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“Enjoying your steak, dear?” Joey hummed under his pencil thin mustache. Joey wasn’t a type of man to bring people to an afternoon supper with him whenever it strikes 12. Well ever since Henry left, he never had a single chance to ask someone to join him for lunch. Susie Campbell was different though. She wasn’t just some random employee he had the pleasure to bring to lunch. If that were case he would’ve been weird. Susie was a star. She was born a star. So it would make sense for Joey to treat the social climber a little treat. If Joey were to be honest he never really asked her. It was more of her asking him to join for lunch, not wanting to upset the woman of course he would accept.
The blonde woman whirred into a singsong answer “swell as ever Mr. Drew!” She was in a good mood. Not that she wasn’t always in a good mood whenever they had lunch together. Usually she’d be frustrated at work, maybe rant a word or two during a conversation between them but was she ever in a frustrated mood when she was around with him? Nope. Not even in a heartbeat “The food is tasty. You always pick the best restaurants for lunches sir.” She winked at him. The food that settled on her plate was a still hot honey glazed garlic salmon. The plat already almost empty.
Joey chuckled from the compliment as he continued to dig in his Avocado and black bean pasta salad “that’s great. I knew you’d like it here.” he mumbled before grabbing a forkful of the macaroni and gobbling it on his mouth. He then hummed in delight of the taste.
“You always treat me right Mr. Drew. It’s so sweet of you.” she clasped her hands while smiling at the other man showing her dimples.
Not that I have any choice.
It was either her who order from the menu or he did. Though he could admit, she almost reminded him of her. Back when he was pocketless, out of cash, then he gets treated with kindness with someone. It was a good feeling. So he could gets why she was so enamored by the thought of being treated with so much humbleness by another person.
Joey was about to finish his salad before realizing that it’s been a minute since the woman had chirped up another word. Puzzled he looked at the dirty blonde. She was still smiling her hands were on her chin while her elbows rested on top of the table “Miss Campbell” he called hearing a seethe as his response “is something wrong? The mango shake is already there” his eyes pointed at the goblet like glass right beside Susie was still cold.
“Oh yes. I know, I know…” she trailed her words. She giggled as she set her plate aside almost at the edge of the table. Once again the confuse business man sets his spoon down in order to process what the hell is going on. “Though may I have a quick word about you boss?” She said in her thick Brooklyn accent he was all to familiar to.
His eyes wondered on his wondering what she wanted, slowly nodding he muttered “yes. Of course” he clapped his hands dramatically “is there something wrong? You were just complimenting the food earlier and now your radio silent all of the sudden” he mentions her strange actions “Do you not like the food? It’s okay if you don’t-“ he was cut off by a finger on his lips
“May I speak instead Mr. Drew? You talk to much” she said… well more like flirted but he couldn’t really tell. It almost sounded like an insult. Drew was quiet not knowing what to answer before nodding his head. Susie smiled dropping her hand “first off, the food is nice no need to be so crass about my opinions” she reassured him by patting his knuckle “second of all, I just wanted to tell you something that has been on my chest for a very long time. I don’t want to say anything unless you want me to though.” She gave butterfly lashes at him
Joey blinked “well… sure I guess” he accepted her request “but you better be quick, and finish that shake. Time is such a waste right now miss Campbell” he reminded.
Susie nodded quickly, almost making her head dizzy. Her voiced croak but she soon found her words. It was a long one. “ Joey Drew, when I was first brought into your project I thought I would be out of place. I thought I would be shunned by the world as others rise and I was just the backup of a character. But you… you have a way for words. Words that make a woman like me felt so drawn in by your way of words. It made me feel good about myself. It made me realize, that my ego needed a little work. It did, I become a star. I worked so hard, never slacked a day and it came to the point where everyone knows my name. People mistakenly call me my portrayed character, and it makes me fill gleefulness. I may say it was all my hard work, but if it weren’t for your wise speeches. I would’ve been nothing.” Her words were very pleasant to hear. Joey had many compliments in the past, hers was much more lengthy and it couldn’t help but give the man a warm smile.
“Well I’m glad you think of that miss Campbell. I too couldn’t have done it without you. You and your beautiful voice.” He chuckled, his eyes looked down to scoop a pile of macaroni of his meal towards his mouth “in other words I really don’t have anyone else to be with. Not is there someone who is interested in me” that came out as words of nothing but jokes and giggles.
“Oh. But there is” she giggled back.
Joey’s hand stopped not even lifting his fork up for it to reach his mouth, small pieces of macaroni falling from his fork. He looked up, eyes squinted “what…what do you mean?”
Couldn’t stop from her little chitters any longer she finally fesses up “Joey Drew… I am… in love with you” she finally piled up her words her eyes not taking off the man.
His eyes widened in shock, his body was so stiff that his fork fell from his hand to the play making a small clink! Sound. A small grunts came out from his mouth. Groaning. His breath felt heavy. Good God, what did he bring himself into. Miss Campbell waited the response from the older man, but despite her glee and delight she could sense that something was quite wrong. It took a moment, and maybe a tissue clean for him to clear his throat joined his hands together. Professionally he gave his answers. Just like with Susie, it was a long one. “ I must say the confession seems to have caught me clears throat quite off guard. Susie, darling , I get it. You are completely romanticized by me it’s pretty clear and out of the opening. But I may remind you, you are talented, kind, maybe even beautiful. But I don’t see you the way you see me. I see our relationship as two people who are in a one-sided situation. Right now, if I ever mentioned this, I am not seeing anyone. I am not saying I don’t want to be in a romantic or a sensual relationship. But if I had to say one thing… it’s that… I’m not ready yet.” His hand reached her shoulder “ does that make any sense?” It sounded a little bit demanding but if the business man had to be honest he just wanted this to be over in every second.
The Voice Actor’s prosperous smile turned around replaced into a small frown. The words seemed to hurt her, she felt emotional and embarrassed. How could she have know that this would’ve happened? She sighed “of course Mr. Drew, apologize for my acts” she puts her hand between her inner thighs looking down “well if the time comes, you’ll meet a wonderful woman soon” she assured him but it kind of felt like she needed to be reassured herself.
Joey but his lip “I wouldn’t say that”
“How do?” She croaked her eyes peaking his
He didn’t know if it was the right thing to say, but he was so sick of the confusion that he slowly and out of the blue said the words he promised himself never to mention.
“I like men”