Chapter 231

I head back for the lift and go downstairs.

I do a walk through with Jackson following me, around all the rooms and seating areas, pointing out tiny things that should be rectified before Showtime. Such as the squint light on the ceiling of the largest lounge pit in the main VIP lounge. And the lopsided fabric of one of the swags up over the stage. He goes off to find a ladder and I drill the staff who have come in early to do last minute prep on tonight’s running. I am in boss mode and trying to focus all my nerves on the little details. An area I have always excelled at.

‘Keep the champagne circulating; always have full trays walking around, and keep the food going too. Treat this like a charity event where you would constantly have canapés and booze being distributed among the guests. If they are sitting, then watch for them gesturing you over. I want every single man who comes in here to feel like he has our full and utmost attention on them and feel special, all night. No matter who they are.’ I sound stern as I watch the little gathered arc of eyes on me for direction—my mix of servers and bar staff.

‘Yes, Miss Walters.’ I get an echo from all of them, all eyes on me as I pace back and forth agitatedly. I am aware that I am getting more frantic as golden hour looms upon us and I don’t know how to settle my nerves. I don’t remember it being this bad first time we had our opening night here, but maybe that’s because Alexi helped take control and all the weight was not on my shoulders alone. His presence has been a huge void all day.

‘You all now have these.’ I point to the little mic chip on the collar of the nearest girl. An exact replica to the ones Alexi and all his security use. I don’t have one because I don’t want the distraction of them talking to one another all night when I need a clear head to keep my eyes on the entire scene.

‘Any problems at all, you press it and talk. Security is all wired in to one another and as long as you state where you are and say RED, they will come. Don’t use it for anything other than that.’

‘So, we say … Main lounge, red?’ The young blonde dimwit who is forever questioning me speaks up and I turn and stare her down. Not impressed with her butting in.

‘Yes Veronica, like that,’ I snap.

‘It’s Victoria …’ She butts in shyly and I just eyeroll at her in annoyance.

‘That’s nice, Veronica. Now shut up, I’m talking,’ I retort cattily, more prone to my bitch side lately while my emotions have been a little overwrought. I am still very much a believer of leaving my staff a little afraid of me, so they never get too cosy.

‘Don’t abuse it. Only if you feel like there’s an issue or risk. Not for anything else. Right, Veronica? Our security is working too and watching everything, so don’t annoy them.’

Dimwit nods her head like an overenthusiastic puppy and I just sigh at her, wondering what possessed me to not give IQ tests when hiring for this place. Sometimes I swear I got the barrel scrapings of the pick. The rest of my staff all nod quietly.

I have to brief the escorts when they arrive of the new measures put in place for their safety and apart from that, get ready for tonight. I am planning on a good long soak in the tub and I have a leisurely two hours left to make up and put on my new dress.

I have gone for black sequins all over in a very elegant little cocktail number. It’s got a scoop cowl neck and lace-up corset back that helps hold my girls up with cleavage popping effect. Shoulders and a little boobage on show subtly, yet long moulded sleeves and comes to around my knees—Sexy yet not overly so.

‘Ok, chop chop. Make sure everything sparkles like a diamond and nothing is out of place. We have two hours till Showtime and you lot have to carry on organising all the food onto trays and get everything perishable into the refrigerators in the kitchen. Work out between you who is overseeing the food side and who is overseeing the Champagne. I want the bars tended up and down all night as we have guests in both lounges.’ I clap my hands at them, more so to focus my own brain back on task and get another round of nods.

‘Yes, Miss Walters.’ Again, my little echo of minions, and I am satisfied to leave it to them, waving them off with a hand gesture. I click my fingers at Jones, the head of floor security here, and he walks over towards me with that same unemotional, unreadable expression. I swear they must all go to a training camp in infancy to learn this shit.

‘Ma’am?’ He’s another Carrero of some kind, or he’s just very Italian with good looks. I sort of can’t tell with some of the men and smile at him charmingly; full-on one hundred watt dazzling Camilla.

‘Escorts come in an hour before Showtime, make sure they get their new access cards to the rooms and their panic alarms. They have to wear them at all times. I will be down to see them before we open the doors, but I want them briefed on your new protocols if they encounter trouble. We don’t want anything to go wrong tonight.’ I am less haughty with this man as I know he is very capable and runs his detail with an authority and attention that I respect. He’s never given me any hassles.

‘Yes, Ma’am.’ He repeats in that same deadpan tone, eyes on me inoffensively.

Everything must be perfect. I have a lot to prove to myself and to that Arsehole Alexi.

‘Joanne will be down here as back up, but you know … disregard anything she says unless she’s screaming rape or someone has her cornered in the BDSM room … Maybe.’ I smile wickedly, a hint of humour seeping out and his face breaks from expressionless to a little smirk. I know he has never warmed to her either. His manner with her is always brisk and hostile.

‘Understood.’ He nods and moves off to handle his own men in black and I head out to go back upstairs for the second time. I just cannot seem to settle in one place for more than a few minutes and it is starting to drive me mental. I need something to do with myself to stop my antsy pacing and obsessive order issuing. Maybe I should go take that soak in my bath now and start getting ready. Focus all my energy on that.

I head towards the hall that leads to the back door, getting level with the lift cut-off and nod to the two securities whose detail it is to guard this door all night as I go to pass.

Suddenly the back-security door swings open, crashing against the concrete wall to the side with a deafening thud from sheer force, and Alexi and Mico come dashing in, looking like their arses are on fire and slapping at something near their legs; Kicking back out towards the blinding sunshine and making a lot of noise and disruption to boot.

It’s a chaotic entrance and for a moment I forget that it’s dickheads first appearance all week and just stand to gawp at whatever they are doing. Comical entrance from two flailing bodies.