“Now, everyone,” I stated, as I saw members of my team file in for a group meeting. “I am sure you guys are wondering why I called you all here.” Most of the people shook their heads, except for one. That small voice actress, Shi, nodded her head in confusion. I’ll deal with her later. I shook my head. “Now the reason I called you all here is to discuss the current rumors that have been spreading throughout the studio. No, we are not going bankrupt. No, we aren’t having staff members ‘die’, they are just silently quitting. No, there is no demon in the infirmary. And finally, no, I have not been mistreating my employees.”
I saw my employees nod their heads in understanding. Shi, however, looked at Sammy quite hesitantly as if looking for reassurance. Tsk, what a child. She should be grateful I even gave her that job and not question my actions. I then gathered everyone’s attention again. “Can I please have your attention again.” When they all turned to look at me, I had a cheshire grin on my face. “I had a little birdy tell me that some folks in this room have been starting to form close bonds with their co-workers. I will not tolerate any sort of relationship here at the studio. This is a place of work, and I don’t want romance to get in the way of the marvelous work you could be producing for me,” I quickly stammered as I had a slip up. “I mean for Bendy and the audience!” More folks began to agree, but I saw how nervous Jack, Sammy, and Shi looked. Oh, so they have secrets then. Perfect. “One more thing before this meeting is adjourned. Most people have been getting rather hurt on the job,” I gestured to Tom who had no left arm. “So, with those expenses, I’ve decided to cut the infirmary funds and put the money where we really need it: Bedyland!”
“Joey, you can’t be serious!” Sammy said, slamming his hands on the desk. “We need funding there just in case we do have more injuries.”
“Then maybe people should stop drinking things that are clearly poisonous, right Sammy?” I grinned as I had clearly called him out on his actions. I knew that my appraised music director was stealing ink to drink at his own leisure.
“No.. you’re right,” Sammy said, slinking back into his chair.
“Now that we have covered that, this meeting has been adjourned.” I said with a bright smile on my face. When I saw everyone begin to leave, I quickly called out to two people, “Grant, Shi, won’t you two be considerate as to stay back for a moment. It won’t be too long.” The two turned around and entered the office.
“Mr. Drew, is there something wrong?” Grant asked. “I have already gone over the finances with you. What more do you need to cut for this secret project you keep from us?”
“Oh no, not that Grant. There is stuff you need to see to explain why we are making the cuts.” I replied.
“See what?” Grant asked before being horrified to see me strike Shi in the face. “MR. DREW?! Why did you just hit them?”
“To get it into their head that I OWN THEM!” I said with a growl. I lifted up one of her sleeves seeing the cuts on her arm. “Aw… little star has scratches I see. That won’t get you out of the work that easily” I struck Shi again on the arm as punishment for what they had done to themselves. Grant intervened to get me to stop.
“Mr. Drew, you have to stop,” he pleaded with me. “She is just a kid basically. You don’t own her. I think that the greed is starting to corrupt your mind, Mr. Drew.” Grant yanked Shi away and proceeded to walk towards the door.
“Grant, you can’t decide what I can and cannot do to my own voice actress!” I screamed as he ushered Shi out of the room.
Once Shi was out of the room, Grant approached me. I was nervous about what he was going to bring up. Then he slapped a folder filled with files. “Fix these finances and you should deal with your greed issue. Don’t do so and I’m calling the cops. This is abuse should not be condoned, Mr. Drew. Now please, get some therapy.”
And I thought I'd repurpose an old thing I was planning on writing about Cordelia in Fade To Black. I'm not sure when this would take place since it's been a bit since I read the book.
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As I stepped up to the door, I could hear people talking inside. I paused with my hand on the knob. It sounded like Joey and someone else. For a second, I thought about heading in, but I didn't want to interrupt whatever conversation Joey was having in case he got angry with me. So, I drew my hand back and listened.
"So, what do you think?" I heard Joey saying.
"Well, it's all real swell, Joey," a woman answered. I didn't recognize her voice, but it sounded pretty. "But..."
"But what?"
"Well, I'm just a tad confused, that's all."
"Confused? About what, my dear?"
"Well...." The woman paused for a moment, and I heard her exhale. "Why me, Joey?"
"Pardon?" I could almost hear Joey's cheerfulness faltering, which made me a little nervous.
"Surely, you have other friends you could show this to," the woman continued. "People you're closer to. I remember how we left things. I didn't think you'd ever want to speak to me again after that."
There was silence, and for a moment I thought Joey was about to yell.
But he didn't.
"You're the only one who still remembers," he said. His voice sounded... small and vulnerable. It was strange. I'd never heard him sound like this before. It made me rather uncomfortable. It felt like something I wasn't supposed to be hearing.
"Who still remembers what, Joey?" The woman asked, sounding exasperated.
"How wonderful the studio used to be," Joey replied. "You were happy there, weren't you, Cordelia? With Sammy and Jack?"
"I..." The woman, Cordelia I supposed, seemed to falter at this before exhaling again. "I was. But Sammy is gone, Joey. They both are."
"But what if they weren't?" Joey asked. "What if you could see them again?" There was something in his voice that made me take a step back from the door. It was somehow both desperate and manic, and it made me want to leave until this conversation was over. But I couldn't force myself to move.
"What are you talking about, Joey?" Cordelia was starting to sound as nervous as me now, and I heard muffled sound of heels on the floor, as though she were backing away.
"I've done something incredible, Cordelia." Joey's voice was becoming more intense now. I could practically see him in my mind's eyes, the manic gleam in his eyes as he smiled down at me. "I can bring the studio back. It can be just like it used to be. Don't you want that? Don't you want to see Sammy again?"
"Sammy is gone," Cordelia repeated. "You're talking nonsense, Joey!"
"it's not nonsense!" Joey insisted, annoyance creeping into his voice. "Here, take these." There was a shuffling sound. "I'm showing a special program soon. If you were those and watch the program, you'll see what I mean."
My stomach dropped. The glasses. He'd given her the glasses. I instinctively took a step toward the door. I had to get those glasses away from her before something terrible happened to her, like it had to Ollie. But... Joey was still in there. If I went in now, he'd want to know what I was doing. So I stayed where I was, waiting for the conversation to continue.
"A pair of glasses?" Cordelia sounded incredulous. "What am I supposed to do with these, Joey?"
"I told you, watch the program!" Joey said. "You'll see what I'm talking about. It's incredible, Cordelia! Beyond belief!"
Cordelia scoffed. "It's beyond belief alright. Do you know how mad you sound Joey?"
"Mad?"
I swallowed, taking a step back as I braced for the reaction I knew was coming.
"Mad?!" Joey repeated, louder and angrier. "You think I'm mad?!"
"Yes! You sound like a lunatic!" To my surprise, Cordelia didn't back down, matching his anger and volume. "You won't even tell me what this amazing thing even is!"
"You should trust me!"
"Trust you? Trust you?!" Cordelia laughed. It was a harsh and incredulous sound that made me flinch. "You expect me to trust you? After what you did to Buddy?"
I stood up a bit straighter at the mention of Buddy. Dot had talked about Buddy too. It did make sense that if Cordelia worked at the studio that she would know Buddy. And she seemed to blame Joey for whatever happened to Buddy too.
Joey's voice got low. "I didn't do a thing to that boy."
"Nothing that can be proven, at least," said Cordelia. "But we all know you're the reason he's missing."
"I don't have to listen to this. Get out."
"Gladly."
I quickly backed away from the door, just in time for someone to storm out of the room. It was a woman, probably about Mother's age. She was rather pretty, and had very kind features. Or, she probably would have if she hadn't been scowling so hard. She stopped when she saw me and her expression softened a bit.
"Oh, hello there," she said, giving me a small smile.
"Hello." I waved.
"Do you work for Joey?" She asked, briefly glancing back at the door.
I nodded. "The studio assigned me to be his PA."
Cordelia's expression darkened once more. "Ask to be assigned somewhere else. You don't want to keep working for him. Only bad things come from working for Joey Drew."
"What kind of bad things?"
"You'll either end up missing, injured, or worse."
"Or worse?" I repeated, feeling my heart beginning to beat quicker.
"Madness follows that man wherever he goes," Cordelia proclaimed as though reading a prophecy. "You don't want to be caught up in it. Trust me."
Then she was walking away, back toward the elevator. I was about to go after her, only for Joey to call for me.
"Rose? Is that you?" There was still an undertone of anger in his voice that made me a little nervous, but he already sounded less upset.
"Yes, it's me."
"Come on in. I've got things to show you."
I looked back at Cordelia, who was getting into elevator. "I'll be right there," I said, before heading inside.
