Leading Lady | Charlie Barber x Reader.

School Girl Crush.

*Lil bit of smut here - enjoy!*

No. No. No. No.

You were just given your dream job, your first big role, with your dream director, but you were too drunk last night to remember to set your alarm. You had over slept.

You rushed out of the door. Your hair was a mess, your makeup was still last night's. But at least your clothes were clean. You opted for a pink tartan skirt, a white jumper, long black socks and your usual Doc Martens; with the laces tightly done up this time.

You ran to the doors of the theatre and checked your phone, 8:13AM...
It's only 13 minutes you thought to yourself, no big deal. 'Things happen' you repeated charlies words from yesterday. You took a deep breath and walked inside, trying to keep yourself composed. But it was empty. The elderly lady who sat at the front desk wasn't there, and there was no noise coming from the stage area.
"Um, hello? Anybody there?" You called out, no response.

You decided to go over to the stage and look for someone, anyone. Were you really that late? Had they all gone somewhere without you? You took a seat on the stage and let your lets dangle from it, as you looked up you noticed a tall figure emerge from the doorway. It was Charlie, holding two takeaway cups of coffee. You were so grateful, coffee always helped you with a hangover.

"Good morning." He said, coming over to you and handing out one of the cups.

"Morning! Sorry I was late, I, um, forgot something." You said, taking a sip. It was just black coffee, exactly how you liked it.

"You're not late, we are both early." He said, taking a seat next to you on the stage.

He asked you here before anyone else?

"Oh." You said, taking another sip from the steaming hot cup.

"I just wanted to give you some notes, on your audition, before the cavalry arrives." He joked, pulling a notebook from his pocket. You braced yourself for the criticism. "Don't worry, nothing bad."

Charlie watched you as your eyes relaxed, enjoying your coffee and swinging your legs over the edge of the stage. His eyes drifted to your skirt, how the shade of pink looked lovely against your skin, and your long socks that were a weakness for him. You looked like a perfect little doll.

"Um, Charlie?" You said, noticing he was lost in thought.

"Oh, sorry. So all I had to say really was look out to the audience more, I know it's hard when there's no audience there, but they need to see your emotions more than the other actors." He said calmly, you couldn't agree more.

You knew you weren't looking out to audience enough, but that was just nerves after falling flat on your face. You nodded and smiled politely. You were just grateful that was his only critique. It suddenly dawned on you that you had really impressed him and he wasn't just pulling your leg.

This role was really yours.

"Thank you again for this opportunity Charlie. It's always been my dream to be on Broadway." You said, placing a hand on his knee.

Charlie's body tensed up as you touched him, he looked down at your small, dainty hand. Your chewed up nails. He wanted to hold it so badly, just the smallest of touches from you was driving him crazy. He snapped himself out of it and turned to face you, your big eyes were burning into him. Your full lips were curled into a small smile.

"You're welcome." He smiled back. "So, tell me about yourself." He asked, genuinely interested in what you had to say. You were melting into his golden orbs as you spoke softly.

"Well, I moved here about a year ago. I worked at a bar with my ex, but then things got a little rough. So, I left him, got my own place and decided to pursue acting. I've done a few plays, commercials, taught kids guitar for extra cash...and here I am." You said, shrugging.

"Interesting." He cleared his throat. "What happened with the ex? If you don't mind me asking." He quizzed.

"Oh, well he was a drunk, abusive...and he slept with a girl who worked with us. I caught them in the stock room. Such a cliche." You said, rolling your eyes.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Charlie said, placing a large hand on your shoulder again, his touch ran through you like electricity.

"It's okay. Everything happens for a reason." You smiled. Placing your hand on top of his.

Charlie felt your hand, so warm and small on top of his. He wanted to pull you on top of him and kiss you right there, feel your soft thighs, run his hands all over your perfect breasts. He quickly snapped out of it when a crowd of actors and set workers entered the theatre.

You noticed the people flooding into the theatre and dropped your hand from Charlies. It was very loud, you were grateful for the short time where it was just the two of you. Your head suddenly pounding again from last night's tequila.

Charlie stood up first, taking your hand and helping you stand up as you both made your way off the stage. You spent your day going over the script, discussing the story and the lines. The other actors were just as excited as you. You were shy at first but as the day progressed you started to loosen up and join in with the conversation.

Once it hit midday it was time for lunch. You felt a little worse for wear and were grateful for the break. Luckily you had packed some food to bring with you so you didn't need to walk down the loud, busy New York streets.

"Hey! You not coming?" One of the stage managers, Dylan, called out to you, looking you up and down as you sat by yourself. He was handsome, bright blue eyes and brunette hair, scarily similar to Vic.

"Oh, I packed some food. Maybe another time?" You said, giving him a brief smile.

Dylan shrugged and walked over to where Charlie was standing, grabbing his phone and his wallet.

"She is a tasty little thing." Dylan said under his breath to Charlie.

"Dylan, behave." Charlie snapped, a wash of jealousy seeping into his veins.

"I don't think I can behave around...that." Dylan muttered, both sets of eyes watching you as you searched through your bag.

After Dylan made his way for the sandwich shop, Charlie looked over at you. You were so innocent, in a world of your own. He didn't want Dylan to make you feel uncomfortable. It made him angry to think about other guys trying to mess you around. He walked over to you, and you grinned up at him as you were eating your sandwich.

"Aren't you going out?" You asked Charlie through a large mouthful of food.

"I prefer sitting in here. The peace and quiet is good, can i join you?" He asked.

"Of course." You said, making space for him on the chair beside you, trying not to get lost in his maple syrup eyes.

"You, um, you have some sauce...on your cheek." He said, using his thumb to clean it off. You felt giddy and slightly embarrassed.

"Sorry, I'm a bit of a messy eater." You replied, bashfully. The feeling of his hands on your face was enough to stop your heart.

"Glad it's not just me." He joked, winking at you.

You both sat there together, eating and talking, enjoying eachothers company. You could listen to Charlie talk all day. He was so passionate about his job, not to mention, beautiful to look at. You had to stop yourself from drooling at him. He told you about how he founded the company, about his old life in Illinois, his son Henry and, his wife.

Wife.

Your heart sank. It hadn't even occurred to you that he was married, the silver ring on his finger now catching your eye as it glittered in the stage lights. You had spent all night thinking about him, about his hands on you. About how strong he felt when you hugged him. Literally spent all afternoon eye fucking him. You felt shameful.

"So, your said your wife is an actress?" You asked him, trying to shake the feeling of guilt. You weren't trying to flirt with him before, you just felt drawn to him. Even his scent, warm amber and leather and a hint of cigarettes.

Charlie sighed softly. The wife that he didn't want to be with, isn't the conversation he was picturing having with you. He just wanted to talk about you, he wanted to know everything about you.

"Yes. But she's currently working in LA, Henry is there with her." He said, taking a huge bite of his apple. A little bit of juice trickled down the corner of lips. You instinctively wiped it off with your fingers like he had done for you.

He froze as you brushed his lips. He wanted you so badly. Right on queue everyone started to pour back into the theatre, breaking off the tense moment you had just shared together.
..."Good work today everyone! Enjoy your weekends." Charlie called out to everyone.

You packed your script and highlighters into your backpack, zipped it up and made your way to the exit before a hand stopped you in your tracks.

"Hey again! So, any plans this evening?" Dylan asked, this guy was relentless. Before you could answer Charlie was at your side.

"We are going to go for some drinks, if you wanted to come?" Charlie said. His eyes were so warm and inviting as they studied your face.

"Sure. I'd love to." You smiled, Dylan was practically bouncing on the spot, excited that you were coming along.

"Great. It's a bar called Rens, just down the street. See you there around 8?" Charlie said.

He wrote the address down and handed it to you on a small piece of paper. You admired his perfect handwriting, you couldn't wait to see him again. Despite him being a much older man, a father and obviously happily married; you couldn't help but swoon.

It was fine to have a school girl crush, right?

Charlie went home and changed, thinking about your hands on his thigh, brushing his lips. Everything about you was like a drug to him. The way you smiled and bit your lip when you took notes. He couldn't help but imagine how you would look underneath him, how you would moan his name, how you would taste. He couldn't stop himself from getting hard at the thought of you, rushing to his bedroom to touch himself. Thank God he was alone.

"Oh, fuck." He moaned as he came all over his torso, imagining you on your knees for him, your playful eyes looking into his. He cursed under his breath, how was he going to keep his cool when he saw you tonight, he was no better than Dylan.
...You went through various outfits, thinking about what Charlie would like the best. It was stupid. He was married, there's no way he was interested in a clumsy, messy girl like you. But you had to look like a well established actress around him. Hot or not, he was still your boss, and you didn't want him to regret choosing you.

You settled for an oversized shirt dress, with a black corset belt, some chunky black heels and white socks. Vic had always hated your dress sense whilst you were together, it was nice to go out and wear what you wanted without being judged. But deep down you hoped Charlie would like it. You popped in some hoop earrings and a velvet choker and headed out of the door.