Chapter 1 #3
“Nah, I’m good. Glad you stayed. I won’t take long, I promise. I could tell you were ready to leave,” Diablo observed as he straddled a chair so he could face me.
“First, sorry about Jaycee badgering you to move here. She thinks everyone should be on the compound so she can see them every day. The fact that she loves you and your dog makes her worse in your case.”
I grinned and shook my head. “No need to apologize. She’s being a kid. I hope you didn’t want me to stay to apologize to me. There’s no reason for you to do that. If that’s why you wanted me to stay, I’ll leave you to your night.”
I watched him grimace. “That’s where you’re wrong. I’ve got to ask you a huge favor. I’ve held off on asking, but I need to figure out if you can do it, or if I have to hire someone.”
“Hire someone to do what?” I asked in utter confusion.
“Every member here works either in a primary or secondary capacity in one of our club businesses. That’s the way it’s been forever.
When you were patched in, you already had a very successful job as a network engineer for a company.
I didn’t want to mess that up, so I left it alone.
Jauhnna, Paige, and Wolverine have been juggling it.
However, with two kids to juggle, Jauhnna doesn’t have enough time to dedicate to it or the books.
The same goes for Paige. She’s working as the primary medical staff with backup from Wolverine, but he manages Hook & Reel Charters with Cowboy.
And while Cowboy does an excellent job, he’s more suited to the outdoors, and we’ve been talking about his stables and horses, maybe becoming something more.
“Anyway, I’ve patched it, but that’s no longer holding together well.
Through no fault of their own, things have slipped through the cracks.
I need someone to be present at least twenty hours a week to oversee the office and paperwork, ensuring the financial records are accurate.
I know you’re busy with your network job, but I’ve got to ask.
Can you take over managing Wrath’s Recovery with help from Jauhnna, Paige, and Wolverine?
If not, don’t be afraid to say no. If you can’t, then I’ll go the route of hiring someone from the outside. ”
I knew how much Diablo distrusted what he considered outsiders.
If this had been before Jauhnna, he would’ve never considered it.
She had gotten him to loosen up in ways we never thought would happen.
The model in all the clubs we associated with was to have members, prospects, and old ladies run the businesses.
We hired civilians to work in them, but not to run them.
I hated to make him go against his instincts, but I knew with my job, I couldn’t always give twenty hours a week. However, I didn’t want to say no to my president. A thought flashed through my mind. I had no idea if he’d go for it, but it was worth a try.
“Pres, I might be able to do that some weeks, but not always, and I’d have no idea which weeks I can.”
His expression showed his disappointment, even though he quickly masked it. I hurried to add the rest.
“However, I think we can do something that will make you feel better, and so would I. What if we did both? You hire someone to manage it, with direct supervision by me. I’ll do what I can, but this person will report to me and essentially be my right hand, as it were.
When I’m unavailable, they’ll do the work.
When I have time to do it, they can be extra hands.
There’s always something to do there. I’ll be sure to review the books every month and stay current with them. We’ll work as a team.”
He didn’t shoot it down, so I remained silent and let him mull over what I suggested. Diablo didn’t rush one way or the other, but by the time he answered me, I knew he’d thoroughly thought through it. Now to see if he was for it.
“I admit, I hadn’t thought of that. While it wouldn’t ordinarily be my choice, if it allows us to use your brain even ten hours a week, it’ll make me happy, and I believe the others will feel the same.
There’s no way we’d ask you to quit your current job.
Why don’t we think about it? We’ll jot down any questions or concerns as they arise.
On Monday, we’ll bring it up to the others in church, and if they agree, we’ll take steps to place an ad and find someone who can fit in with you and the rest of the club. How does that sound?”
“It sounds like we have the makings of a plan. I’ll make sure to take notes. Was that all?”
“It was. Sorry for worrying you. I’ve been trying to think of a different option, but I haven’t landed on that one. It’ll require us to find the right someone, but until we do, we’ll all pitch in to cover it when you can’t. Thanks, brother,” he said.
“Any time. I’ll do anything for the club. Are you headed home or staying for a while?”
“I can stay a bit. I told Jauhnna I’d be home in an hour. She’s relaxing with a book. You wanna talk it through, don’t you?” He grinned.
“You know me. My brain will dwell on it anyway, so I might as well. And nothing is coming in the door that interests me,” I muttered as I saw the door open and women come slinking into the room.
Diablo chuckled and said he was getting us a drink so we could talk.
I sat there watching the mating ritual begin as I waited for his return.