Tension lasts...

Lillian woke up from her short snooze, feeling alien and strange. Jenna noticed and prepared to serve tea to the clumsy, ever so frightful Lillian.

The effect of a sound, peaceful, short nap let Lillian solace in stillness and only attended to what's in front.

Jenna worked to check if the raging bull did calm down or not.

She waited until Lillian finished her hot drink.

The subject seemed to be still maintaining a modest manner, which surprisingly reassured the suspecting editor. Jenna decided to reveal the happenings, hoping that Ms. Grey would continue the composed nature. Jenna thanked for the sleep, for it did work magically, unlike previous occasions.

Building her hope like a concrete edifice, Jenna spoke.

"Ms. Grey, I thought you should know by now that it is 3:30 PM," she revealed, still keeping in check of her hope tightly, thoughtfully.

Lillian blinked, her brain processed the input information and let it saute for a minute and finally reacted.

What Jenna saw was Lillian's eyes grew to the point as if it would fall out of their sockets, from hearing the time.

What followed was nothing but a scream with all might and volume that made Jenna threw herself backward from getting injured in her ears.

"Not again, Ms. Grey," she cried while trying to calm down the storming pitch.

Quick to recognize that there is something that might bring down the beast to her knees, Jenna responded swiftly by finding the grilled cheese sandwich. She recalled the time when the author mentions about the second golden rule.

Seizing the sandwich that still leaked a bit of warmth, Jenna approached the growling tiger.

"Ms. Grey, you haven't eaten your grilled cheese sandwich. Please have it now- at once," Jenna said and handed out the item that caught the subject's attention.

Jenna's voice was loud enough for Lillian to overhear. She looked at the sandwich and could still smell the butter and cheese, tingling her senses. Snatching it away at once, Lillian devoured the sandwich and realized that her tummy had been growling along with her natural fright.

Using this time frame as a pit stop, Jenna ran to the mini-bar and found most of the bottles to be empty. After examining every row for a single ounce of liquor that can go and calm down its owner, Jenna hunted.

Soon she found an old whiskey bottle and took it out to pour a glass for Lillian. There wasn't adequate left in the jar itself, and so Jenna emptied the dark liquid onto the glass. Taking it over, Lillian understood it already and reached her hand out to seize the glass too. She sipped the drink and let it sink in her system. The alcohol worked, and Lillian relaxed. Finishing the remains of the delicious sandwich, Lillian leaned back on to the couch and finally expired for new air.

Jenna warned Lillian about the empty mini-bar situation. Lillian sighed.

"Look, Jenna, look here. Someone like me shouldn't be in a situation like this. Anything can happen, and that is why I ask you to buy me alcohol all the time you visit here. Right now, I can't send you out because I need you with me here for the book release. However, make sure to fill up the rack with all new bottles by tomorrow. I'll give you my card, please, do make the purchase; the sooner, the better, for me."

Lillian sounded grave, and Jenna agreed politely without any debate. She doesn't want to let the beast wander wildly once again.

Jenna chose to change the conversation to another lane and make sure to keep it smooth.

"Ms. Grey, do you know what happened today?" Jenna started with a question.

"..."

"Was I almost on the verge of expiring?" Lillian sarcastically replied.

Jenna was expecting something more of a typical response rather than unusual commentary. But why bother? She thought about Lillian's state of mind and her personality. It is inbuilt in Grey's nature that her teasing, unexpected remarks only mean figuratively and not literal.

Jenna pretended not to bother and went on to share the story by herself.

"No, Ms. Grey. I almost made another girl become a fan of 'Craving' food truck," Jenna said with a proud smile.

Lillian let the last drop of the whiskey stay put on her tongue and let it remain for a bitter farewell. Having put down the glass and focused her attention on Jenna, Lillian listened to her rather amusing story.

"I was waiting in the line to buy your favorite and saw a little girl behind me, who kept fidgeting and staring at the menu with undeviating attention. I could tell right away that she was not sure what to order. Guess what happened next?" Jenna spoke in a cheer that let Lillian respect it.

"What did you do?" she asked with obedience.

Jenna replied happily about recommending the little girl of the famous grilled cheese sandwich. She continued bragging about the child's adorable looks and kept patronizing it.

"Cute?" Lillian chuckled.

"My kids will be even cuter than that little girl you describe passionately. You only wait and see, dear Jenna," Lillian said in a joking tone.

What should seem like a response appeared to be an exhausting reply, as Jenna saw Lillian speak with less consciousness, for the alcohol finally kicked in and wore Lillian out!

Only this time, it didn't look like a short nap.

Lillian fell asleep by leaning back on her couch, soon snoring mildly from the fatigue.

Jenna watched Lillian go to deep sleep within a few minutes and carried her to bed.

Lillian looked thoroughly drained and debilitated.

Jenna switched off the light and descended downstairs to the living room, where she cleaned the place back to its natural look.

She approached the mini-bar and removed all the empty bottles. As she did, Jenna unearthed a bottle of Gin, still having a few drops. Lifting the lid, she emptied the leftover content for her own sake.

Today was tough and rough- she thought as the alcohol kicked.

Having collected the bottles in a trash bag, Jenna placed it aside to carry it while leaving.

..

The time went by so fast that neither of them noticed the book release announcement.

Lillian rested in her room while Jenna stayed alive.

When all of the work got completed, Jenna took her mobile out and saw the time.

It is 6:00 PM.

KeyLine Publishing house's official book release got announced, and her books already starting to appear in the stores. Jenna got a message from Shane saying congratulations on the publication. It made her happy. She prepared herself a coffee and went to watch TV in the living room while Lillian slept and wasn't awake enough to hear the news. Nonetheless, she slept very well. All of the tired, hard work and concentration made her worn out. She rested like a baby. All of it was made possible without any hindrance because of Jenna, her editor's co-operation.

Both felt satisfied deep down that night, for work paved off.

KeyLine's message:

*** KeyLine publication proudly present our star writer Gill's new work "Tripped over" is out now in nearby stores. Get yourself a copy and enjoy the book***