Alpha’s Virgin Stripper
Chapter 100

Jojo:

Nothing surprised me and made me feel elated more than seeing the girls at the restaurant. It was like a life-changing moment for me. Knowing that there were people besides Mel and Valerie - my family - who loved, and supported me made my heart melt with so many emotions I could not even begin to describe. Ashley made sure that they closed down the restaurant and in no time, we were seated around a table, drinking and laughing ourselves to stupor. Only Brandy had excused herself from the group, saying she had somewhere to be.

They bade her their drunken farewells while I stayed quiet and watched her walk out of the diner.

"We should order another bottle of champagne!" Ashley cried out, throwing both her hands into the air. I chuckled and looked away from her, focusing my eyes on Hadley and Zelda who had their heads flat against the wooden surface of the table. Their eyes were closed and they muttered inaudible words to themselves. Mel staggered up to pick the bottles from the table. It was obvious everyone was tired. I had to clean the table and make sure I called an Uber to take the girls back to Rush Empire. They had drunk so much, it scared me to let them leave on their own.

As I stood up to pick up the bottles, Ashley staggered up from her chair with me. I paused briefly to look at her and she flashed me a small smile.

"Can I see you outside for a second, Jo?" She was tipsy, I could tell it from the hollow look in her eyes. But her speech was more coordinated. It was the only reason why I allowed her follow me behind as I took the empty champagne bottles to the trash bin behind the restaurant.

Ashley waited until we were outside and alone before she walked behind me, muttering incoherent words to herself. I closed the lid of the five feet can before I turned to her. The chilling breeze of the night blew past our faces, the cold seemed to claw at the skin of her shoulders her shirt revealed. She was in a black leather mini-skirt. Unlike me, she didn't have so much clothing on to prevent her from the cold.

One look at Ashley and I could tell there was a lot she had to say. I slipped my hands into the front pocket of my uniform apron and managed a small smile at her.

"You can tell me, Ashley. Whatever it is." I said out loud. She took one step towards me, closing the distance between us.

"Everything I said in there, Jo, I meant it. I'm leaving Rush Empire next month. I'm resigning." She blurted out.

I found myself swallowing hard. I had hoped to the goddess that she was only drunk when she said it the first time. But now, it seemed like something she had thought very carefully about.

"I'll work for the rest of this month and throughout the next and I would leave. I've been thinking about it for some time now and you gave me the courage I needed to take the first step. I would apply for my retirement benefits as soon as I can and I would leave. Money has never been a problem for me. Alpha Lake found me at a very crucial point in my life and all I have done, I have done out of sheer loyalty and respect."

Rich. The last thing I felt for that man was loyalty. But then, I did not know what I felt. Ashley took another step and reached out for my right hand.

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"Honestly, Jojo. If you would have me, if you would let me be a part of your life and the family you have, I promise that I would forever be grateful. Once I leave Rush Empire, I would have nowhere else to go. Rush is the only home that I have ever known, it's the place I have felt most fulfilled in my life. But these days, these days it feels like something is missing. I no longer feel whole and complete within the steels walls of the sky scrapper. I love dancing, I have always loved dancing. and I always will. But I've brought myself to terms with the fact that I cannot do it forever. I just need a fresh start now, before it's too late and I feel life begin to choke me from the inside."

My green orbs continued to dance around her round and dark ones. The light of the moon illuminated her face, exposing her soft and beautiful features to my gaze.

I wished I could help her, I wished I could pull her into my arms, embrace her, tap her shoulders and pat her hair. I wanted to tell her that she had me, that my home would always be her home whenever she needed it to be, but I could not. There was already so much happening with my mother, moving out of the city with Mel and Mrs. Smith, and my pregnancy. I loved Ashley, she was one of the most beautiful people I knew, both body and soul. I just wasn't sure I loved her enough to willingly pull her into my life's struggles.

However, I knew that if she wanted to stay with me, there was nothing I could do to stop her. Ashley was strong-spirited, resilient, and defiant when it came to the things she wanted.

She must have seen the worry on my face or by some miracle, read my thoughts. She held my other hand firmly as she moved closer to me. My eyes drifted to her hand and back to my face.

"You know you do not have to worry about a thing with me here. I can take care of you, Mel, and everyone else for as long as you need me to. Listen, Jojo, I'm trying to give us both a fresh break. This waitress job can't take care of one out of the so many things you need to do. You and I know the things on your mind..."

I swallowed hard, my heart skipped a beat.

Did we? Did she know that...?

"I know that your mother isn't doing very well and you really need to help her. I can do that too, take care of everyone for as long as you need me too. All you need to do is think about it and give me a reply, Jo. But, regardless of what your answer is, if you ever need anything at all, you know the number to dial, do you not?"

Unfortunately, I didn't have the goddess's number. Even the heavens knew I needed that more than anything else.

I forced a smile as I looked at her.

"Of course, I'll always reach out to you."

She returned my smile and squeezed both my wrists gently.

"Think about it." She said, blowing me a kiss before turning around and heading back into the restaurant, leaving me all alone, at the mercy of the cold breeze and the eerie silence of the night.