Chapter 27

Merigold

Once everyone is seated I wait for Viper to get here. One of the guys that were flirting asks Thor “ What the fuck man. I had a prime piece of ass on the line and you just shut us down.” I look at Thor wanting to see how he is going to answer. Thor looks at the guy and says “ Boss said to shut down. We shut down.” The guy looks at Trina. She starts to violently shake her head. “ Boss lady, why did we shut down? I could have tapped that pretty ass before lunch. You were getting your rocks off. Why can’t I?” he asks. I keep my eyes on Trina as I reach into my left boot and pull my knife out.
Trina sees it and all the color drains from her face. Even Thor looks scared. Lug is smart enough to move out of the way. But the guy talking is stupid as hell and keeps talking. “ What is the deal boss lady? I needed to get my dick wet.” I have heard enough. I never let my eyes leave Trina. She knows I’m beyond pissed at this point. I throw my knife and it lands perfectly not even a centimeter above his head. He doesn’t move but turns his eyes to me. “ Shut up or next time I won’t miss.” Wisely he stops talking. I hear the front door getting unlocked and Viper walks in.

Viper looks are the waiting room then back at me. “ Does someone what to tell me why the shop is closed down?” he asks. I look at Thor and Trina thinking they will speak up. But from the looks of it, they are going to remain quiet. Fine. “ Since you two are too chicken shit to tell him. I will.” Before I can say a word the dipshit I threw my knife at opens his mouth. “ Listen, crazy lady, you don’t talk to the bosses that way.” Lug starts laughing “ Dudes got a death wish.” Thor growls out “ Carver if you value your life. I would shut up. She already threw a knife at you.” Viper walks over and grabs the knife. He twirls it around to get a good look at it before he hands it to me. “ So you are gonna tell me why you called me here?”
I told Viper everything that happened from the time I walked to the time he got here. To say he was pissed was a gross miscalculation. But I didn’t stop there “ I have to say brother if this is how you run your business I am sorely disappointed. I wouldn’t be surprised if you were losing money. I’m so ashamed by what I saw that I don’t want my name attached to this place. I’m thinking I will take my business elsewhere. At this rate, this place won’t be open much longer anyway. How often do you check in? Or do you take Thor’s word that everything is fine? If this is how they treat me I can only imagine how they treat paying customers.”

Judging by the look on Viper’s face he has no idea what is going on with his own business. Since Thor is his brother and friend he took him at his word. I want to feel bad for him but I can’t. “ Viper, this is the first time since you called me that I am wholeheartedly embarrassed to know you and this club.” I know that has to hurt him but it is the truth. I stood up and said, “ I need a shower after being here. See you around.” At least Thor and Trina have the common sense to look ashamed. I turn to leave but Viper stops me.

“ Merigold stop. Please.” I turn to look at him but don’t say anything. “ You are right. This place is screwed up. I didn’t know but I should have. Stay. We will figure this out together and fix it. And I want to know what you wanted to see Thor about.” I take a good look at Viper and see he is telling the truth. “ Ok. I’ll stay. And help you fix this shit hole. I don’t want to see the place that Raider built go under.” “ Thank you. Since you saw more than me. Tell me you want to start.” I think about it for a minute. I’m sure they don’t think I know anything about running a business. They are dead wrong. I helped run Alaric and Mac’s businesses. And I have a degree in business management that I got when I got my art degree.

“ For starters, I think you should clean house. Get rid of all of them including Thor and Trina. And hire all new employees. I would also bring in a forensic account to go over the books with a fine-tooth comb. If everything doesn’t add up, prosecute the person in charge. If it is discovered that the boss lady over there is getting paid when she shouldn’t be, I would have her pay back every last dime.”