theatrics

noun

plural noun: theatrics

1. dramatic performances.

2. excessively emotional and dramatic behaviour.

I think I drank half of a bottle of gin all on my own last night after we ate dinner at a little down town eatery and Patricia drove me home. I was thankful that I was living in a building with a kick-arse security team or I don't think I'd have fallen asleep for being a scaredy cat. No nightmares that goodness. Such a stupid thing to do, I kept berating myself all night long.

I had a class cancelled this morning so I had planned to sleep in but at 9am I was rudely woken up by the building fire alarm.

Weeeooooweeeooooweeeoooo!

I shot up straight out of bed, tripped over tangled bedding and thumped onto the shaggy carpet floor.

"Oww." I moaned as I picked myself up. The alarm stopped and it took me only a moment to remember the fire alarm testing that was scheduled today. I had completely forgotten.

After a shower and a coffee – and paracetamol for the headache – I began eating a light cereal breakfast with defrosted blueberries on the top. One of my favourite breakfasts.

My phone rang. It was Bob Blanchard, my building manager.

"Good Morning, Ms Twice. How are you this fine day?" Bob was sounding very chipper this morning and it wasn't really meshing with my slightly pounding head ache.

"Hi Bob, yes the alarms are loud enough to wake the dead – or the sleeping, in my case." He chuckled at my bad morning humour and we discussed the next phase of the building upgrades. It should all be complete by the end of next week then we can get Mr Anginelli over to a final last minute inspection before the local council send over their building inspectors. He was updating me on a few other matters regarding the new tenants applying for office space when the old tenants move out. I then had another call beep in.

"Thank you, Bob for the update. I've got another call coming in, I'll see you on the weekend at the coffee house opening." I respectfully said my goodbyes to the older manager.

"Sure thing, Ms Twice. See you then." We hung up and I quickly switched to the incoming call.

"Ms Twice, Claire here. I have that list of bands available for you this weekend, but to be honest, there is only one that would be suitable. It is a lo-fi jazz quartet with guitar, double bass, keyboard and drums. They would be perfect for the coffee house. I've already called them to check for availability and they are free. Does this sound like what you need?"

Ms Claire sounded really positive about this band so I went with her suggestion. They were a little bit more expensive for the price of a four member small band, but lo-fi jazz in a coffee house was just too perfect so I said yes. Ms Claire helped me make arrangements and we went from there. I was very happy about that. I sent Ms Claire's contact details and the name of the band which was 'Jammin' with Jake' to my team with a note about the opening night band.

After my call with Ms Claire Godfrey, I received a text from Patricia that Sunny had made contact with her this morning and was arranged to meet with Patricia and begin her training. I text back asking Patricia to take her shopping had purchase her two business suits and comfortable shoes – boots were perfectly acceptable – and bring her to the coffee house when they were done.

I then text her again, asking her to arrange part time work, nights or weekends for whatever Jackson needed and to get in touch with him with a contract and uniform sizes.

I then spent two hours studying eCommerce and Financial Management – two papers that I didn't really enjoy doing, but were invaluable for all the projects that I had on the go at the moment. Very informative, but large work and study load. Sigh...

By the time lunch time rolled around, I was really hungry again. I packed up for afternoon classes, grabbed my school bag and a light jacket and headed downstairs for lunch.

Patricia was already in the coffee house detailing last minutes things with Ms Murr and John Waitner our head chef. I sat in the staff room and watched through the doors while eating my lunch. The training of kitchen and front of house staff had gone on really well and I could see that between Murrieta and John, the whole staff were well presented and their actions, attitudes and policies and procedures were excellent. I nodded my head as I ate my turkey cheese toastie, enjoying the flavours.

Patricia had a few things for me to sign which kept me until I had to leave for my afternoon uni classes.

"Is it always like this?" Sunny asked as we all drove in the old SUV to campus.

"Yes." "Yes!" Both Patricia and I spoke loudly at the same time, then laughed.

Sunny was wearing a smokey blue blazer dress with two large white buttons on the jacket park by the waist. It gave off an 'executive secretary' feel when the Japanese girl wore it. It was a very similar feel to the one that Wallace had given her yesterday to wear during our meeting with the gang bosses.

"Lily is crazy busy with over eight projects on the go as well as studying business management classes at the local university. This is why you and I are employed." Patricia spoke as she maneuvered the vehicle into the campus car park. I nodded my head in affirmation, then thought of something completely unrelated.

"Just quickly, I think I'll be having dinner at Mum and Dad's tonight. Can you have Sunny squared away in her new apartment before class ends, please?"

"Yes, Ms Twice." Patricia replied.

"Also, who is on duty today?" I asked as I checked the time on my watch and looked outside the car for my afternoon campus bodyguard.

"Duty?" Sunny asked.

"Lily was kidnapped four months ago, her mother three months ago. They are both considered high risk personnel under the Overmeyer Corporation. They will have at least two body guards with them where ever they go. Either myself, Grant or one of Liberty Building's security team will be with her at all times." Patricia explained it.

"Two?" I asked as I looked back at her in the driver's seat.

"Really, that's crazy." Sunny said.

"Yes two. Wallace's instructions. We have undercover agents on campus and in your building outside your apartment at all times. Grant is here. You better go. Take your bag." She said the last part as I was getting out of the SUV without it. I was distracted at the new information that she'd just dumped on me. I quickly took it off the back seat where I'd forgotten it.

"Thanks. Also, Sunny, enjoy your new apartment. It comes with free wi-fi!" I sing-songed and got out as Grant met me at the car.

My afternoon classes were busy and Grant joined me in one of the ones he wasn't scheduled for, but he couldn't leave me alone now that Wallace has stipulated that I must have two guards at all times. Grant didn't seem to mind though, as he had plenty of hid own study material to go through.

On our way to the estate after class, Grant updated me on the new security protocol. I was feeling guilty, wondering if it was because of what I did with that ugly manager yesterday, but Grant said that it was something that Wallace had put in place last week. Still, after half a bottle of gin last night I truly realised just how stupid my actions were yesterday.

"You're only now just realising this?" Patricia asked me in a grumpy voice as she drove us all home. I think I said that last part out loud.

Sunny came in with me and my team as Wallace had asked to see all of us in his office before dinner began. I entered the manor and found Mrs H with JacJac and his nanny waiting for us.

"Yay, JacJac! My little Angel. Mwah!" I grabbed my cutie little brother and gave him a big fat sloppy kiss. Mrs H took mine and Grant's school bags as Patricia introduced Sunny to the house staff. I turned around with JacJac in my arms to find Mr Denault and one of his security guys behind us all. They kindly asked for permission to collect Sunny's prints and ID details for the estate security files. I hadn't realised this was standard procedures for new staff members and found it fascinating watching them do it all digitally using a rather robust and thick looking computer tablet.

I left JacJac with Mrs H and his nanny and followed my team into Wallace's downstairs office.

"Hi Dad. Sorry we're late. Class ran a little overtime." I waved his house based assistant off, taking over his job to serve everyone drinks. Once we were all settled down with a cuppa on Wallace's lounge suite, my step dad took a stern look at me. I could see he was angry with me, but his usual dragon aura wasn't affecting anyone around me so I knew it was just for show. I gave him a cheeky smile and spoke before he could tell me off.

"Yes, I know, I know. Don't play with fire, sharp objects, food and mafia bosses. I'm sorry, I wont do it again." I crossed my fingers over my heart and gave my step dad funny face. His stern face morphed into a exasperated grin as he shook his head.

"And I know that what I did was really stupid, but the doosh-bag was grinning at us as he apologised. Grinning! I was so angry! Then the next thing I knew I was up and smacking him across his smug face before I realised what had happened. Wallace, it was really scary. If you hadn't have been right there at that moment, I would probably be back in the hospital with facial fractures."

I patted my chest, pretending to calm down a racing heart, but as I remembered how scared I felt after that moment yesterday, my heart beat picked up quite a bit.

"Alright, quit the theatrics, Lily. I get it enough from your little brother." Wallace waved a hand at me and I knew he understood that I hadn't meant to do what I did yesterday. It also indicated to me that he didn't really take what happened to heart and I was relieved about that.

My step dad. Boss of the whole world in our very own city. Yus!