Chapter 18
“I’ll accompany you to see Bentley so you could request a new phone,” Ashley spoke softly, behind me, but I was too angry, with myself and everything around my life, to respond. She continued.
“Zee is a good person. Yes, she does think curvy ass and perky boobs are reasons enough to act as she pleases, but when she loves, she loves from the heart.”
Yeah, right.
I wasn’t surprised. Ashley saw the good in everyone. People tended to see the best in people. I had only thought the worst of men until a strange and random man saved me from Mykel that night. It was sad I was yet to know his identity, but I hoped to find him someday.
However, on Zita Lowe’s part, I doubted there was a good side. If there was, it would be nice to know it.
The third day of training arrived quickly, making it three days of wondering what Mel had to say. Bentley had refused to let me get a new one myself, but she did promise me one as soon as the training was over. I would just have to wait.
The second day of training was just the same as the first. The only difference was our scandalous attires. But today’s own was worse. I had been questioned about my gloves on several occasions but I stood strongly against taking them off. Bentley was not pleased and Zita teased me, saying I was trying to hide my ugly fingers. She was right about one thing, I had something to hide.
The more I exposed my body, the harder it was to conceal my scars. I frowned as I stared at my reflection in the mirror of the dressing room. My features outlined themselves nicely. My thin waist and my hips complemented my thick thighs and legs. I could already feel the peering eyes on my thighs today, the two-piece accentuated my curves.
“Okay! Okay! I see you, Jo! I see you! That’s what I’m talking about!” Hadley squealed, on top of her voice, spanking my ass as she walked past me.
My cheeks burned. I picked up a white fur coat and threw it around my body. Ashley groaned.
“Take that shit off, JoJo. Seriously, don’t do that shit.” Her voice was stern.
“I’m practically naked, Ash.”
“You won’t think about that when dollar notes begin to rain on you. Now…” She seized the jacket and flung it from my body.
“That’s more like it.” She had a satisfied smile on her face.
I noticed Zita’s silence, and I was more than grateful for it.
The lights came on once we climbed the stage, and our chattering died instantly. I looked around me and focused on the girls, it was the way I was able to boost my morale. We always exchanged knowing glances and warm smiles, so I was able to convince myself I wouldn’t be terrible. But today was different. None of them smiled or even looked at me. Everyone seemed awestruck, as though they had seen a ghost. Zita Lowe was not left out, in fact, she looked like she would slump any minute.
Confused, I turned in the direction of their stares. And that’s when I saw HIM.
The cold in his eyes electrocuted the hairs on my skin, they all stood erect, and my body and mind acknowledge and reverenced his presence.
From his jet black hair to his equally dark and brooding eyes, his pointed nose and chiseled jawline, and properly trimmed dark beards. He was easily the most handsome man in the room. His muscles filled into the Armani suit he wore perfectly and even while sitting, it was easy to see that he was also leading in height. This was no ordinary man. He was a god amongst werewolves.
Zita Lowe did have great taste.
Our eyes met and gazes locked. He made no attempt to look away from me, and no matter how hard I wanted to, I could not find it in me to tear my eyes away or turn my neck. Heat rose from the sole of my feet and rushed through my entire body. My lips parted in a hitched breath.
“Zita Lowe, your turn.” Bentley’s voice slipped into my thoughts, snapping me back to the present.
When I saw Zita step forward, the reality of my situation dawned on me.
I was really about to strip in front of him; ALPHA LAKE RUSH.
LAKE:
She seemed as though she would fall to the ground when her eyes met mine. I leaned in to ask Neil about her improvement, but his reply was negative. I never took my eyes off her after then, no matter how she tried to avoid me.
I watched the first girl mount the main stage with confidence. She was a familiar face. I knew she had been working here for a while. Her eyes never left me as she danced, twirling her body around the pole like a python, capturing and hypnotizing all that dared to keep their eyes on her. But, my eyes did not stay on her, they drifted towards the red-haired girl from time to time.
I turned to Neil after a while.
“What’s her name?”
“Zita Lowe. She’s one of the best dancers in the agency and one of our oldest workers.” He answered.
I looked at her now and watched her do a split, bending forward to touch her toes, impressive. Four more girls made their way to the stage, doing extra tricks to excite me. My wolf, however, couldn’t wait to see what little red riding hood had for us.
It was finally her turn, I subconsciously adjusted my sitting posture, feeling River howl with excitement. When she got to the main stage, my eyes raked through her body in one swift movement. She was small, compared to the rest of the girls, yet, the perfect size for her moderate features. The white two-piece on her body left barely anything to my imagination, but she had managed to cover her wrists up to her elbow with gloves.
I could recall what I had seen underneath them, that night I saved her. I knew her secret; I knew what lay beneath the satin. But what struck me most was her flame of red hair. Red-haired were often said to be hot-tempered, and I wondered if she was. When she caught me staring at her, she lowered her eyes to her feet.
I had a feeling she knew me. She knew who I was, she knew I had saved her that night. Yet, she had chosen to be utterly ungrateful. All the more reason why she had to be rejected. I just needed the right time.
“JoJo, eyes on the audience,” Bentley called out. The girl nodded, deliberately avoiding my eyes. She focused on Kenji instead. River growled in annoyance, but I, for one, did not give two shits!
She was visibly shaking and dug her teeth into her bottom lip. She rocked her body against the pole, slow and smooth. Her movements lacked flow and embraced rigidity. She could move, and do splits, but not as sensual as the other girls did. Her moves were as innocent as her eyes.
Pity, what a waste of a great body. If only she would free herself and let go of whatever thing or things held her back, I could tell she would do great. She was physically beautiful, possessed the body, and knew the moves, all she needed was the confidence to execute and conquer.
Her performance ended almost immediately after it started, she cowered behind the other strippers.
I could have choked in disgust.
And she was my mate?
The moon goddess really did a number on me this time.
It was officially time for my review. I leaned out of my seat, just to make sure every one of them could hear me clearly.
“Good job everyone.” I began. I watched them smile softly, exchanging knowing glances. All except Red. She was doing that gesture that pricked my annoyance; biting her lip. The frequency by which she did it enraged me.
“And you, Red.” She looked up at me. My nickname must have stolen her attention.
“I’ll be here to watch you tomorrow and this time, I want to see some improvement.”
She seemed frozen for a while before she nodded.
“Will that be her stage name, Alpha Lake?” Bentley asked with a bow.
It was a great idea. Nothing less was expected, I came up with it after all.
“Yes, Bentley. That is her stage name. Red.”