Inky Dismay

Chapter 4

The door swung open with a force as Evelyn stormed inside her office. Her blood was boiling as Joey denied yet another pay raise. "God damnit" Evelyn whispered under her breath as she sat at her desk her hands covering her face as tears of anger streamed down her face. "Maybe I should leave like Henry did... I cant take this shit anymore." she mumbled. She really didn't want to quit, especially at the fact she loved her job as a writer. But she isn't being paid...and she NEEDS that money...

Evelyn stopped her thoughts when she heard commotion going on outside the office she just came into, she peaked her head out to check out what it was all about. But she also tried her best to hide the tears of anger and frustration.  

"Hey dad where do you want me to put this tuba." a now young adult Tommy had asked his father. Sammy had turned around from his work looking at his son. "Go set it in the recording room were gonna need it for the next music score." Tommy nodded and walked off with the tuba to the recording studio where he sat the tuba down and looked around the room. This studio had practically raised him, ever since he was a small little boy. Tommy perked up when William came in with some extra boxes, his father asked for his help since he couldn't...lift as well anymore. To Tommy's knowledge...he didn't know why. 

"Thanks again William..." Tommy muttered out as he took the last of the boxes in his hands. William nodded silently. The years hasn't been treating the poor delivery man to kindly. His mother passed away and he hasn't been able to recover since then. William still tried his hardest to be the go-getting guy, but with how stressed he was...it just isn't the same. 

Sammy suddenly started hacking and rasping out some nasty coughs, making Tommy panic as he rushed to his father's aid. Sammy simply waved him off as he quickly made his way back to his department of music. Tommy was frustrated with his father's actions, he needs a break. But no matter what, Sammy was too stubborn to get help. 

Tommy stared at the door his father walked into for a few minutes before walking off heading upstairs. Tommy had wondered off to the writing department bumping into Evelyn. "Oops sorry Eve." Tommy said making sure Evelyn doesn't fall. Evelyn looking at Tommy surprised at how big he's gotten since she not seen him in months . 

"Hey Tommy jeez you've gotten big."  Evelyn said looking up at Tommy. She remembers seeing his two year old self running around the studio causing havoc. "Yeah I've been eating my vegetables" Tommy said with a grin. Evelyn couldn't help but smile at the kid she still couldn't wrap her head around the fact that he's nineteen and working in the studio now. "How's the engagement with Norman going, you guys have a wedding plan yet." Tommy asked.

"O-oh its going good, but no marriage plans yet." Evelyn says with a smile, fiddling with her engagement ring. Tommy looking at Evelyn noticed red her puffy eyes but didn't say anything. "Well I better get going. I got to talk to Joey." Tommy said with a sigh before walking off towards Joey's office. Evelyn scoffed at the name of her boss.

"Good luck..." She she told the boy before walking back into her office, not before patting William's back, who was sitting on a chair depressively.  It seems like everything has changed. Half the workers that once worker here left. Most of the old workers who stayed were Evelyn, William, Norman, Sammy, Allison, Tommy, and Wally. Tom visited every so often, for the sake of Allison's health. Susie was fired and disappeared years ago...Henry left back to his wife...and poor Grant was stressing 24/7 over the taxes and bills that needed to be paid with the employee's money!! There was some newish workers, like Buddy. But even he went missing. Even a day here at the studio was like hell. 

Tommy sighed to himself. This place wasn't what he remembered at all. It was like the life and fun was sucked right out of it. This place was meant for dreams to come to life!! It felt more like a nightmare now...But Tommy refused to leave. Especially with how strange his father has been acting. Sammy has been getting sicker...angrier. It was like the music director was completely anxious when he wasn't at the studio, near his office!! And Tommy knows that isn't normal. That's why he's gonna discuss things with Joey. Maybe talk him into letting his father have a break? He could only hope. There's always hope. 

Tommy trembled slightly as he knocked on the door to Joey's office. Why was he afraid? He doesn't know...Gulping down his fear, he knocked twice on the door. He waited for permission, and luckily, it was given to him. Tommy opened the door and peaked his head in, where he saw the smug looking man. Joey Drew.

"Ah, Mr. Laurence. Come in dear Tommy. What is it that you need? Or do you simply wish to waste time?" Joey said with a chilling smile. Like it was forced. Tommy sat down in the seat in front of Joey, clearing his throat to speak. He didn't want a voice crack to come up now of all times. 

"Well sir, I've come to you in regards of my father..." Tommy started as he watched Joey light up a cigar. The mustache man offered one to Tommy, but he declined politely. Joey only shrugged as he let out a puff of smokey air.

"So, your father you say? What's so important that you needed to tell me that Sammy couldn't tell me himself?" Joey asked impatiently. Tommy bit his tongue in annoyance, trying his best not to snap at the man. He lout a heavy breath as he continued to explain.

"You see Mr. Drew, My father is ill...And I wanted to ask if he could have a couple of days off? I've tried everything to help but he just isn't getting any better. I'm thinking the ink fumes is starting to effect him..." Tommy looked at Joey's unreadable, and almost soulless eyes.

"No." Joey simply stated, surprising Tommy.

"No? What do you mean no?! My father could be dying and you don't care?!" Tommy didn't mean to shout, he really didn't. But seeing how little this man cared just itched him in the wrong way. Joey stood up, looming over the boy. 

"Let me make this clear. Unless I say you are to have breaks, then you are too work. If your father is walking and breathing, then he is fine. Now, speaking of work. You have a job to uphold Mr. Laurence." Joey seethed as he pointed to the exit to his office. Tommy glared, but listened nonetheless as he left the office. His fists clenched in anger as he just wanted someone to humble Joey's ass. 

Tommy had walked past the writing department. Evelyn caught a glimpse of him and saw what kind of mood he was in and had a feeling the meeting with joey didn't go so well. "Hey Tommy... how'd the meeting go" Evelyn asked softly. Tommy looked at her and kinda just brushed her off heading back to the music department. 

Evelyn sighed seeing Tommy like this had pissed her off she had reached her final straw she's had enough of Joeys bullshit. Evelyn had started walking to Joeys office feeling her blood pressure rising as she got closer to the door.

Joeys office door swings open with Evelyn standing there Joey looking up from his paper with a shocked look on his face. "We need to talk" Evelyn stated. Joey looked at her like she was crazy "Do we now" Joey said with a smug look on his face. "If I recall right I'm your boss your not mine, you cant just barge in here." Joey said staring at Evelyn with his cold dark eyes. It sent a shiver down Evelyn's spine but she shook it off she wasn't going to take this bullshit anymore.

"No Joey I'm getting tired of this there is no pay, I assume you just yelled at the poor kid Tommy, and you treat everyone like shit." Evelyn said to Joey getting angrier by the minute. Joey looked at her with a smile. "And so what its not like your gonna quit you need me you need the money I give you" Joey said a huge smirk on his face. Evelyn couldn't take it anymore her blood pressure was through the roof her heart was racing she couldn't do this anymore.

"Your wrong Joey, I quit you can find another head writer." Evelyn said. Joeys smirk disappeared as he stared down Evelyn. Tommy had gotten back to the music department he could still hear his dad working on the music score. Tommy the  heard a loud bang like a gunshot it echoed through out the whole building. 

But Tommy brushed it off though more concerned for his father health.....

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 hey sorry for the month long break school had started back up and we were busy with new years and school we will be going back to trying to post 2-3 chapters every other week. 

Writers: -PL4Y3R- and Psycho_Bacon31

Hope you all enjoyed the new chapter, and we hope it was too your liking. The story will beagn to pick up into the game time. 

Until next time!! And Next Chapter!!