Page 15 of Stella
“We’re fine,” Cash says at my chirpy hello.
I smile in greeting around the table. Mostly I get smiles, the exception being my boss; Tag, along with Dad, Hawk, and Cash.
Hold your head up high.
Do not let them intimidate you.
You have just as much right to be here as everyone else.
I pull my notepad out of my bag, along with my pencil case, phone and some breath mints.
“Comfy?” Nevada, the Tail Gunner, laughs.
“Just need to get my notes handy.” I smile back. “I have a list of questions, and some references I highlighted should I need them at a glance.”
My dad already has his head in his hands. I also hear Tag mutter, “For fuck’s sake.”
And Priest, who I adore, shoulders shake as he tries very hard not to laugh. Even Bronco, who I’m also friends with because I dig Amber, isn’t frowning. Maybe this won’t be as bad as I thought.
I look up at Cash. “May I record?” I motion to my phone.
“No,” he replies.
Oh. I was kinda expecting that, but still, what a killjoy. “It’s just I’d like to listen back in case there’s anything I miss,” I go on. “That way I can be well-versed before you make your final decision.”
“Well versed?” I hear Ryder mutter.
They can stare, scoff, mutter and do whatever the fuck they want. I will rise above it. Life isn’t without challenges, and neither will this be.
“In any case, I’m the Secretary,” Riot goes on. “I’ll be the one taking meeting notes. I’ll email you a copy.”
The other guys all snicker.
Typical male chauvinist behavior. I smile sweetly. “Very well, just trying to be helpful.”
I slide my reading glasses on and crack my knuckles, ready to get into it as I look down the table right at Cash.
“Why do you want to prospect, Stella?” Cash asks as silence falls around the room.
All ten of them are facing my way. Nobody makes any more sounds, laughing or otherwise.
I may have been practicing this my whole life, but they sure know how to make a girl feel just a little on edge.
“As you all know, I’ve grown up within the MC since I was a child,” I say. “It’s what I know. I live and breathe this club, and I love it. I also love the brother and sisterhood, and above all else, the loyalty this club has shown over the years. And I think I would be an excellent member if given the chance to prove myself. Speaking of which, I have a list of all the charitable and philanthropic things I’ve achieved while being associated with the club, and what I’ve done outside of it. In fact, Priest here is one of my references because — as I’m sure we’re all aware — he’s in charge of The Soup Kitchen, and it’s something I’m also very passionate about.”
I pull the stapled pages out of my notebook and begin to hand them to Jett, the Treasurer, who takes one and passes the stack on. Yes, I thought ahead, so they all have a copy.
“You’ll find attached my current resume,” I go on. “And a list of other references on the bottom.”
“Hey, you’re on the list of references,” Jett says, looking up at Tag.
I shrug. “He is my boss.”
“Don’t remember agreein’ to this,” Tag grumbles.
I feel the need to poke my tongue out at him, but I don’t. “You’re my current boss, and I highly doubt you’d have anything bad to say about my work ethic, or my performance.” I level him with a gaze, he just shakes his head.
“And Indigo, too.” Hawk frowns.
