Prime Time by Susan Beth Pfeffer

Author:Susan Beth Pfeffer
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781497682832
Publisher: Open Road Media

9

“It’s very nice of you to see me on such short notice,” T.J. said to Harvey Waldman Monday afternoon. “I know how busy your schedule is.”

“Nonsense, T.J.,” Harvey replied. “Sit down, boy, and tell me what’s on your mind.”

T.J. sat down in an easy chair facing the agent’s desk. “Please don’t call me boy,” he said with his most disarming smile.

“Certainly,” Harvey said. “Whatever you want, Mr. Tyler.”

“T.J. will be just fine, Harvey,” T.J. said. “Boy simply sounds too juvenile. It’s taken me a long time to stop being a juvenile in this business and I don’t ever want to be mistaken for one again.”

“You’re not exactly a senior citizen,” Harvey replied. “Just how old are you, T.J.?”

“Sixteen,” he said. “But I’m no kid. If you’re to represent me, you have to understand that. I’ve been in this business three years longer than you have, and even if I’m not a senior citizen, I do have seniority.”

“I see you’ve done some research on me,” Harvey declared. “I’m flattered.”

“I’m in a somewhat unusual position,” T.J. replied, bending over slightly and making eye contact with Harvey. “So it’s very important to me to have just the right person representing me. I did some checking around, and your name came up over and over again.”

“I’ve done a bit of checking too,” Harvey said. “You used to be represented by Jack Donnell over at Major Talents. Why aren’t you still with him?”

“He dumped me,” T.J. replied. “When I needed him most. He called me last week, when the news about Hard Time High came out, but I have no desire to have him represent me anymore. I need an agent I can trust completely. And I wanted someone who wasn’t too old, too paternal. I already have a father, Harvey, and I’m not eager for another.”

Harvey nodded. “I’m twenty-eight years old,” he said. “And nobody’s likely to mistake me for your father.”

“You’re thirty-one,” T.J. said. “You were born in Queens, and after your graduation from NYU, your Uncle Mike took you into the family business, talent representation. As it happened, you were very good at it, and you seem to have a special knack for representing younger talents. I am a younger talent, so it seemed reasonable for me to contact you.”

“Don’t tell anybody I’m thirty-one, okay T.J.?” Harvey said. “You know how this town is. They’re age crazy.”

“I know that even better than you,” T.J. said. “I just wanted you to understand that I’m not going to put up with any lying. If we’re going to work together, and I hope we will, then we’ve both got to be committed to absolute honesty. If you can’t agree to that, then I’ll leave right now and not waste your time or mine. All right?”

“Fine,” Harvey replied. “I’m thirty-one, and I have a birthmark the size of a quarter on my right thigh. You have any blemishes you care to tell me about?”

“One,” T.J. said. “But it’s a big one.”

“I’m listening,” Harvey replied.

T.J. pursed his lips.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.