Chapter 131: Dinner with Josie

Lahey offered a small smile and shook his head.

"I don’t have any shoot today," he spoke up.

"Figured it made more sense to finish the brunch properly." he added after a beat.

Tom chewed the food in his mouth and did not answer immediately. He swallowed, set his cutlery down for a second, then picked it up again without giving Lahey the reaction the man might have been probing for.

Lahey blinked once, took a sip of his drink, and let the silence settle before speaking again.

"You shouldn’t blame the guys too much for acting like that."

Tom’s eyes lifted sharply. The look alone asked whether Lahey had actually said those words out loud.

Lahey raised both hands slightly. "That wasn’t an attack. I’m just saying they had a reason."

Tom scoffed, annoyance plain in the sound. "Oh, they did? I see..."

"Yes." Lahey turned his glass slowly against the tablecloth as he exhaled lowly as if what he wanted to say next was that heavy.

"The company terminated a colleague’s contract to make space for you. He was close to all of us. That brotherhood has been in place for years." He divulged.

Tom exhaled through his nose and went back to his food. There was no reply to that. Whether the company decision was fair or not, he now understood why the table had turned so quickly from mockery to open rejection. He had not just walked into a brand. He had walked into someone else’s emptied seat.

"Don’t worry too much," Lahey added after a moment. "They’re rough, but they’re not impossible. They’ll come around."

Tom grunted. "Why are you telling me all this?"

Lahey shrugged, the gesture was mild but hard to read. "You impressed me a little. That shameless confidence. Not everyone walks into a table like that and answers the way you did." he admitted with a small smile.

Tom chuckled under his breath, low and short. "Is that so?"

They finished the meal with less conversation after that. Not friendship or alliance, just a temporary truce across a half-empty brunch table.

When Tom finally rose and walked out toward the front of the hotel, Lahey headed in a different direction. From the steps, Tom saw him unlock a matte-black luxury coupe, low-bodied and sharp-lined, the kind of expensive trendy car that turned heads without needing a raised voice. Lahey got inside the car and the engine answered him with a smooth, costly sound before he pulled away.

Tom watched it go and thought to himself that now that he had work capable of putting him in that bracket, he would do everything required to keep it.

Bree was already waiting in the car. She had returned to it after he sat with the men, giving him the room to handle the table alone. As soon as he got in, she glanced at the time then at his face.

"Next on your schedule is the camera testing," she said.

Tom fastened the seatbelt. "What does that entail?"

"They’ll put you under studio lights and take trial shots," Bree replied, starting the engine. "Different angles, posture, facial control, body presentation. Not the main campaign. Just to see how the camera receives you."

Tom nodded in understanding then replied; "Alright."

Bree started driving and the afternoon moved on.

~~~~~~~~~~

By 6:10 p.m., Tom was driving into the dinner venue Josie had sent him.

He was ten minutes late on purpose. Not enough to insult her, Just enough to avoid looking overly available. The restaurant was quietly elegant behind its entrance, the kind of place chosen by people who preferred private conversations with good atmosphere and better discretion.

Josie was already at the table when he arrived.

She looked up as he approached, composed as ever, though the fact that she had waited at all said enough about the value of what he was bringing.

"Hi, Tom, thanks for coming." she said in greeting.

"Good evening, Josie. How are you?" he replied then took the seat opposite her. Dinner was served soon after the short exchange of pleasantries. They ate for a short stretch before Tom set his glass down and went straight to the point.

"I met the mafia boss," he said.

Josie’s attention sharpened immediately. She looked on at his face for more.

"I promised him something in return so he could agree to a lunch meeting with you tomorrow. I also have his contact now." he said.

The change in her face was immediate and unmistakably pleased. "That’s a... very good news." She held his gaze from across the table. "Thank you. What was the something in return? How do I arrange it?"

Tom shook his head. "No. That’s mine to handle."

Josie frowned slightly, not in offense, more like taken aback.

"You can focus on what you can offer Ray for releasing the building, I’ll handle what he wants in exchange for agreeing to meet you." Tom said.

For a moment, Josie simply looked at him. The arrangement was smoother than she had expected, and more protective of the line between her negotiation and his leverage. Impression moved through her eyes before she masked it with composure again.

And at that moment, the System opened silently in Tom’s vision.

```

[TARGET: JOSIE HALE]

Curiosity: 25% (+10)

Attraction: 10% (+9)

Love: 0%

Obsession: 0%

```

Tom noted the climb with quiet satisfaction and reached for his drink as if nothing had happened.

"I appreciate your help," Josie said after a moment.

"I truly appreciate it. How do I appreciate you properly? How do I show the gratitude?" she asked.

Before Tom could answer, the System cut in sharp;

```

[SIDE MISSION DETECTED]

Make Josie Hale leave dinner sexually disturbed.

She does not need to confess it.

Her body just needs to carry it.

Reward:

• +150 SP

• +10 Charm

• +15 Lust

Accept / Reject?

[REJECTION PENALTY]

Host’s mouth will carry a foul odor for 48 hours.

No mint, no wash, no cover will fully conceal it.

```

Tom’s mouth parted slightly in surprise. That was a first. Side missions had come with pressure before, but not that kind of penalty accompanying the rejection.