After deciding to take their chances in New York with a possible record deal sooner than they ever dreamed, Mike called Sofies father and Don Rimaldo on the phone. They were soon on the next private plane out. Besides his seldom trips to the british isles, this was Davy first plane flight in a long time. It was the first time on a plane for Micky and Peter. Micky was a bit nervous at first but after meeting two blonde stewardess's named Mandy and Alex, he got relaxed very quickly.
The plane came to a complete stop as a staircase on wheels came to the side door so the passengers could disembark. Peter was the first down the staircase. He ran into Sofies waiting arms.
"Its been so long." Sofie said after kissing Peter on the lips.
"I'll say, I almost forgot what you looked like. Who is that beautiful girl on the tarmac? Is he really mine?"
Sofie laughed. "You kidder." She hugged him tighter. "I don't know whos happy to see who more."
"I think I win that one." Peter said as they separated. They turned to see the other guys watching the display of public affection.
"Oh Peter hold me, hold me, and ne-vah let me go." Davy said adding a mock faint. Micky caught him.
"I've never loved anyone more." Micky sighed. He spotted another stewardess, brunette this time, board the plane. He dropped Davy flat on the tarmac "Hey cutie, whats your name?"
"Boys, those two are just boys." Mike rolled his eyes.
"Its been a long plane ride." Peter said. "All that time in one seat."
"Then lets go have dinner." Sofie said. "The meeting with the head of the record company isnt till tomorrow. I think you need something more than airplane food."
Peter nodded. "They had chicken ala king for us. At least that is what it said on the menu. I have no idea what was actually on the plate."
"We didn't get a good look at it. Davy ate it all." Mike explained to Sofie.
Davy was brushing gravel off of his coat. "I'm a growing boy. I need my strength."
"Plus running after all them chicks saps your energy." Micky joked.
"How did it go with whats her name?" Mike asked.
"Blaire." Micky sighed. "She said I could have a date if I could follow her. But that would mean sprouting wings and flying." He shook his head. "I could be a bird but I choose to be a Monkee."
Peter laughed at his friends lame comment. Sofie was silent however.
"My father has a table set up with The Bleu Room. We'll be late if we don't get going." Sofie said with a surprisingly stern tone in her voice.
"Ay!" Micky saluted her as a white limo approached them both. "Wow, them taxis are big out hereaways." He said adopting a hick accent. Mike refrained from smacking his friend upside the head. Micky ducked into the limo.
"Well it IS a big car." Mike said was a goofy laugh and followed his friend in."
"Who else is at this dinner?" Peter asked Sofie as she followed Davy into the limo.
"Justin Weyman." She answered as Peter climbed in.
"Who?" Peter asked.
"The Bleu Room"
"Justin Weyman, Tune-out Records." A young man with frizzy brown hair said as the party gathered around the table they would be sitting at. The bleu room was just that, a room. It was a privately reserved dinner suite separate from all the other diners at the Waldorf-Astoria. Once Peter found out where they were going, he was shocked. Sofie has this much pull? Was she really this rich? Why need more money, its not like if she could take it with her. Course that didn't mean she couldn't try.
"Justin is a old classmate of mine." Sofie said warmly. "He is running his own record label now. It turned a year old yesterday." She said applauding lightly. The others joined her before she abrutly stopped. It was clear who was in control here.
"I have good feelings about your band." Justin spoke with a slight british or scottish accent. Peter couldn't but reminded himself that he would ask Davy later if he could identify the accent. "I want you to be the first band I sign."
"You have no bands signed, and you lasted a year?" Mike asked skeptically as they all sat down.
"It takes a lot of work to keep afloat in this business, let alone have a product to present to the public." Justin explained. "Lets order dinner, I don't want to discuss business on an empty stomach."
"I thought our business meeting was tomorrow." Mike pointed out as a man handed him a menu.
"There is a meeting for me and Sofie. But that is just business talk. Stuff you guys know nothing about I'm sure." He said laughing.
"I'm sure we could offer a few things if given a chance." Mike said. "A band is ALSO a business. We know something about how to make something last. I think we want to be able to tell where we are without someone talking down to us." Mike said becoming stern. Peter poked his friend. Mike turned to his menu.
Justin seemed to chew on his bottom lip as Mike had said this. "Fair enough." He said breaking into a small smile. "But tonight, lets eat and get to know each other better."
"Groovy." Micky said.
"If there is anything we can do to make you feel more at home, then tell me." Justin said turning to a waiter. He said something quickly in french, then got up. "I have some urgent phone business to take care of."
"You can help me." Davy said. "That babe Blaire on the plane, can I have her telephone number?"
"Davy, thats my chick!" Micky frowned. He wanted to through one of the rolls at him but stopped. He was in a important setting, one dumb move could sink the whole deal.
"You snooze, you lose." Davy smirked.
"Sure. Its 555-1093." Justin said. "Sofie, there is one little detail you should hear on this phone call too." He said touching her shoulder.
"Be right there." Sofie said. "So eat up." She smiled. "Long day tomorrow."
"Long day?" Peter thought. "So far we're going to a meeting we really weren't invited to, and thats about it. Unless we go to libery Island, so far this trip has been a wash.
"I thought we were would be recording an album." Davy said.
"Me too but it takes a lot of these little uh things to go through to get the job done." Mike nodded. "I'll go see what the deal is. Maybe they will talk to me without the two stooges around." He said putting his napkin on the table. He vanished around a corner. As he left the waiters started to bring the soup course.
"Wow, I've never had a four course meal before." Micky said in wide eyed wonder. "I wonder what fork to use."
"I guess you go in from the outside in." Peter guessed. "Sofies been trying to teach me this fancy dining etiquette."
Davy nodded. Mike came back to the table.
"So whats the deal?" Davy said. "And what was that two stooges comment?"
"Nothing." Mike said. "Forget it."
"Whats going on Mike, I thought you would have some sort of answer for us." Peter said. "Heck I'm her fiance and she not telling me anything. Not even before the plane ride here."
"I'm sure it will happen eventually." Mike said as he spooned up some soup from his elegant looking bowl. "Eat up." He said as he blew on his soup. "This is hot."
Peter watched Mike for a minute. "What was he not telling me?" He wondered. He shook his head and began to eat his own soup. "He'll tell me soon, he can't keep a secret for long. Especially not around three nosy Monkee guys."
