Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Cara Mia stood at the center of the stage and continued to smile. Unlike her previous auditions and interviews, this was a genuine smile. She looked out to the judges individually and noticed just how handsome they were.

Then her eyes met his. Gianni. She thought with a smile. However, the expression he was sporting was anything but pleasant. She figured he didn't want it to look like he knew her for fear of favoritism so she played along.

She stood there in a wine-red wrap around dress with a high split on her thigh with gold accessories and sandals to complete the outfit. Her long black hair framed her face in waves as a gold Greek halo crown sat atop her head. She truly looked like a Goddess and the way each judge looked at her she felt like one.

She had all of her good luck charms on her. She wore the necklace her grandmother gave her on her 10th birthday along with her mother's wedding bands and her father's favorite pendent pinned on. She had to ace this audition. This job would provide the exposure and money needed to take her dance career to the next level.

This club was already getting the buzz desired from any new establishment. She knew it was going to be a hit based on various things like the location and the types of people talking about it around the city. The vision for the club is what had her falling in love and auditioning. The role seemed made for her. Cara Mia was a performer and entertainer. She enjoyed assisting in transporting people to a different time and place where their only focus was enjoyment.

For as long as she could remember, Cara Mia loved to dance. She enjoyed the way moving and telling a story became one. She loved dance more than anything, but she loved teaching dance even more than that. She taught her first dance class when she was 12-years-old. Ever since she was hooked and this audition allowed her the chance to dance and most importantly teach it.

The singing aspect of the gig was just an added bonus. Her mother always told her that her voice would open doors and on this occasion it had. She didn't know why the Lead Choreographer needed to be able to sing, but she was thankful that she could. She hoped they would like her voice enough to give her the job that seemed made for her.

She currently worked as a dance teacher for Danvers' Dance Academy, where she also danced and performed for shows. However, her classes were limited and so was her creative control. By obtaining this job, Cara Mia would be able to push dance to new limits and showcase all that she's ready to teach and perform.

"Hi Cara Mia," the judge on the right spoke. "My name is Pietro Petrillo." Cara Mia couldn't help but smile at him. The man just oozed sex appeal. His somewhat long brown hair was slicked back to accentuate his hazel eyes. He had a scar on his eyebrow that just added to the dangerous vibe he was giving off. His beard was full and framed his full lips perfectly while his muscular build was present, but not overpowering.

"Hi, I'm Giovanni Petrillo." Cara Mia smiled at him. His smile was warm and charming. He was a baby version of Gianni and she liked that. His hair was longer, lighter and tousled. He was muscular, but leaner than Gianni and it worked for him.

They had the same cheekbones, mouth and smile, but where Gianni had blue orbs Giovanni had green ones. You could immediately tell they are brothers, which means Pietro must be their cousins.

Cara Mia brought her attention to Gianni who looked like he was arguing with himself. He finally spoke and it seemed to be through gritted teeth. "I'm Gianni and we'll just go ahead and get started. What song have you choo-" Gianni was immediately interrupted by Pietro. "Wait a minute there, cousin," he smiled looking back up at Cara Mia. "Let's get to know Ms. DiLaurentis first."

Cara Mia could tell immediately who the flirt was in the family and chuckled. "What do you want to know?" She offered holding her hands behind her. "Are you Italian?" Giovanni asked eyeing her. She laughed heartily. "Depends. If you'd ask my Grandma, I'm as Italian as it gets." She smirked at their expressions.

"But biologically no I'm not Italian. I was adopted when I was 6 months old by the best Italian parents." Giovanni and Pietro nodded, while Gianni just looked at her like there was still so much he needed to know.

"Do you have a boyfriend?" Pietro asked shamelessly earning him a slap upside the head from Giovanni. "No, I don't have a boyfriend." Pietro looked like the cat that got the cream and it made her want to laugh out loud. "Why do you need this job?" Cara Mia looked at Gianni who was eyeing her with a seriousness she didn't feel was necessary.

"I don't need anything. I stumbled on your auditions through a recommendation from my employer. I love to dance, but I love to choreograph more and this would allow me the opportunity to do what I love and for a crowd that I think would greatly benefit."

Cara looked at all of them now. "This goes beyond your club. This is an ecosystem that you're building here. You're giving jobs to people in the area who will in turn frequent your business, spread the news about it with free advertising, and before you know it you're a household name not simply because you're a Petrillo, but because your product is worth giving a shit about."

Cara Mia felt she may have overdone it by their shocked expressions and could practically hear her mother yelling at her in Italian from the grave.

"It's a yes for me, dog! You've got the job!" Pietro clapped standing up. "Sit down idiot!" Gianni barked. "Thank you for being honest with us, Cara Mia," Giovanni said. "What you said was true and that's how we feel about this club. I think it can do a lot of good."

Gianni couldn't believe what he was hearing. He swore this was just a rouse for Giovanni to party, but looking at his brother he knew he genuinely wanted the club to succeed despite the nefarious dealings that would be going on in the background.

"Do you have any special talents that would set you apart from the competition?" Pietro asked wiggling his eyebrows. Gianni wanted to take the gun from his side and shoot him right then and there. "I don't know about special talents," Cara Mia laughed. "But I do have a superpower."

They all looked at her with curious intrigue and she smiled widely. "I can read a room. I can read people. I can read atmosphere. I think this is a superpower that is very beneficial to men like yourself who need someone to be in charge of ensuring your guests are having a great time." Giovanni rubbed his chin and smirked. "Okay, I want to test this power of yours." Cara Mia nodded a 'let's do it' and smiled.

"I want you to sing three songs that you feel describes us. Let's see if you can read us. That shouldn't be a problem, right?" He smiled charmingly at her and she nodded. Cara Mia stared at each of them for a moment and then headed to her purse on the chair to the left of the stage. She hooked up her iPod to the sound system and found the instrumental for Pietro's song.

The instrumentals for 'God is A Woman' by Ariana Grande began to play and immediately Pietro was putty. However, when Cara Mia opened her mouth to sing they all were lost causes. The club had transformed and, in their eyes, it was just her and them.

Gianni hadn't noticed her attire earlier, but now as she swayed sensually and sang so passionately, he took in her curves, full breasts and hips that he needed to squeeze. They were all so enamored that they didn't even realize the music had stopped.

"Bravo! Standing ovation!" Pietro clapped thunderously as he stood to his feet. Cara Mia laughed hard as Giovanni pulled him back to his seat. "Why are we still here, this little siren has got the job!" Pietro protested. "That was really amazing, Cara Mia, but you have two other songs." Giovanni informed.

Cara Mia stared at Giovanni intently. He wasn't so much a tough cookie to crack, but she felt there was more to him than the boyish grin he sported and charming countenance. She had a risky choice in mind that she hoped wouldn't cost her the role.

She went to the back of the stage where she saw a lone guitar while she waited. She tuned it quickly and returned on stage. "You play the guitar?" Giovanni asked shocked. Cara Mia smiled at him and began strumming.

Baby can't you see I'm calling

A guy like you should wear a warning

It's dangerous

Now I'm Falling

There's no escape

I can't wait

I need a hit

Baby give me it

You're dangerous

Now I'm loving it

The moment Cara Mia got to the second lyric she couldn't help but mimic the large smile on Giovanni's face. When she got to the chorus Pietro began smiling and nodding his head. Cara Mia felt better about her risky choice and gave the song her all. The indie, acoustic cover of 'Toxic' by Britney Spears was dicey, but she had a feeling that behind the slight edge Giovanni sported there was a softy underneath.

"Okay, can we finally just give her the job already? She got you down to a tee!" Pietro exclaimed. "That was his favorite song all through high school." Pietro's information earned him another slap upside the head. "I must say, Cara Mia," Giovanni began. "I'm really starting to believe in this power. But there is no one that can read my brother. He is a locked book. So, if you can get his seal of approval then the job is yours." Cara Mia looked at Gianni and couldn't gauge his expression, but she was hopeful.

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