11: Taking Measures

SERENA

"Hmmm," Chanel hummed, adjusting her glasses as she went through my designs. I wasn't seeing any smile or frown on her face. Her expression was bland as fuck.

Shit, she should give me a hint at least. I was super nervous here. My throat was getting a bit dry with how much I've swallowed hard. I think I could taste blood on my lips with how much I've bit them.

"Okay," she set my designs sketches down and removed her glasses. 

This was the moment I've been waiting for. Positive reply, heavens pleaseee...

"I'm impressed, Serena."

"Yes," I let out a tiny squeal, my breath finally relaxing. This woman nearly gave me a heart attack.

"Really impressed." She said again, this time with a smile on her face. "I love how distinct you made everything most especially the patterns and th memeber's tag."

"T...thank you so m...much, ma'am," I stuttered out of excitement. "You just made my day." I said in all honesty.  

"Moving forward," Chanel's face shifted back to boss mode as she adjusted her seat. "As we spoke yesterday, there's going to be some adjustments as regards to the measurements."

"Okay, ma'am." I nodded, eager to hear what she would say next.

"I've approved your designs already, that means you would be taking the measurements today," She stated, placing a measuring tape on the table. "And as for the adjustments, you'll be doing everything today."

"Uhm, ma'am. I don't quite understand. Thought you said it would be scheduled on different days." The thought of standing for hours close to different species of biker men till I would be exhausted taking measurements of each and every one of them made my bones weak already. I didn't even want to think of the tortuous smell of smoke and engine oil my nose would have to pass through...not to even talk of the bad breath some of them might even have. No, please, I have to take day breaks in between. 

'Have you suddenly forgotten about Havoc? Or is he the one going to give you the weak bones?' my subconscious blew a tiny whisper to my ears.

'Fuck off, bitch.' I responded back.

"Yes, I said that but I recently learned that there would be a ride tomorrow and I don't know how long Havoc might decide to keep the ride on for. So, I made a quick assessment yesterday. Not everyone will be getting measured."

I nodded.

"I picked out few bikers from each group as samples for the rest... Three prospects, four patched members and two executives. You can finish everything before today runs out, yeah?"

The time was eleven thirty am. I should be done before two pm.

"The executives and patched members, you will be doing two measurements on each of them. One for their jacket and the other for their cut. I would have told you this earlier but it escaped my mind. The club will be needing leather cut designs for everyone except prospects. This time, you'll also be designing for the old ladies."

"Sorry to ask, ma'am. Who are those?" I would have to borrow some of Willa's biker books so I'd get acquainted with some of these terms or better still ask her to teach me.

"Wives, fiancées and serious girlfriends of members of the club." 

"Got it." Another quick nod.

"I will be expecting the designs by next week...will communicate the exact day with you later once I'm sure how long tomorrow's ride will take." She said, passing the measuring tape and a new notebook to me. "I've already informed them that you are here already. When you step out, you can ask any of the prospects or just anyone you see to take you to the bar area."

"Sure, ma'am." I took the notebook, wrapping the measuring tape around it.

"I hope you're with your pen?" She asked with her brows raised.

"Of course." I waved my pen at her. Being extra careful with my steps not to get into your bad books, Chanel. I thought.

Here I was thinking the bar area would be somewhere I haven't seen before, only for it to be the same place I was taken to by that young biker yesterday. It still had the same smell of alcohol and weed, but it wasn't as choking as yesterday...the windows were all open.

Three plus four plus two is nine. Why was I seeing only eight men?

"Hey beautiful, are you here to meet someone?" One of the bikers who sighted me first asked with a cocky grin.

Before I could give the dickhead a response, someone spoke for me. "Picnic, back off. She's the one Chanel spoke about." It was the same biker who had shown me directions yesterday. The rest of them had their attention on me now.

"Hey, you." I said when he moved to my direction. 

"Hello, it's nice seeing you again." He smiled at me.

"Can we get on with the measurement stuff? You guys can fuck later." One of the bikers with the patch 'Tail Gunner' grumbled with an underlying impatient tone. Some of the bikers broke out laughing.

"Later," I whispered to him before stepping back a bit. I cleared my throat quietly, "please can the prospects step aside? I'm going to start with you guys first." 

"That ain't happening, sweetheart. I'm an executive. I should be first...moreover I got something very much important doing." The 'Tail Gunner' guy interrupted me.

"Bolt, you ain't the only one with important stuff. Let the young lady do as she's told." The biker closest to him with a 'Member' patch snapped.

Seeing that a fight might start and I didn't want to be the reason behind it, I chose to take Bolt's measurements first. After I was done with him, I moved to my initial plan of starting with the prospects then to the patched members.

"Got a boyfriend, beautiful?" Same biker who had wanted to flirt with me earlier came to the table where I was rewriting the measurements I had taken into the notebook Chanel had given me. I wanted it to look clean and organized. 

"That's none of your business, Picnic." My biker friend replied...yeah I think I should call him that since I didn't know his name yet... He was sitting beside me, helping me hold the piece of paper firmly to the table while I transfer the details to Chanel's notebook.

"Horse, you're not her fucking mouthpiece." The so called Picnic said, sounding annoyed.

"Yes, I have a man, Picnic." I responded this time. The same lie I use to chase perverts like him away from me.

"Shit." He cursed under his breath, then left without another word.

"I apologize..." My biker friend began. 

"It's fine... What's your name though?"

"Desmond, but people around here call me Horse."

"Horse as in the animal?" 

"Yes," Desmond responded with a low chuckle.

What sort of names do these people have? Havoc, Bishop, Money, Ax, Bolt, Picnic...now Horse. Wondered what other weird names I would still hear later.

"I'm Serena, by the way and I don't have a second weird name. So, just call me Serena." 

"No problem, Serena." Desmond was laughing now.

"What happened to your prospect patch?" I noticed when I seen him first. What he had now was 'Member'.

"I'm no longer a prospect. I'm now a fully patched member...was promoted yesterday."

"Awww, congratulations." 

"Thank you." He had a faint blush on both his cheeks. 

 I was done transferring everything when I realized there was one more person left...the second executive.

"I would have loved to stay more with you, Serena but I'll have to leave now. The club has a ride tomorrow." Desmond said, standing up from his seat.

"That's alright, but I have to ask... Who is the second executive that was meant to be among the rest of you?"

"The president."

I paused for a moment, taking whatever he said in. Why should it be Havoc for crying out loud? Why didn't Chanel choose any other executive? Why Havoc, why? 

I had already made up my mind that I would not be seeing Havoc's face till next week,now I'd be doing more than seeing his face...my fucking hands would be on his body. I think I felt my toes curl a bit.