Johnny Rami:
I swing open my bedroom's curtain, and the first thing I see is the bright morning sun.
Stretching my arms and legs, cracking both my neck and back, I listen to the sound of my bones waking up. Yawning too, I walk into my bathroom to freshen myself up. Washing my face, brushing my teeth, and combing my short brown hair, I then walk over to my closet.
Putting on my light-blue business suit, I pat it down and dust it off. When I am done, I leave my bedroom and head toward my small apartment's kitchen.
While pouring a cup of orange juice, I grab the remote control and turn on my television. The news comes on, and the two anchors talk about last night's prison break.
"IronWall Prison was broken into again late last night. According to IronWall officials, despite the break-in, no prisoners broke out. IronWall guards were able to quickly handle the situation. Thought, a few claimed that the guards had some extra help."
"No doubt it was them," I think, taking a sip of my orange juice. While I drink, I think back to them.
"The girl with the shield. The knight in red armor. The woman in the old leather jacket. The boy with long pointed ears."
Breathing through my nose, I slowly open my mouth to exhale.
"Tonight in the night."
I finish my orange juice and wash the cup. Placing the empty cup in the dish rack, I grab my briefcase, leave my room, and drive to work.
Stepping through the double sliding glass doors, I am immediately bombarded by a bunch of my workers. Not stopping, all of my workers walk side-by-side with me.
"Sir, sir," a female worker with long brown hair says. "You have a meeting with the site manager today."
"At the construction of the new apartment complex?"
"Yes. Today at 3."
"Thank you. What's next?"
"Before that," a young man with short black hair cuts in, now taking over. "You have a lunch meeting with a potential investor."
"Yes. Today at 11. At Cannataro's."
"Yes, sir. That's right."
"Please prepare one of the company cars. Then call the restaurant. Make sure they have our table reserved."
"I understand."
"Mr. Rami," another female worker yells. "Your father called again. He wanted me to tell you--"
"Please tell him I'm busy."
I stop and hit the call button. While we all wait for the elevator, my workers remind me of everything else I have scheduled for today.
Besides the meeting with the potential investor and the site manager, I have a shareholder meeting in less than one hour. The elevator dings when it arrives. The doors sliding open, I nudge my head, and all my workers follow me.
"Mr. Rami. Your father. He wants me to tell you---"
Again. Please tell him I am busy. Too busy. As you can see."
The shining doors slide open again, and we all leave. While my employees disappear one by one back to their desks, I head for my private office. Placing my briefcase on my desk, I open it and reach in to pull out all the necessary papers and notes for the upcoming meeting.
As I collect everything, I see something out of the corner of my eye. Looking at it, I see an old picture from when I was in high school. Stopping, I drop all the papers and notes and reach for the picture. It was my ex-girlfriend and I.
In the picture, my ex-girlfriend and I are standing in front of Andrew's Arcade. I had just won a massive prize, a giant stuffed turtle, and I was holding it over my head. My ex-girlfriend is hugging me and helping me hold the turtle. I keep staring at the picture and thinking back to the old days.
"Ahh!"
Hearing a sudden noise, I jump out of my head and look around. One of my workers, the female with brown hair, pops her head into my office.
"Sir. The shareholder meeting is starting."
"Of course."
I put the picture down and grab all the papers and notes. Quickly organizing them, I thank my worker before exiting my office and entering the meeting room. Greeting the dozen shareholders, I give each one of them a firm handshake and a copy of this month's company's financials.
"Hello, everyone. You all know, but I think I'm still going to introduce myself."
The shareholders laugh at this."
"My name is Johnny Rami, and I am the founder and CEO of Rami Toilets and Plumbing."
The rest of my day is busy but goes by in a flash. Ensuring the stability of my company by showing the company's growth and progress, I shake hands with each of them again before leaving for the lunch meeting.
At the restaurant, I have lunch while carefully explaining the benefits of investing in the company.
"Yes. I know that, technically, my company is a start-up, and it is only one year old, but it already has over 200 workers and several business dealings with other bigger companies, most of which are construction companies."
The investor nods as he wipes the Alfredo sauce from his mouth.
"I have to say. This is quite impressive, having done all of this in less than one year."
"Thank you."
"However, as impressive as this is, I would still like a little bit of time to think about it. Is that okay?"
"Of course."
Our waitress comes by with the bill, and without wasting a second, I hand over my credit card. Thanking the investor for his time, I drive to the construction site next.
Adjusting the hard hat as I read over the blueprint, I turn to the site manager.
"These bathrooms? They're quite big, aren't they?"
"Yeah, but the company still wants small toilets."
"And they're going to be porcelain?"
"Yes."
"Okay. I think our SM toilets will work the best. They're also made from porcelain, so they'll match the overall theme, and they're not too big. If I remember correctly, our SM toilet only has a width of 24 inches."
"That'll work."
I shake hands with the site manager before placing the order. While on the phone, I examine the blueprints again.
"By the way, over here, near the east side of the building. The pipes are all wrong. You and your men will need to fix it before the toilets arrive. Otherwise, the whole side could flood."
"Got it."
The site manager thanks me. He nods before getting some of his workers and running over to the east side. Meanwhile, I leave the site and drive back to my company.
By the time I get back, the clock reads five, and already, people are leaving. Joining them, I get back on the elevator and walk out the front doors. Jumping back into my car, about to drive off, I hear my phone go off and stop.
"Oh no."
Pulling out my phone, I check the caller ID, and see it's my Dad. Letting out a big sigh, my hair blowing up, I answer the call.
"Hello, Dad."
"John!" my Dad shouts. I imagine a big grin on his face. That big grin makes my blood boil.
"Johnny. It's Johnny, Dad."
"You're not a boy anymore."
"I'm not. I'm a teenage CEO. What do you want, Dad?"
"I want to invite you to dinner," my Dad says bluntly.
"I can't," I answer just as bluntly. "I have plans tonight."
"Plan? What plan?"
"Oh, just some extra work."
"I see, and understand. You are a CEO now. Our workday doesn't end at 5."
My Dad laughs, and this time, my blood freezes. My whole body goes cold, and I shiver.
"This isn't related to work. This is a more personal project. I'm sorry, Dad, but I have to go now."
Despite being on a phone call and not actually in front of me, I can still see as clear as day my Dad nodding.
"I'll call you, John."
"I can't wait."
Ending the call and pocketing my phone, I start my car and drive back home.
Walking through the front door, I gently place my briefcase on the dining room table before walking into my bedroom. Looking out the window as the sun sets and the full moon comes up, I smile.
"Tonight is the night."
I remind myself, breathing in and out. Walking to my closet, I push aside all my suits and push a hidden button on the back wall. Stepping back, the closet and even parts of the wall behind the closet split open.
Stepping through the new opening, I flick on the switch, turning on all the lights and computers in a small room with soundproof walls. Walking across the room, I look at the bright blue and purple jumpsuit neatly displayed in a glass case.
Slowly, I take off my business suit and put on the jumpsuit. I put on the purple body armor. I slide the blue goggles. I grab the two custom-built blasters from the small metal desk and check them out.
Making sure they're loaded with non-lethal rounds, I slide them into my holsters. Looking at myself in the mirror, I adjust my hair so that instead of it being combed to the side, it's standing up slightly.
"I am ready. SharpShot is ready. Finally, tonight is the night."
Slowly breathing in and out, I leave my secret room. I push the hidden button again and watch the doors close. I then head toward my garage to start my first-ever night.