Page 12 of When Life Sucks!

“Gunner, you will do recon tomorrow after the meeting. Take three brothers, report only if you find something.”

“Okay, Prez,” Gunner replies, and I blink as it feels very odd being called that. I see Beast grinning out of the corner of my eye as he sits quietly watching and listening.

“What do you want to do about Melody?” Lethal asks.

Beast, however, cuts in before I can reply, “Oh, she’s comin’ with me. I’m waiting for Chainsaw to arrive and he can take her back with him. She’s going to pay for what she’s done, and I’m lookin’ forward to it.”

“Lethal, have someone you trust sit in the office through the night. I need to go to my place and get my gear. Move Bolt out of the president's room and put him in the VP's one. You take over the enforcer's room. It’s stood empty long enough. None of us will forget Arrow, but he's been gone two years. It’s time the room had an occupier.”

“Okay, Prez, I’ll get on that now. But I’ll be back and stay in the office tonight. I’ll speak to Teckie about a new door and one with iris recognition.”

“Good idea, thanks,” I reply and watch him leave.

“I’m going to remove Sacks from the club,” Beast announces. “Take him with me and place him in another chapter. He’ll make a good VP, but not here. I want Alice to have space from him. She’s not in love with him and it’s obvious the way she’s easily moved on. But she’s not walking away from us, meaning you and me. We are her family now and I need to speak to her fuckin’ mother. I’m going to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay. Good night.” Looking at the paperwork on the desk, I pile it all into one neat pile before picking up the first sheet of paper and start reading. Rubbing my neck, I can’t help the feeling it’s going to be more than interesting to see how everyone reacts to what’s about to happen.

Chapter 9

Alice

“Good morning, Alice,” Sadie greets me, holding a mug of coffee out to me.

“You are such a star. You know this is the best-ever drink of the day.”

Sadie laughs as she rounds her desk and picks up a slip of paper. “Mr. Ronald wants you to attend a meeting with himself, Mr. Jeffrey, and Mr. Bradbury. It has to do with being on last warning.”

“Oh. Thank you and stop calling them Mr. They are just Ronald and Jeffrey. I’ll make sure I attend. It’s something we all knew was going to happen, but came faster than I thought it would.”

“You know the old saying about leading horses to water! Well, he was warned, and didn’t pick up his performance. I’ve left his performance sheet on your desk, along with other information you may need.”

“Thanks, Sadie.”

Half an hour later, I’ve read the information that Sadie has accumulated from reports on her system. It seems Mr. Bradbury, known as Lester, has not earned his monthly salary in quite some time.

He has lost four clients that were in the past large investors, and to have lost them could have led to new clients not coming to us, but going to other sources.

Financial services are not something you can afford to play around with. Our company offers advice on insurance, retirement plans, accounting, and investments. Investments being our fortè.

Picking up the paperwork from my desk, I walk out of the office and toward the conference room. Opening the door, I smile at Ronald and Jeffrey, who are already here and waiting with a tray of pastries and coffee on the table.

“Take a seat. We will start the meeting as soon as Lester arrives. We are a little early, but we will be away from today for a week. You will be in charge of the place while we are gone. Oh, the cheese and wine evening is going to have to wait, sorry darling,” Ronald slots that on the end nicely, and I give him a scowl before sticking my tongue out.

“Oh, dear, that’s not nice.” Jeffrey laughs, and he is the more masculine of the two of them, but he still has that darling vibe about him at times when he speaks.

“It’s not nice leaving a girl without a night out, too. Fancy dumping me like that.” I pretend to be hurt, but we all three know that I’m play-acting.

“Well, I’ve booked you a table at Wong’s Restaurant. Take whoever you would like to take. Have a good evening on us. We know how much you love Chinese food, and it’s okay having takeout, but go have an enjoyable meal, dress up a bit.” Jeffrey grins at me, knowing I’m not a dress-up kind of person but I do if it’s for work conferences, and the like.

The conference room door opens and Lester Bradbury walks in, looking like he’s about to be hung, drawn, and quartered. He has to know he’s about to lose his job. He is not a stupid man, and in the past has been an exemplary staff member.

“Good morning, Lester, take a seat.” Ronald is in work mode and the teasing we’d just been enjoying is not evident anymore.

Lester takes a seat and looks from one to the other of us. Before we can speak, he states in a matter-of-fact manner. “I’m here to be removed from my position with the company, aren’t I?”

“Yes, I’m afraid you are,” I quickly reply, before either Ronald or Jeffrey can.

“I knew it was coming. I’ve not been able to concentrate, and it’s been evident I’ve lost the company clients.”

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