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quirements of each executive level within the studio. He was making a serious breach of the company's general etiquette in persisting in his enquiry. This fact, knowing that only something quite extraordinary must be in the wind to make the Staff Development chief act this way, led to Cort's almost gentle reply. "I expect Angie to serve as the hostess to my weekend parties at Whiteside," he said. "She's an ex- ceptional hostess, and charming in conversation with both the ex- ecutive and the artistic crowd. I must admit I enjoy her company at my house immensely, but I'm afraid I blackmailed her into serving as hostess primarily to introduce her to everyone." He paused and took a deep draught of his Scotch, and then turned to refill it. "Funny, you know, but now I get calls from people asking to come over for the weekend. That never happened before Angie. Tommy Scopes was tell- ing me only the other day, but I thought he was joking, that everyone comes to meet Angie. He could be right." Cort turned his gaze back to the grey eyes, framed in rimless glasses, across the table from him. "We are not lovers, he said firmly. "Though it's not for the want of suggesting on my part. I think she likes me well enough, but it's pretty clear she's not the type that's usual in this business. I'd guess she'd have to be pretty much in love with a guy, even married to him, before she'd go to bed wih him." He downed his second drink, and raised a quizzical eyebrow to the other man. "Enough for you?" he asked, his voice suddenly harsher.

"Oh... oh, yes!" Mayer nodded, his troubled voice an odd con- trast to his appearance. Then he fell silent, beginning a rapt perusal of an out of place thread on the knee of his trousers.

"Well, come on, man," Cort started angrily. "What've you got that I ought to know about Angie Saunders?"

"It's not her real name," said the other, worry still tinged in his voice.

"Is that all?" exploded Pacific's President, his voice full of in- credulity.

"I think I'd better start at the beginning," said Mayer, almost in a whisper. He waited a moment until Cort nodded for him to go on. “I usually get tips that put me on to the kind of talent we want. Believe me," he grimaced, "it costs me plenty to pay off all the people who recommend....'

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