Love Me In The Dark (A Damon Story)

Chapter 1

Simon's POV

Another night where I end up totally exhausted after all these meetings. I seriously need a break from all this but that would mean loss of time, which equals loss of money. The producers in London are asking for something new, something fresh that isn't just another singing competition like The X Factor or Pop Idol. My talent show has done excellently in America and it's probably time to bring it to Britain. At 49 years old, things aren't as fluid as they were when I was 20.

It's a rainy night and I decide to pop into Starbucks for a coffee. I park my car and get out with my laptop backpack in hand. I enter the place and several people look at me, different kinds of looks, a lady looks at me with the desire to throw herself on me, some girls look at me with hatred. They must be girls who auditioned for me. It doesn't matter how they do it but the stares are always on me. I occupy a table quite far away and get the pretty girl to take my order while I go to check my options on my computer.

I am beginning preparations for the search for the people who will be the judges for this show. They must be people who have an impact on British talent. I ask the pretty girl at Starbucks to get me another coffee while I go through my options on the computer.  Pierce Morgan might be a good choice, he was a good addition on AGT a few years ago but it was impossible for him to stay in America, although, on second thoughts, I don't know if he would connect with the audience that much. There should be 4 judges, and I will obviously be one of them. Amanda Holden, my dear friend, must be on the panel. I look at my computer scrolling down the list of choices and I see who will immediately be judge number 3, the talented Alesha Dixon. All that's missing is someone else, a judge who connects with the audience, so much so that more and more people are drawn to watch the show. I scroll down further and no one name quite convinces me.  The noise of the television and the people laughing throws me off a bit. Why did I come here in the first place? I turn to the screen to see what's got everyone so amused and on the screen is a tall brown-haired guy trying to kiss another guy while they dance to a George Michael song and the shorter guy resists. The pretty girl from Starbucks comes back with my coffee and leaves it on the table.

"Why do you think that's so funny?," I ask the girl.

"You don't know the show, Mr. Cowell?" the girl asks with an amused tone in her voice.

"No," I reply. I work in television but I hardly have time to watch it. Ironic, I know.

"It's Little Britain, the best comedy show in the UK if you ask me," she replies without hiding her love for the show.

"Why is it so funny when a guy tries to kiss another guy?", I ask without getting the joke. Comedy is not my thing.

"Because Sebastian is in love with the Prime Minister, he's his assistant in fact, but he doesn't reciprocate as you could see," she explains the sketch, "David sure knows how to make you laugh," she adds with a smile on her face.

"David?", I ask.

"Yes, the comedian who plays Sebastian, his name is David Walliams and he is the funniest and most charismatic person I have ever met," she replies and I have to say that her eyes sparkle when she talks about the man on the screen.

I continue to watch the show and Walliams has several characters in the show, mostly dressed as a woman, but he is quite funny and I can see how the people in the cafe are amused by his appearances. Just what I need, I think, this David Walliams could work for the show. I finish my coffee and grab my laptop. I walk over to the cash register and hand my card to the cashier. I see the pretty girl again and she smiles at me.

"How can I contact David Walliams?," I ask her.

She takes a napkin and writes down the comedian's social networks. Surely walking out of here I'll have my team contact him. I take the napkin and give the girl a smile. I leave the Starbucks and get in my car. I grab my phone and call my assistant.