong and talent she was. She just moved to New York a few days ago and also got married. This would be a huge shock to anyone. Not to mention her father died a little over a week ago. Danny admired what she was doing but knew there had to be something else.
It was none of this business though.
They walked to the car and decided to go to this Thai Restaurant for a late lunch. Penny, when was home, never really had the chance to eat out. In college, she would eat lunch on campus. More recently, before her father died, she would stay home and have Ms. Birdie cook for her. She never needed to eat out when she had a wonderful cook living in her house.
At lunch, they talked about Danny's past clients and boyfriends and Penny would talk about funny and embarrassing moments on stage. It was just light, and fun small talk. Something that friends too.
Penny couldn't finish all her food, so she got a little box of amazing food to go. Danny drove her back home, while Quentin's home.
He told her that the news would come out at the end of the week and to call him right afterwards. They discussed how if she got a callback, there will another, different monologue to choose from as well as a character to audition as. If she was not invited back, they might have to reevaluate, based on what the casting director critiqued. He will find a new audition for the next week.
She kissed on the cheek and thanked him for all support he is giving. Danny wanted to hang out with his new friend more, but he had work to do back at his place, searching for auditions for his other clients.
Daniel Romano did not imagine that when he was an adult, he would become a manager for starving actors in New York. However, he was always a good cheerleader for others. To the point that he was a very talented cheerleader in high school. In college, he performed for the best. Dan used to say that being a cheerleader was the gayest thing about him. Other than the fact that he was attractive to males. Daniel was very familiar with a competitive and auditioning scene. He had gone through many himself for various football teams. He was so close to making it into one popular New York team, but he was injured in one of the practice.
He hurt his back very back. Close to the point that the doctors thought he would never be able to walk again. This was devastating news to him. Cheerleading was his life. Now, his life was over. After a few years of heavy recovery, he was able to function normally, and it was time to find a real job. He also happened to find himself a new boyfriend. This one was a manager for some of the greatest people on Broadway. He started teaching Danny his ways. Dan had a knack for this stuff because of this own experience in a competitive field.
The couple did end up breaking off, but Danny was still grateful for him. He gave Danny a new purpose and job in life. One that he also loved.
This was actually one of the stories he told to Penny on their little lunch date. She can see the merit in the tale. That even if acting doesn't work out, she can still be happy in the end. However, to Penny, this was her world. She dedicated her whole life to this. It was the only thing she was allowed to due, the only reason she could leave her house. If she didn't have acting and singing, she might not survive.
***
Quentin Romano, since Monday, has been working very hard at his family's company. Right on Monday, paperwork was drawn up for combining the two companies. The companies were fairly different, but it didn't matter that high up. Quentin Romano would remind CEO of both companies, and the workers will remind where they were. This means that Quentin will have to appoint someone to oversee that California branch, so that he doesn't have to travel constantly.
He has been looking over files, signing papers, and all that corporate stuff. However, there was only one thing on his mind.
My new wife. That was the first time he called Penelope is wife.
When he saw her perform in his living room, hearing her sing, it felt like a little switch. It was amazing. She was clearly more than what he thought, but he still tries to convince himself that she is the enemy.
Damn it.
He was really starting to like the girl. Not romantically. At least, not yet, but he could see himself making her a friend.
The feeling of guilt after seeing her had almost become overwhelming. He saw how she froze when he went back to the apartment. It was not fair to make her feel safe in a place she was stay.
But this is my home he reminds himself. I shouldn't trust her. There was no reason to trust her, and to Quentin, plenty more reasons to not trust her.
He didn't know where she came from, other than from San Francisco. She was a mystery. Why was there a marriage clause in the will? There wasn't a lot that added up with her. He didn't really see her grieve her father. He didn't see many emotions other than the shallow emotions he gave others. The first deep emotion he saw her produce was watching her cry in her bedroom.
Quentin wondered and wonder. He just never thought that abuse was a possible option. In fact, it never even crossed his mind.
He has tried many different things to take his mind off of her and focus on something different. The one thing he hasn't tried was sex. It had been a little bit, but it was worth the effort.
He takes out his phone during his lunch break to swipe through Tinder, the best place to find someone to hook up. He does use a fake name on the site. His last name was recognizable, but no one pays attention to what businessmen look like.
By the end of lunch, he and a random person were chatting, and planned to meet at her apartment that night. Quentin didn't have too, but he decided to follow Penelope's one rule she gave him. He missed that feisty side of her, it almost seemed natural. Now, he snuffed the fire out of her.
How long will it take for the fire to come back?
His mind was now focused on this woman, beautiful. What would she look like with red ha- He stopped the thought before it was finished. It was a disgusting, forbidden thought.
He still got his work done in time, his mountain of work. The almost skips to his car and drives off to his apartment to change into some casual clothes. He walked into his apartment and hangs his bag on the side wall alongside his jacket.
He walks down his hallway, and when he pops out into the living room, he sees Penelope eating dinner at the table. Just, quietly eating in peace.
She heard the footsteps and looked up at him when he popped out. She froze again.
"I-I'm so sorry," Penny stuttered out. "I didn't know what time you came home."
He looked at the girl. She was scared of him because he shouted at her once. He watched her as she started to collect her dishes. He couldn't help but say, "I come home around this time every day. I am heading out tonight and won't be back until tomorrow. You can stay where you are." He doesn't even know why he was explaining himself. It was a big place. He could share it. No one should feel unsafe in a place they are staying.
It was like she didn't hear him. She continued take her things and she scurried to the kitchen.
He lets out a sign and walks to his room. There he changed into some jeans and a normal t-shirt. He even made sure to packet his wallet with some condoms.
With that he left for the random woman's apartment across town.
Penny continued to hide away, thankful that he didn't yell at her. She is hoping that him yelling at her was just a one-time thing. So far, it does. She broke one of their first rules, and he was actually okay with it. Not entirely, she could see the frustration in his face.
After that interaction, they didn't see each other for a whole week.