Alpha’s Virgin Stripper

JOJO:

PRINCETON PARK, THE 41ST PRECINCT. The inscription was in bold letters, engraved on a white billboard just in front of the station. I had gotten a call, no less than thirty minutes ago, requesting a meeting with my aunt. Yes, the one you know.

Aunt Elowen had taken it upon herself to make my life a living hell. The woman who was supposed to shield Valerie and me from the world, the one who was supposed to support her sister in trying times, ended up doing the complete opposite.

Yes, that’s her. She was the one Alpha Lake had graciously locked up, along with her two sons. She was the one who wanted to see me now, but for what? My life had been more peaceful and beautiful since she and her sons stepped out of it.

So, why was I pushing the door of the station open? Why was I in heeled boots and black denim trousers, ready to see her and hear what she had to say, even though I knew it would be a half-assed apology because some time in jail might have taught her a little lesson on the importance of empathy, love and common sense? I did not know, believe me.

However, a part of me felt like this was what my mother would have wanted.

Her forgiving eyes would have held mine in a long stare, she would have cupped my cheeks with both palms, stared into my eyes, and spoken.

“You should try to forgive her Jojo, it was the circumstances that caused her cruelty, she still has good in her and is ready to change.” So, tonight, I was thinking like the woman who gave birth to me.

I made my way to the lady at the desk and stated my business. She led me to another officer who led me to a room, filled with telephone booths.

I settled into the first chair I saw and picked up the phone. A door opened from the other side of the glass booth and my aunty, clad in an orange jumpsuit, stepped out of the door.

Her swollen eyes rested on me as she settled into the chair in front of me. I took note of her now sunken features. Her cheeks no longer puffed like swollen doughnuts, her eyes were not as bright and greedy as they once were. Now, they were sunken and very humble.

I was very correct. The little jail time had taken a toll on her. She picked up the phone and cleared her throat. She clasped the receiver with shaking hands. I stared blankly at her, not wanting to give out anything.

“Jojo.”

She spoke first. Hearing my name from her mouth sparked a confusing mix of emotions. Partial anger, partial hatred, and a whole lot of pity I did not want to feel.

I cleared my throat and straightened my posture.

“Aunty.” I spat out. She blinked hard, but it could not stop her tears from flowing. “I am sorry Jo. I am so sorry…” She sniffed.

“I was… I was so cruel to you, and without any reason. Now that I think about it, I do not even know why I did all those things that I did. After losing my husband, I and my sons just…”

No. She was doing the one thing I hated more than anything else in the world; justifying and giving reasons for all the bad things she had done. If I was going to forgive her, I did not need to know or hear her reasons, I just needed to know that she was sorry.

“Stop, aunty. It’s fine, I believe I know what you already intend to say.” I spoke up, even though my lips quivered in anger. Even though I wanted to stand up and scream into the speaker of the receiver, to tell her that she deserved everything she had gotten, even more.

“I’m sorry Jojo. It’s just… I haven’t seen any of my sons in days. Mykel’s wound was getting sore and bad; I don’t even know how he is now. And these people… these people here are terrible. I do not think I can survive another week here, Jo. I need you to help me, to help my sons. We would be forever grateful and indebted to you. Please.”

Her tears ran freely down her eyes.

But, I did not know what to say. She was looking up to me, she needed my forgiveness to survive, but I just could not find it. I opened my mouth to speak, and the only words that could form in my head rolled off my tongue.

“I’ll see what I can do.” “Time’s up!” The female officer behind me called out. She sent a signal to the one behind my aunty and the woman pulled Aunt Elowen up from the chair. The receiver dropped from her hands as she was being led out of the room.

She turned back to me with pitiful eyes and mouthed “please.”

Even after I dropped the receiver, I continued to stare down at the empty chair in front of me. It had always been me who sat at the other end, I was always the party that needed the mercy of others to survive. I had always been the one begging, pleading. Now that I was at the higher end, I did not know what to do about it.

It was a tough decision to make because a greater part of me felt she deserved what she had gotten, even more. But, a subtle part couldn’t let her be in there. She was still family after all.

“The call’s over miss.” The officer behind me called out again.

I snapped out of my thoughts. “I’m sorry,” I muttered before I rose from the seat and turned my back away from her.

I needed to go back to Rush Empire, I needed to speak to Mel, and I needed to think.

Ashley trotted out of the room, she banged the door shut behind her. She walked with a heavy heart while holding a Versace XXL bag, filled with wads of cash. Bentley would be delighted, and she should be too. After all, a huge percentage of the money in her hands would be hers. All hers to take to the bank and do as she pleased. But, none of it felt like anything, none of it excited her the way it used to.

She felt down, numb, and empty. Whatever she had done in that room would cost her relationship with Kenji, she knew it. He had spelled it out in plain words.

“If you ever take on a personal dance, we are done.”

And she had done just that. Bentley was waiting for her outside the hotel. In the bag was an IV to an exclusive event he insisted she attend with him. She had said yes, of course. Who said no to a VIP?

Ashley handed the bag over to Bentley and pulled the door of the car open. Bentley’s eyes narrowed on her.

“You good, Ash?” Before she closed the door on the woman’s face, Ashley forced a thin smile.

“I just want to go home.”