Page 42 of Shar: A Woman Alone

“Right, settle down. I want to get through this fast thismorning, so pay attention. First of all, you should all know by now that Josieis off limits as far as sex is concerned. She is no longer a club whore, so donot go there. If she comes to one of you, I want you to politely decline andthen tell me right away. This is not a game. She wanted the chance to go clean,and I have given her that chance. I do not want someone touching any of yourdicks and then making my food. Am I perfectly clear on this? I will take it asa personal insult if I find any of you have been there after today.”

“Pres, are we going to get rid of the whores, full stop?”Gunner asks from where he is leaning on the wall.

“I think that could be on the cards for the future unlesssomeone wants to raise it now?” I look around the table, and I think I alreadyknow those that would ‘aye’, and those that would ‘nay.’ No one offers it up,so I move on.

“Still with the subject of food, I want the diner given alick of paint. I’ll give you all a date when I’ve spoken to the staff there andwe will all descend on that day and get it done. We will also have our eveningmeal there that day to show our support. I want everyone to eat there at leasttwice a month, too. It’s our business and we are being criticized for notshowing our faces. I’m as guilty as the rest of you, so I’ll be riding outthere more often and asking questions of the staff if they have been seeing youall. Bank and Pen, any issues with the established businesses?”

Bank gives us a positive all-round report, and then looks atme for the go ahead to get into the salon and junkyard finances. Giving him thenod, he gets to it.

“We have the salon purchased and Zara has been through theplace and cleaned it from top to bottom.” Gunner looks like the cat that gotthe cream, he is so proud of his daughter.

“My girl has already appointed the first stylist. Sheapproached Zara while she was cleaning and offered to help. She has a job inthe other salon but has been thinking of how she could get out of there for awhile because of the atmosphere. I’m expecting some form of trouble coming fromthat. If we had a girl-gang like the Raging Barons, hell, I’d let them dealwith it.” That has us all grinning and grimacing. We all know of theirreputations for getting into mischief, or just supporting their men! “Zara hasthe name of someone that she thinks could be good as the manager, but wants tobring her in for an interview. If it’s okay with you, Pres, she’d like to do ithere. Letting it be known from day one that the MC is behind the business couldprevent some of the aforementioned trouble from arising.” Gunner looksquestioningly at me.

“I have no issues with Zara doing that. She’s a clubprincess, after all,” I respond.

“Purchase of the junkyard. Once Pres has spoken to themayor, I think we’ll get it below its market value, and so we should, from whatPsycho tells me,” Bank continues. “Psycho, Porky and Croc have volunteeredtheir efforts to get the place up to speed for opening day, but I’m throwingany spare time I have into the pot to help them. They think it’s going to takethe three of them two months to be ready to open a business fit to carry theclub's logo. If anyone else can spare them some assistance, we should be ableto knock that down by a good few days, at least.”

I’m pleased but not surprised when everyone puts in theiroffers of help for the guys. Maybe I won’t have to wait so long for some cashto come in, I think to myself. Croc was right, though. Apart from the purchaseprice and maybe a few incidentals, we won’t have much outlay.

“Last on today’s agenda is the hardware and tech store.Shelling out cash to stock up the tech store shouldn’t be an issue, as weexpect that stock to turn around fairly fast. Our biggest decision is whatlevel do we stock the hardware store for opening day? Too little and ifcustomers can’t get what they want or need, they won’t come again. Too much andwe could be carrying thousands of dollars for months with no return.”

“Why don’t we just go around the town and ask the potentialcustomers what they are more likely to buy? If we spend a Saturday wanderingthe main shopping areas, we’d probably catch more than half the town in oneswoop,” Gunner just throws it out there as if it’s the easiest thing in theworld. Damn, he’s got something there.

“Gunner, when did you suddenly become this super-dad andentrepreneur that sits before us?” Brawl looks at him with his head tiltedfirst on one side then the other, like a German Shepherd puppy!

“Fuck off, Brawl. You just never saw me for the hero I am,is all.” Church erupts in laughter, and I think that’s a good place to call ita day. Slamming down the gavel, I kick them out and head for the kitchen to seewhat delights await for lunch.

CHAPTER 21

Shar

Mealtimes have become the hub of the clubhouse lately and Iswear are more popular than the bar. Lira has made the kitchen her own littlepiece of heaven and has the brothers wrapped around her little finger, though Idon’t believe she realizes it. Watching them rinse their breakfast dishes andplace them in the dishwasher has me smiling.

Chatting to her, she seems settled in her role and tells methat Josie has, so far, taken to her new role too and excels at everything thatis asked of her. Although not yet having run a suppertime alone, she has takencare of breakfasts and lunches successfully.

“Have you got any changes in mind for the kitchen or meals?”I ask, because although everything is running like clockwork, I haven’t noticedanything different.

“I’m going to speak to Pres about implementing a deadlinefor the mealtimes. Sort of ten a.m. cutoff for breakfast, two p.m. for lunch,eight p.m. for supper. At the moment, I don’t know when it’s safe to switch offfrom one and prep the next. Brothers are still expecting breakfast at elevena.m. and at that time, I’m prepping for lunch to start at twelve noon,” Rollingher eyes she has me smiling because that would frustrate me, too.

“I’d say that was reasonable. If anyone has a good reason tobe outside those hours, they can always let you know and arrange something.How’s your room coming along? I haven’t seen Trip in a while to ask if he’sfinished it for you?”

“Oh, you haven’t seen it? You must come and see.” Taking myhand, she pulls me to her room, and I have to say it looks gorgeous.

The walls have been repainted in pastel colors, and thefurniture has been done in contrast. The bedding is all flowery and feminine,something I’m not used to seeing in this clubhouse, I must admit.

“Wow, Lira. You’ve certainly made this your own space. Itshouts you wherever I look.” I don’t know Lira that well, but this is what Iwould expect her home to be like.

“Can I let you into a secret, but you must promise not totell?” She looks at me with enormous round eyes.

Sticking out my little finger, I giggle at her serious look.“Pinky promise.”

Wrapping her little finger around mine she echoes, “Pinkypromise. It was all Trip. Crack told him to get his ass back and do a properjob. He did it all without me saying a word, even the bedding and throwcushions. Isn’t it just so good you could die here?”

“He nailed it. He’s got you down to a tee, I have to say. Idon’t know what to say, Lira. It is fabulous.”

“I love it, too. I don’t want to go home. It’s sobeautifully perfect.” I swear she has tears in her eyes as she says this.

“I can only wish everything was so perfect in my world,Lira. I guess there’s nothing I can do to improve yours, eh?” I turn and headback to the kitchen. I have an appointment with Zara soon and her interviewsfor the salon manager's position. Despite the fact that I thought she had theperfect candidate, she has arranged interviews for them both.

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