Page 6 of Fierce Family

“Of course they will. They love Peter. Don’t worry. They’ll be happy for you, trust me.”

“I know, you’re right. I’m not sure why I’m so nervous about telling them. Anyhow, we were thinking of getting married at Greenview.”

“You’re talking to the right woman,” I chuckle. “I’m in meetings all day on Monday but why don’t you drop by when you bring the boys back?”

“Thanks, Sheila!”

“Of course! You and Peter are part of this family!”

The door falling into the lock wakes me up. I must have nodded off in front of the TV again. Nowadays, I can barely make it through a film before my eyes shut on their own accord. I glance at my phone and see that it is just before ten.Well, at least he stuck to his curfew.

“Gre...Gee!” I call out when I hear footsteps on the stairs.He’s not going to escape that easily.

“Hi, mum,” he calls back.The little twerp.

“Get in here.” I sit up and cross my arms, giving him my sternest look when he slouches into the room.

“What did we agree?” I ask.

“Mum, Kieran’s fine on his own. I’m not a bloody babysitter. I just went to the cinema, what’s the big deal?”

“The deal it that you promised me you’d stay at home and then didn’t do as you promised. How can I trust you when you are not sticking to your word, Gee?”

“Oh my god, it was one afternoon.”

“If I tell you to do something, I expect you to do it.”

“Why?”

“Because I’m the parent and you are the child. I’m not doing it to piss you off, Gee. I’m doing my best here and I need your support.”

“Fine.” I can tell he wants to say something more, but my son isn't stupid or cruel. Whatever teenage meanness is swirling through his head, he's got enough control not to voice it aloud.

“Your dad and Peter will pick you both up on Monday.” Might as well have that argument right now as well.

“But, muuuuum!” I have to hide my grin at his reaction. They want to be treated like adults but then react like toddlers.

“No discussion here, Gee. You will pause your so-very-busy personal life for a week and give your dad and Peter some of your time.”

“Fine,” he hisses and stomps off without another word.Well, that turned out better than I expected.

I give myself a few more minutes of mindless TV before I head to bed myself. Whilst I brush my teeth, my mind drifts to Josh. I really meant it when I said I don’t have time for a relationship. How could I possibly fit someone else into this chaos? Still, it would be nice to have some adult time once in a while. Maybe it doesn’t need to be a full-blown relationship? I’m pretty sure that my hoo-ha wouldn’t mind the feel of a real dick after so many years of just a vibrator.Can I be a one-night-stand woman?

I’m not sure, but if I were it would have to be someone like Josh, that’s for sure.

I’m just about to sign off the payroll when a message pops up on my phone.

Marisa

Need your help on reception. GIK woman.

GIK stands for 'The Guest is King'. It’s an old-fashioned notion where guests believe they have the God-given rightto do as they please when staying in a hotel. While we pride ourselves on providing first-class service, it doesn’t mean we can or will accommodate every request.

Hotel guests can sometimes be real arseholes. Just yesterday, one guest shouted at reception, claiming he had paid for a room for twenty-four hours. It took Tommy to come down and explain to that twat that if he has the room for twenty-four hours, and so does the next guest, when exactly do we clean and address issues? He had no answer but still insisted on his entitlement to a full day. Tommy ended up booking him into a competitor's hotel, which is less busy and could accommodate his early check-in at 10 a.m. We even covered the price difference in the room rate, mainly to get him out of our hotel. Starting a stay like that usually signals a tough time ahead for everyone.

As I reach reception in the grand hall, I'm greeted by the shrill, high-pitched nasal voice of someone demanding, “I need you to guarantee there won’t be a fire alarm. Surely you can do that!”

“Hi, I’m Sheila, the General Manager, can I help you?” I smile at the woman. She looks to be in her early forties, glamorous and strangely familiar—I think she might have stayed here before.

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