Chapter Twenty-Six Brigit

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX: brIGIT

I shake my head at Wildcard, but smile back.

"Since I'm here, I can pay back all that you and your club are doing for me," I tell him. "Why don't I talk to the workers who have turned in their notice? If they're still here at work."

Wildcard frowns. "You don't have to do that, but I won't say no. You're certain?"

I nod. "It will get my feet wet and after that tour, I'm curious why anyone would want to quit."

Wildcard huffs. "Yeah, we don't get it either. I'll get you a computer, but in the meantime, let me grab the personnel folders from Trouble."

I search the desk until I find a pad of paper and a few pens I can use to take notes. As I wait for Wildcard to return, I jot down a few general questions. I also make a list of potential areas of concern based on past experience. Most of the time, money is the great motivator to leave one job for another. That could be the case here. Even though 1% has the perks, if they aren't offering great pay and benefits, another casino probably could. I made a note to find out the hourly rate and salaries for each position. Also, it would help to know what benefits other casinos in the area offer their employees. By the time Wildcard returns, I have several pages filled with actionable items and another with potential questions for the employees.

"Here are the files for all the employees who have quit in the past week," Wildcard says, as he drops them on my desk. Trouble is right behind him.

"I sent Reggie to locate Bianca Lake. I know she's working tonight as a cocktail server. Someone can cover her station while she visits with you. We'll reimburse her for lost tips." Trouble says. "Thanks for doing this. I hate losing people."

I glance through the folders to find Bianca's folder. As I search through them, I notice a pattern until I reach the last folder. "Most of them are women. Just one man."

"Is that significant? Most of our employees are women," Trouble says. "I'd say over seventy percent."

"I don't know, but it could be. Harassment is often a contributing factor to turnover."

"But we don't tolerate harassment," Wildcard assures me. "The employees know we'll protect them. If we see anyone on the floor making a staff member uncomfortable, we kick them out. Whether they're customers or employees."

I nod. "That's good to know. You said all these people quit this past week? Prior to then, turnover rates were low?"

"Yeah."

"Anything change in the last three or six months?"

Wildcard and Trouble glance at each other before turning back to me. "Why would that matter? These guys quit this past week."

"Most people don't make a snap judgement and quit. Usually, the decision takes months, if not longer. Depends on the situation."

"So, you think something that happened a few months ago triggered their exodus? That makes sense," Wildcard says. "We lost our HR Manager six months ago. She went on maternity leave and we hired a temp. The temp stayed for eight weeks. Chill's been handling it since."

"Not Chill," Trouble corrects him. "Or at least, not just Chill. She has Viper helping her out since she doesn't like the touchy-feely aspects of HR. Her words." Trouble says, raising his hands in defense.

"I think the word you're looking for is empathy, but I get what you're saying. One wouldn't expect a SOA to have much empathy."

Trouble and Wildcard chuckle. "No, that wouldn't be a good quality in a SOA."

"Okay, I have something to work with."

Trouble and Wildcard leave while I review Bianca's folder. A few minutes later, someone knocks softly on the door. Standing, I walk over and open it. Standing on the other side is one of the tallest women I've ever seen. I'd have to see her next to Viper to know for certain. Her golden eyes and skin the color of black coffee make me think of a panther. She glides into the room as gracefully as one.

"I'm Bianca. You wanted to see me?" Her voice is musical.

"My name is Brigit Jones. Wildcard and Trouble asked me to speak with you. I have a background in Human Resources. They're concerned because several people have turned in their notice. I'm hoping to find out why and, if there's a problem they can fix, help them fix it so they don't lose more people. Would you be willing to talk to me?" I gesture toward the couch near the wall of windows rather than the desk.

She studies me with her cat-like eyes before nodding and walking toward the couch. Her glide would make a runway model jealous. Her straight, black hair falls like an oil geyser from a high ponytail. The short black skirt she's wearing reveals mile-long legs. She looks like a showgirl. Under the casino's kutte, she's wearing a white t-shirt that glows against her gorgeous skin. She sinks onto the couch and watches me expectantly as I join her.

"Why did they ask you to meet with me?"

"They were hoping I could talk you into staying. I was hoping to learn more about why you decided to leave 1%. I see in your file that you've been a server here for just over a year. Are you not happy here?"

Bianca studies me for a long minute before she answers. "I don't know if I can trust you."

"I get that. Since we've never met before. I used to work in Boston as the HR Manager for a small hotel. Nothing like this place. I grew up in Vegas and recently returned. I know Wildcard and he mentioned they needed an HR Manager. From what I understand, their previous manager went on maternity leave and hasn't come back. He said Chill has been filling in until they can find someone permanent. I'm considering taking the job. Since he and Trouble were concerned about an increased turnover rate, I offered to find out what I could. Does that help?"

"No."

"Okay." I put the pen down and study Bianca. She stares back at me defiantly, but I see a sense of fear in her golden eyes. "You can go, and I'm sorry to have wasted your time."

"That's it?"

"I can't make you talk to me. That isn't what I want. I was hoping you'd want to tell me why you want to leave. Especially if the reason is something they need to fix."

"What makes you think there is something to fix?"

"Because Wildcard gave me a tour and told me about all the perks they offer. I saw your file, so I know they offer benefits and a decent salary. Although, I don't know enough about the area to know if others pay more. Like I said, if you're leaving because another casino or hotel is offering you more pay or better benefits, then I'd like to tell Wildcard they need to revisit their compensation package."

"It isn't the salary or the benefits," Bianca says.

I wait for her to continue, so when she doesn't, I thank her. "Okay. I'll let them know. Thank you."

When she doesn't get up to leave, I raise an eyebrow in question. I've dealt with nervous, angry, scared, and resentful employees, but I can't make out Bianca. She's angry and a little scared, but she's also watchful. It's as if she thinks I'm setting her up. At least that's the feeling I'm getting. Chalking it up to my being unfamiliar, I wait her out.

"Why is the hotel suddenly worried about its employees again?"

I frown at her question as I dismantle it. According to Wildcard and Trouble, they've always watched out for their employees. But Bianca is saying otherwise. Did they stop? Is that why people are leaving? I could understand if this was true. People tend not to work in unsafe environments, especially if they have options. Vegas has options.

"Someone harassed you?" I ask. She nods. "Did they hurt you?"

"I didn't give him the chance."

"Was it a customer or an employee?"

"Is this a trap? To see if I squeal?"

I jerk back in surprise. "I'm not trying to trap you. Wildcard asked me as a personal favor to find out why people are leaving. He genuinely wants to understand what's happening. He assured me the club doesn't let customers harass the staff. That they'll boot any customer who does. They don't care who the customer is. Having met Puma and Trouble, I believe they'd do just that. But you're saying otherwise?"

"He threatened me. Told me if I talked to you, he'd find me and hurt me. That he'd hurt the others."

Looks like I found the reason.

"A customer or an employee?"

She blinks. "An employee."

"Can you tell me who?"

"Can you protect me?"

I narrow my eyes. "Oh yeah, I'll make certain you're protected. Wildcard and Trouble told me they didn't tolerate anyone harassing their employees. Customers or employees. So, I know they'll want to fix this. They were both adamant."

"They're bikers," Bianca said with a shrug. "I've seen them kick out customers who bothered the other servers. But this guy works for them. That's why I told the others not to complain to HR. Chill didn't believe me when I told her. Said I was lying because she trusted him over me. He's one of theirs."

"He's a biker?"

Bianca nods. "His name is Max."