Alpha’s Virgin Stripper

JOJO:

The small shove against my shoulder caused my eyelids to part open. The brightness of the sun’s rays seized my eyes at once, and I docked my arm over my face to shield my vision. When my eyes adjusted to the light, I sprang up and tried to cover myself, wrapped up in the flimsy piece of torn clothing. Valerie was beside me, her neck slightly bent as she slept peacefully. The sight warmed my heart.

The man towering above me was dressed as a security guard. He must have been a security guard. He threw me a questioning stare as I stood, shivering from the cold the previous night.

I opened my mouth to speak.

“Sir, I… my mother… I came to see her.”

He looked me over. I knew it was not because he did not recognize me, but my appearance caused him to raise a brow. Seconds later, he opened the gate to allow me passage. I lowered myself and lifted my sleeping sister. I placed Valerie’s head on my shoulder and carried her into the hospital building, moving us to my mother’s ward.

At that moment, I wanted to wish that the person who saved me from Mykel would appear out of the blue, and save me again.

I sat on the cold tiles and buried my head into my knees. I allowed myself to weep, feeling hot tears begin to stain my cheeks again.

What was happening to me? Why did everything around me seem to fall to pieces? Perhaps it was time to give up. I had always been told that I was too young for the numerous responsibilities placed on my shoulders, yet, I had willed myself to forge on. Was it worth it now?

I stood to my feet, at last, wiping my tears with the back of my palm. I needed to change and go to work. I had left a gown here the first time I came, it was another one of my many flay gowns, but I had to wear it, I wasn’t given much of a choice. I headed for the bathroom within the ward, took off the damaged dress clinging to my skin, and traced my fingers over the scars on my body.

They scattered all over my body; my stomach, thighs, shoulders, and neck. No spot was spared. I already despised my body. The scars only made me yearn to hide away from the world.

Something slipped from the pocket of my old dress, it landed on the floor. I stared down to look at it. The black card stood beside my right foot. I lowered myself to pick it from the ground, before flipping it. I recognized it instantly, it was the business card, the one that belonged to Alpha Lake Rush.

It dawned on me suddenly. All that Mel had said. All her advice. Maybe she was right. Perhaps, I needed this job. With it, it would be possible to beg the hospital for an extension of the deadline. I could plead for a loan and save my earnings to pay the loan.

7. 8 million dollars.

What bank would lend me such an amount? That was only the bill for starters, I also needed to continue to pay, for further treatment.

I made up my mind to apply for the job. After all, it was just dancing.

There was only a little difference between dancing in fancy hoses in front of an audience and dancing in flimsy clothes on poles, right?

Right.

I decided to call the number on the card immediately after my shower.

The dial tone came on once before it was answered. I felt my heart skip a thousand beats at once. The thought of hearing the alpha’s voice again unnerved me.

“You have contacted Rush Empire; how can we help you?” The rush of despair that coursed through me not only shocked me but also disappointed me.

What was I thinking? That a man as powerful as he was would put his line on a business card he displayed on the table of a three-star restaurant? Of course not!

“I… Good day, I would like to apply for the strip dancing job.” I spoke plainly. Perhaps, a little too low-spirited.

“Oh. Well, there’s a form you’d have to fill and it’s online. Just look for us on any of our socials, at rushempire. org, with no spacing. If you get accepted after the online application, then you’ll get a message through your email. If you don’t hear from us in five days, you have been rejected.” The male voice was official and calm.

I nodded, in both interest and agreement.

“Okay, I’ll do that, Sir. Thank you.”

The line went dead as soon as I was done. I turned to see Valerie stretching.

“Hey, beautiful,” I spoke softly. I was greeted by her brilliant and bright smile.

“Hey, gorgeous.”

“I’ll be going to work now.”

I watched as her smile dimmed in that instant. It hurt me to leave her, but I needed to do so.

“Okay.” She muttered. A sad smile crept up my cheeks.

“I promise I’ll be back early.”

It was my little way of assuring her she was safe.

“I don’t have clothes, Jo. I can’t change when I’m done taking a shower.”Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

My eyes swept through her appearance. She was right. I folded my arms across my chest, heaving a sigh.

“I guess I’ll go ask auntie for some of our things after my morning shift at Mr. Greg’s workshop. I don’t have some of my work uniforms, either.”

She seemed as though she would counter my statement, but she stayed quiet.

“Be careful.” That was all she said. I moved to her and planted a kiss on her head.

After my first job that day, I had roughly two hours before I was to head up to my second workplace. I decided to head over to my aunt’s house, I needed to pick up the clothes I promised. I walked up to her front door and knocked after a while. The door was opened by my aunt herself. I don’t know if that relieved or unnerved me.

She leered at me, eyes laced with disdain.

“Yes?”

I cleared my throat and started.

“I… I mean, we need our clothes, auntie. Just let me get them and I’ll never disturb you again, I promise.”

She threw her head back in laughter. My nostrils twitched in confusion.

“So you think I would let those clothes remain in my house? Of course, I got rid of them and took them to the place where the rags belong. You could look through the bin if you want your clothes because I don’t have them.” She slammed the door shut in my face. I was not offered a chance to mutter a single word.

I swallowed the raging emotions that threatened to rush to the surface. I ignored onlookers and sought our clothes in the trash bin. They could look all they wanted. The trash bin was empty and clean, fortunately, I stuffed the clothes into my bag and headed for the hospital.

My hours there ended in a flash and I headed over to the restaurant.

Mel was right there, as always. We made our way to the back of the restaurant during our break period. I explained everything to her, including all the gruesome details.

I watched her frown at every sentence that slipped out of my tongue.

“That pervert assaulted you that bad?”

She was raging, and without concern as to who was watching. I pressed my fingers against her lips to keep her silent, but she pulled away from me in anger.

“Jojo, these new scars are nothing but animalistic! She is a fucking animal, she and her sons, are all animals! I swear that when I find her, I’ll tear her stupid hair apart. I swear on it.”

I fought back the urge to laugh. I loved it when she got protective.

“You call this a bad side?! Jo, this is next-grade demonic stuff! I’m talking oppression and witchcraft shit!” Mel snapped back. I knew that if she saw my aunt, Elowen would return to her sons as bald as a coot.

“Easy wolf. Did you bring your kit today?” I had to change the topic. I was sick of dwelling on all my problems.

Mel stared blankly at me. She knew that I had switched topics on purpose.

Later that day, I told her about my decision to apply for the job at Alpha’s casino. She was overjoyed, and even offered to create my email and help me apply for the job online.

While I worked, I kept thinking of a valid reason to quit, to give it all up. Hours passed and we closed, I had not been able to give myself a cause. When I accompanied Mel to her apartment, my mind was made up. We spent two hours with the setup. Once she hit the “send” icon, I knew it was done.

There was no turning back now.

“Now, we wait.”

Mel squeezed my hand gently.

“Yeah, now we wait.”