CHAPTER 17
Shar
Laughing with Lira in the kitchen, I’m surprised when Crack asks me to follow him to Sharp's office. Giving Lira a shoulder shrug and crossing my eyes at her behind Crack’s back has her giggling and shaking her head at my playfulness.
Walking into the office behind Crack, I give Sharp a smile, which he returns from where he’s sitting behind his desk. I take a seat and wait for whatever he wants to talk to me about.
“Crack said you discussed the woman, Stella, regarding the position as manager at Dance Mecca. Is that right?”
Sharp asks.
“Yes. She needs a job that has some grit to it. Something she can get involved with and make something of. I know she has some issues going on,”
holding my hand up to say, stop, “I don’t know what those issues are, but I think if we are going to speak to her about being manager then she’ll have to give us all the information we’ll need to make the final decision.”
Nodding in understanding, Sharp leans forward and clasps his hands together while resting his elbows on the desk. “Okay, I can’t go over to the club today, but we’ll go over tomorrow and we’ll speak to her in the office. If she’s not suitable, then she’ll not get the job, Shar, simple as that. No matter your recommendation, if I don’t feel she can cut it, then that’s the end of it.”
“I agree. Both of us know that what I’m suggesting here for any of the businesses is just that, suggestions. I’ll not be here much longer and you all need to be happy with any changes that are made. My business degree gives me the insight to evaluate a business and, to be honest, see if it’s even worth saving, buying or anything else. I have a feeling Stella is going to be a superb manager for Dance Mecca, or anywhere else she ends up. I otherwise would not have even suggested her. She has a great attitude, is likable, and she organizes without thought. If you watch her work with the women, she controls the situation and gets what is needed with the minimum of fuss. I will be interested in your thoughts once you meet her.”
That is me finished and to let them know that, I lean back in my seat and cross my legs.
Crack stands from where he’d taken a seat. “Okay, so we’ll all go over tomorrow and see Stella. Shar, what do you think of the businesses you have seen so far?”
I’m not unaware he has changed the subject quickly, but not sure why at this point in time. “I’ve still to see the diner and tattoo shop, but the garage, from what I’m hearing anyway, is nearly ready to open for business and they have bookings for services and other work already.”
“Yeah, it is going to be a nice earner I’m thinking,”
Sharp sits back, rubbing his hands together with a grin on his face. “We’ve needed that garage for a long time, and getting us that, Shar, was a stroke of fortune for us, and we are more than thankful to you.”
“It was just sheer dumb luck that it worked out. The old shit saw dollar signs, and I played on that. But you’ll make something of that place and it’ll be solid work for the brothers. Snore told me he’s finishing his training to be a mechanic. Do you think you’ll make him a brother, because he’s a good young man? In fact, from what I’ve seen, they all are, and it was more than fortunate that they all came to you.”
I give a soft smile to myself because I have a soft spot for Snore, and I hope he’ll always be happy here.
“They have a full book of jobs for the first month, and starting on the next. They’ll be open for business next week. Cord said come hell or high water, he’s starting on the work available on Monday,”
Crack grins, obviously amused at something that he’s remembering.
“Dance Mecca, I think, will be more lucrative once you have a manager living on the property, and where the brothers can rest after their shift. Honestly, it has to be tiring traveling back here after they’ve done a long stint on the door. But, apart from this, a manager with vision can bring new ideas, clean the place up and run it efficiently. If the manager works well, reporting back to Bank, Pen and Zip when it’s needed, I reckon they’ll be worth their pay,”
I look at Sharp, and wait for his response.
“I agree. The place needs someone that is going to see it as the investment it is. Bring it to the attention of new customers, and at the same time bring in extra income.”
Tapping his fingers on the desk, Sharp looks at Crack, then back to me, “Okay, we need you to check out the diner and tattoo shop. Once you have done that we’ll have another meeting.”
“Okay,”
I respond, and jump to my feet. I’ve got a few chores I need to do before seeing the diner and the tattoo shop. “I’ll catch you both later. I’ve a few things to get done. Do you want to visit the tattoo and diner with me, Crack?”
“Yeah, but it won’t be today or tomorrow. So jot it down for the day after. It’ll probably take us all day.”
Crack stands and holds the door open for me, and I impulsively reach up and kiss his cheek, give him a wink and walk away smiling to myself.
I walk through to the kitchen where I’m hankering for one of Lira’s toasted cheese things, with meat and pickles. Yum, I’m going to miss them, and her, when I leave. My mind is miles away, and I’m not paying any attention to who is around when suddenly someone slaps me across the back and I go flying forwards, stopping myself at the last minute from falling.
Turning, I see Trip is standing, looking shocked and embarrassed. “Oh, fuck, Shar, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to do that so hard. It was supposed to be a congratulatory thing. We got the salon for Zara, and I was trying to give you a back slap to say, hey we did it.”
Bursting out laughing, because this is funny, this large man, who is the VP and tough, is falling over himself to apologize. “Trip, it doesn’t matter. I’m not hurt. It is fantastic news on the salon.”
Stepping towards him I link arms with him and whisper, “Now tell me, did you have to get into it with Thomas?”
“Aw, fuck, Shar, not you as well.”
Trip disengages my arm and storms off, mumbling about everyone being assholes, even the women.
Four hours later, I’m sitting in Zara’s room with her and Gunner. Now, this is something I never thought I’d see happen, but he’s trying so hard to be the father Zara needs while turning himself around that I have to acknowledge those efforts.
Pouring a glass of fizzy wine, Gunner hands one to Zara and one to me, while holding up a bottle of beer for himself. Well, I suppose I can’t expect him to get everything right. “We did it, we got the salon and Zara here got herself a business.”
Gunner clinks his bottle with Zara’s glass and then my own before taking a long slug.
I sip mine because if I’m honest I don’t like fizzy wine, but I’ll drink it and celebrate none the less. “I’m so happy this is coming together. But next thing is getting a boss for the place, and making sure she’s the right person because she’ll be answerable, and need to stand down once you are ready.”
I look at Zara as she gives me a small nod. “Will you do the interviews with me, please?”
“Of course I will,”
I don’t hesitate to respond. “We’ll find someone that you can work with and then replace. You never know, you may find someone who is a great mentor, boss and friend.”
“You need to always remember that even though they will mentor you, you are the boss.”
Gunner gives Zara a squeeze on the shoulder in encouragement. “You’ll always have me or a brother to step in if you need support for any reason.”
The sound of Sister Sister by Silk Sisters Rock plays from my phone, alerting me to the fact Mia is contacting me. Quickly getting to my feet, I take the call. “Hi there. How are you? What’s wrong?”
I ignore the looks both Gunner and Zara give me and walk out of the room, quickly heading to mine, where I unlock and enter.
Mia sighs, “I’m tired. There is so much to do with the twins and Summer. Axel is busy, but he does so much with the kids already that I don’t want to be a nagging woman.”
“What’s got you feeling like this?”
I hear sniffling, so know Mia is crying softly.
“I don’t know, but Amelia says it’s baby blues. You know she’s doing a lot here and Sybil, along with Bitty, are taking a load off me.”
“You need to go have a checkup, or speak to Stitch. You know he has studied everything he can so he can look after all of you ladies that are getting knocked up with biker brats.”
I laugh when I hear Mia giggling.
“Don’t you let the others hear you calling them brats,”
Mia says as she calms her own laughter. “The babies are great, and it’s lovely to have them all here on the weekend. I think I just had too much to do, and it’s a lot of responsibility being the First Lady.”
“Look, being in control of things doesn’t mean you have to be tough, or mean. It just means doing what you can, when you can. If it’s not enough, then it’s called tough. You were never meant to be a mean girl, just be yourself.”
I know she’s been finding it hard to be Axel’s woman, the kids’ mother, and helping everyone in the club female-wise.
“I’m going to take a chill pill, and tell Axel I need a timeout. Maybe we can take the kids and rent a cabin somewhere?”
“That’s a great idea. Go talk to him now and let me know. Love you, and if you need me, I’ll come back immediately.”
“Love you too, Shar.”
Depression is what I think she has, and I quickly send a text message to Stitch to check on her. I’ll drop everything and go to her if she needs me. Nobody in the world means more to me than Mia at this time, and I’ll step on anyone who gets in my way of getting to her.