Chapter 32

Merigold
It took about a week to get all the books at the shop situated. They weren’t bad, just disorganized. Thor’s been busting his butt to help and get back in mine and Viper’s good graces. I helped Thor get a better system for bookkeeping and get everything transferred to the computer. I could easily see he was trying but he didn’t have experience. After walking him through some of the basics I felt he had a good hold on the job. I also told him I would be there for him if he had any problems.

This next week is where we were going to have trouble. We had multiple interviews scheduled for each day of the week. We needed a receptionist and at least three mechanics. I really wanted four but I will take what I can get. Viper had given me free rein over the hiring saying I was the best person for the job. He also admitted to me that while he knew how to run a club he didn’t know shit about running the shop. We both didn’t want to let Raider down so I took over keeping updated as we went.

It was Monday morning and we had interviews for a receptionist. I have it set up so all the applicants arrive at the same time. I want to watch them for a few minutes before I start the interviews. I want to observe them for a bit before we start. I can weed out the ones who are here to work and the ones who just want to flirt and goof off that way. I pulled Jesse in to help. I have gotten to know the man over the last week and I like him. And him being helpful was an added bonus. I have been feeling off lately. I’m pretty sure I’m coming down with something and the exhaustion isn’t helping. Between taking care of the kids, helping the shop out and setting up the back bay for myself, I pushed myself to the limit. But I push through to take care of the boys and get this done.

Thor opens the door to let in the interviews. I have Jesse at the front desk. I even have a prospect ‘ Goof’ helping out. We have twenty in total. Majority are women. But we do have a few men. I stand in the door to the office where they can’t see me and watch. I would say about half the women are dressed like they are going out clubbing. Short, tight skirts. Shirts that are hanging low letting their tits fall out. They have their makeup caked on. It is really ridiculous. Once everyone is settled I watch what they do.
It doesn’t even take one minute of me watching to eliminate three girls. While seven women and three men were pulling out their resumes and other necessary papers but not these three ladies. They get up, push their boobs out and swing their hips. One goes to Jesse, one to Goof and one to Thor. I can only hear the one with Jesse but I assume the reset of the conversations are the same. I hear her say to Jesse” If you can get me this job I could make it worth your time. I’m very good at pleasing my boss. I could make sure you are taken care of as well.” She pushes up against Jesse rubbing on him. He keeps his face impassive but looks her up and down. “ I have heard your club runs this place. I could be very helpful to them. I do have the skills to please like no other. I’m sure your boss will be impressed if he wants to try me out. You could help.” she says. I see Jesse gringe before he goes back to stoic. I now feel bad for him. He didn’t sign up for this. I owe the poor guy a raise. I look at Thor and Goof and see they are getting pretty much the same speech. I roll my eyes. I hear Jesse say “ I don’t think you are the boss’s type.” The girl throws her head back and laughs, “ Honey, I’m everyone's type.”
I almost burst out laughing but managed to hold it. It is time to help my guys out. I walk out past Jesse and say “ In this case he would be right. You aren’t my type.” I love the look on her face when her jaw dropped. I stand in the middle of the waiting room. I point to the three women that are on my guys “ You three. You think trying to fuck my guys to get me to hire you. Not gonna happen. I run an auto shop not a whore house. Out.” Thor opens the door and let’s them out.

I point to the ones still sitting “ If you aren’t here for a real job. If you are here to try to get in with my club. If you think you can touch my guys. Not going to happen. My guys are untouchable. And my word is law in this shop and the club.” I look around to make sure I got my point across. “ I run a clean, respectable business. You will dress professionally. No flirting with or fucking the clients or employees. You don’t like it. I will show you the door.”
Three more stand up and walk out. I look over the remaining fourteen. Time to weed out a few more. “ This shop is owned by the Reckless Renegades. If you are bothered by that or don’t think you can work for us it is ok to leave no hard feelings. If you think working here will get you in with the club. You're wrong. You aren’t allowed near the club. If you have a problem working for a woman. There’s the door.” And that did it. Four more walk out.
Time to get started on the remaining ones. “ Thank you for staying. Allow me to introduce myself and the crew.” I say to the group. I start with myself. “ I’m Merigold Stevens. One of the owners.” I point to Jesse standing by the desk. “ This is Jesse, one of my most trusted mechanics.” I point to the door. “ That is Thor, our office manager. We are going to divide you between the three of us to interview. We will meet up tonight to bring our top choice. Then we will decide who we hire. You will know by tomorrow if you are hired or not. I will call one way or another so no one is left hanging.”
Thor takes the office to interview his three. I take the desk for the four I’m going to interview. Jesse takes his three to one of the bays in the shop. I look at my group then my clipboard and call my first name. “ Clayton Simmons.” A young guy about nineteen or twenty comes up to me. He is dressed in a pair of nice jeans and a button up shirt. Simple but professional. I motion for him to follow me behind the desk to a chair I have for him. I asked him for his resume. He hands it to me and I look it over. He doesn’t have much experience, but that doesn’t bother me. I can always train him. He just graduated high school. He is working at a grocery store at night so I’m guessing he may want a day time job as well.
“ Tell me a bit about yourself, Clayton.” I say. “ I just graduated. I’m saving up money to go to college in the fall. I work part time at the grocery store at night as a stocker. But it doesn’t pay as much as I need. I thought getting a day job would help. I know I don’t have any experience but I am a fast learner. I know I can do the work if I just had a chance.” My heart goes out to this poor kid. “ I find myself thinking of other places I could put him if I can’t get him the receptionist job. '' Will getting this job interfere with your night job?” I ask. “ Oh, no. I checked the hours before I applied.” I nod.
I ask a few more questions and explain a little more about the job. I even ask about what he wants to go to school for. I discovered he is going for an art degree. I let him know I will call him tomorrow with my answer. My gut is telling me he won’t be my new receptionist but I already have an idea in mind what to do with him. I can’t let him go without a job.
I interview my next two. Both are very qualified. They have good references. But I'm leaning towards the guy. The woman came across as a bitch and started telling me all the things she required to take the job. For Instance an hour lunch break, she couldn’t be in until ten and she had to leave by three everyday. And wouldn’t explain why. No weekends when the ad specifically stated Saturday’s were a must. Yea, I don’t think so, lady.
My last interview was a bit confusing. I look over her resume and it is incredible. She retired from the Army after an injury during combat. She is a mechanic with impeccable references including one from her old commanding officer. So why is she asking for a receptionist job of all things. “ Mrs. Merrit, first of all thank you for your service.” I say. She flushes slightly but nods. I get the feeling that she doesn’t hear that often. Which is a shame, really.
“ Can I ask you why you are applying for a receptionist job and not a mechanic job?” I ask. She looks confused for a minute like she is surprised by my question. “ Most in this area just see a woman and assume I have no other skills. They never even look at my resume. And right now I can’t afford to be choosy.” I hate that for her. She has got the skills to get a job anywhere. If they are too stupid to hold on to her. Just all the better for me.
“ Mrs. Merrit, I don’t want to hire you as the receptionist. I would like to put you in with the interviews as a mechanic if that is alright with you?” She looks shocked that I would even suggest that. Then I think about what her file said about being injured in service. “ Are you serious?” she asks. I smile “ Completely. Unless you tell me that the injuries you received will keep you from doing the job.”
“ I might be a little slower than the rest of the guys. Possibly take a few extra breaks but I can do the work. You have my word.” she says. “ Good. I need to go over this with my team. I may be the owner but I value their input. The mechanics interview is this afternoon, but since you just had yours. You won’t need to be here. I have four slots open if you are interested?” Mrs. Merrit is so excited she is bouncing in her chair. “ Yes. Yes. Thank you Mrs. Stevens.” I stand to shake her hand “ It is just Merigold. And you are welcome.” She takes my hand but in the process knocks over my binder of my work.
“ I’m so sorry. I got a little excited.” she says bending over to pick the binder up. “ It is no problem.” I laugh. When she grabs the binder it has fallen open. She sees some of the work I have done on prosthetics for some Vets. Her eyes go wide as she looks at it. She looks at me then back to the book. “ You're The Merigold Stevens?” I’m not sure what she is getting at. “ I don’t understand?” I told her.
She looks at the binder one more time before closing it and handing it to me. “ I have seen some of your work on a few V.A. websites I read. You are practically famous. Wow. I might get to work with Merigold Stevens. What until some of the guys I know hear about this. They will be banging down your door to get a chance to have some of your work.” she says. “ That is kind of you. But I’m just Merigold. Not famous. I will call you in the morning about the job.” Mrs. Merrit thanks me again and leaves.
The rest of the afternoon we interview mechanics. We do a similar setup as this morning but in reverse. I’m sitting up front and the guys are watching. We only have ten interviews this time and within five minutes we eliminate four because they either wouldn’t work for a chic. Their words. Or they thought they could get in with the club. When one found out I was the owner and was in the club he tried to flirt when he realized it was a waste of time he left. The rest of the guys weren’t too bad. When we were finished I was wiped. I told Jesse and Thor what I thought. We decided to hire a woman from Jesse’s group as our receptionist. A woman in her mid forties that had years of experience. I told them about Clayton and Mrs. Meritt. After looking over there paperwork they agreed with me to hire Mrs. Meritt as a mechanic. I told them I wanted to hire Clayton as a helper for myself in the detail bay. They tried to say who I hired for that part wasn’t anything to do with them. But I wanted their opinion.
Once everything was settled I agreed to make all the calls in the morning. I was done for the day and still needed to update Viper. I packed up my things, hugged Thor and Jesse goodnight, and made my way to the clubhouse.