Chapter 73
Jojo:
I was indeed very lucky that I did not wait, or expect the alpha to return and speak to me because it did not happen. I could almost imagine myself, seated on that bed like a fool, even lying down with my bare back. He would have made me an absolute laughingstock. Instead, I stood up from the bed, wore my clothes, and returned to the club.
I was excited to be back to work, not because I had suddenly begun to enjoy striping, but because I knew that working was equal to having more money, and I needed as much of those as I could get. However, I was told that I was not allowed to go up the stage that night.
And it almost seemed like Bentley was reluctant to put me out in front of the audience every other night. On several occasions, when she “accidentally skipped my name” from the list of performers, I went to Ashley after reminding Bentley that I was still working in Rush Empire and needed money just as everyone else here, or even more. On such occasions, Ashley looked at me and heaved a sigh.
“Are you sure Alpha Lake has nothing to do with this?” She asked every time. But, I was a hundred and twenty percent sure!
Alpha Lake could not be the one who had instructed them to stop me from attending to any VIPs or VVIPs. Alpha Lake could certainly not be the reason why I was now given less revealing clothes to wear around the club. And he was certainly not the reason why Bentley insisted that I took a “break” on some nights. What surprised me the most, was that I got my weekly allowance just like every other girl in the club, even though I had barely danced.
When I let Ashley know and understand the situation, there was no going back from that. She was now a hundred percent sure that Alpha Lake was the one pulling the strings. And I was beginning to believe her, that was the only logical explanation for all that had been happening. But why?
It had been impossible to see him. There was a time when it seemed like we could not stay away from each other. But now, even accidentally running into him was one out of a million chances. He was never anywhere I was. And when I frequented the places he normally stayed in, he was never there. It almost felt as though he was making deliberate efforts to avoid me. But why?
Away from Alpha Lake’s drama, I had made a down payment for Mel’s rent, and I could not feel more proud of myself. Valerie resumed school the week I resumed work, just like she had promised. Mel was taking time to make sure that my sister was ready for school every morning. She had even taken it upon herself to make sure that Valerie was picked up from school, dropped at home, and given lunch and dinner – depending on the day – before she left for work again. Both my sister and Mel were priceless to me. Nothing could ever replace them in my life.
And that was the daily routine of my life. Hours turned to days, days turned to weeks and weeks finally evolved into a month. My mother was finally responding to treatment, the doctors were sure she would open her eyes and be welcomed fully, into the land of the living, with us.
Every day, I held on to my phone with my heart pounding against my chest, waiting for the news that would change I and Valerie’s life forever.
When I finally got the call, after a month, it was safe to say that I was the happiest girl in the entire galactic universe.
********************
Neil was convinced something was going on between the alpha and the new stripper, Red. That had to be it! There had to be something!
There was no other explanation as to why Alpha Lake had insisted she be banned from taking VIP and even VVIP offers! When he knew that those were the only ways he could get back the millions of dollars he had spent on her debts. Not only that but the girl was barely allowed to dance. And when she did, her stage time never surpassed ten minutes. Still, she was paid like every other stripper, who worked their backs off – literally – to enrichen the purse of the Empire. She was like a treasured investment that was yielding absolutely no profit.
And she was one Neil had to warn the Alpha’s father about.
Alpha Cole needed to know that an ordinary stripper had his son wrapped around her finger. The Alpha’s father was the only one who could bring Alpha Lake to his senses. He was more worried for his boss’s mental health than his job – at least, that was the reason he gave himself for prying into matters that did not concern him.
Neil stood at the end of the former Alpha’s table. He stood in the dark room, the only form of light was the burning end of Alpha Cole’s stick of cigarette, the smoke filled the air with its pungent smell, one that Neil was already used to.
“So, he had developed some form of likeness for the girl, has he not?” Alpha Cole growled. It was impossible to tell if the man was pleased, or displeased by this recent news. The man’s voice never showed any emotion, apart from when he was yelling – which he seldom did – and Neil could not see his face to tell if there was a frown or a smirk on it.
So, he swallowed hard and spoke in the only manner that would not get him into trouble.
“It would appear so, Alpha. I suspect they must have had sex, at least twice. With all the times they have spent behind closed doors together, such a thing cannot be avoided.” He spat out.
“Although, I cannot tell if the Alpha has actual feelings for the girl, or she is just a sex toy.” Neil continued.Content is property of NôvelDrama.Org.
He heard alpha Cole cough out, clear his throat and shuffle in his seat before he heaved a sigh and spoke.
“We must relax and watch. Who knows? He might just be taking my advice. He has the freedom to sleep with and spend money on whoever he wants to. But, she has to be a good investment. Watch the girl closely, I hope to get reports of a child growing in her scrappy womb soon. If not…” He paused for a while.
Neil heard him pull a cabinet out of his desk drawer.
“I would know what to do with her.” Alpha Cole continued.
Neil swallowed hard and nodded, with a bow.
“Yes alpha.”
“And her mother? The last time we spoke, you said she had regained consciousness, what is the status of her well-being now?” Alpha Cole inquired.
Even though Neil did not understand the alpha’s interest in the stripper’s mother, he was forced to give regular updates about her situation.
“I have not heard anything new, sir. But, the minute I do, I would make sure you are the first to hear of it.” Neil said, aloud.
The alpha sighed in satisfaction.
“You had better.”