I'm in Love With a Stripper (8 page)

Alena giggled,
“Sounds good to me.”

The two ate desert and then Royce paid the check. The pair then made their way down the stre
et to a quiet little wine bar.

Royce took Alena’s hand as they strolled down the street. It was a cold but beautiful evening. The street lamps were on and there were a few other people out enjoying the evening. The stars and moon were shining brightly in the sky.

Royce sighed, “Alena, you know I have to be honest with you.”

Alena l
ooked up at Royce through large, innocent eyes.

“What is it?” s
he asked softly.

“You’re
not the only one with a secret,” he stated.

She gave him an inquisitive look,
“What do you mean?”

“I
hope you won’t think less of me,” he said avoiding eye contact with her.

“Royce, I
could never think poorly of you,” she replied.

Royce stopped and stared up at the sky for a moment.

“I just feel bad. You’re beautiful, sweet, accomplished. Everyone loves you,” he stated.

Alena rolled her eyes
, “Like you’re not handsome, successful, and well OK not everyone loves you but the important people do.”

“You never asked me about Gavin,
” Royce said.

Alena remained quiet.

“I guess you didn’t want to cross any lines but I think you deserve to know what happened,” he said.

She nodded.

He continued, “I used to be into some bad stuff, Alena. I thought I was a gangster, a thug, a badass. I guess back then I was. I hung around all the thugs ‘cause my older brother used to deal dope. He hung with some real bad people. I got in on the dealing too. It was fast money and we had grew up real poor. I was tired of my parents having to struggle—I think he was too. I mean I was never good at school stuff like you. I did my GED ‘cause I dropped out early since I was helping my bro. I went back to college for a little while but I never finished.”

Royce guided Alena over to a bench. He checked to make sure no one was around before he continued the story.

“Anyway, me and my bro used to work for this guy, Derrick. He was a drug lord and imported all the coke we used to sell. He had connections all over the city,” he confided.

Alena nodded.

“Long story short, my brother met a really nice girl named Kiki. She ended up getting pregnant. He wanted to put the dealin’ behind him and move on to more legit stuff. He had some convictions and had served a little time. It was nothing major but my record was clean so he opened a gun store in my name. We started to make money off the store since we uh… knew a lot of customers, you could say. The money was piling in but my bro was still dealing dope on the side. He got real excited about having a kid and he wanted to make sure he could provide the best of everything for his new family. I guess he was trying to save for Gav’s college fund or something ‘cause he got a little crazy with it,” he confessed.

Alena took Royce’s hands into hers.

He continued, “Well, I got out of the drug dealing completely to focus on the store because we were doing so well. I put all my money in the bank. I started paying taxes. I got my shit together and was legit. Things were going good. We were bankin’ so I opened up a pawnshop next door. Then a liquor store— I know I’m so classy. But all that time my brother just couldn’t stop the dealing and the shady stuff on the side. He was addicted to the money.”

Royce looked away unable to face Alena.

“He got mixed up in this big deal that went bad. The guys shot and killed Kiki right before Gavin turned one to get revenge on him. He went after them but they ended up shooting him too,” he said quietly.

“Royce… I’m so sorry,
” Alena replied softly as she squeezed his hand.

“It’s
OK. It was a long time ago,” he answered quietly.

Alena looked into Royce’s hazel eyes.

“You’re such a good person for taking care of Gavin,” she said.

“I love that kid,
” Royce replied.

“He loves you, too.
You are a really strong person, Royce. I admire that about you. You’re a pretty amazing guy,” she said.

He smiled at her sweet words.

“I really am sorry, Royce. It sounds like you loved your brother a lot,” she added.

He nodded
, “I did. It took me a long time to grieve but I had to be strong for Gavin.”

He stared into her eyes for a moment getting lost in their beauty.

“OK, enough with the serious stuff. Tonight is about fun,” he said as he stood up from the bench.

Alena smiled and followed his lead
.

“You know
, I’m always here if you want to talk,” she said softly.

“You have a good heart, Alena,” h
e replied as he gave her a quick kiss.

“Now
, let’s go have some more drinks,” he said excitedly.

Aaron
stared at Jessica from across the room. She was smiling and talking to some of the other girls at the club
.
He sighed and made his way into his office.

I don
’t deserve her. She doesn’t deserve this
, Aaron realized that Jessica deserved better than working as a stripper.

Aaron
decided to try and get some work done but all he could do was watch Jessica on the surveillance cameras.

Aaron
’s heart began to race as he noticed Jessica was approaching his office.

“
Aaron?” Jessica questioned as she tapped lightly on his office door.

Aaron
cleared his throat, “Ahem, yes?”

Jessica opened the door to his office and made her way over to his desk.

“Would it be OK if I went home early tonight?” Jessica asked sweetly.

“
Why?” Aaron answered sternly.

Jessica
sighed, “Please?”

“
Only if you go to dinner with me tomorrow,” Aaron smirked.

Jessica
was conflicted. Her mind told her that Aaron was a sleaze, who owned a strip club and only wanted to use her for her body. But her heart told her a different story. Deep inside her heart she knew that Aaron cared about her. Every night since she had begun to work at the club he had walked her to her car. He would often ‘forget’ that she took certain nights off or went home early and would pay her for them. If she ever complained about a client, no questions asked he would kick them out.

“
OK. I’ll go,” Jessica said.

“
Really?” Aaron stared at her with disbelief. He almost fell out of his chair.

“
You’d better take me some where nice,” she added.

Aaron
grinned, “Of course Jessica, darling. Only the best for you.”

Aaron
walked Jessica to her car.

“
So, I’ll pick you up at eight?” Aaron continued to grin.

“
Yeah, that’s fine. No funny business, OK?” Jessica replied.

“
Me? Funny business. Of course not,” he replied nervously.

Jessica
left the parking garage. She called Alena on her cell phone.

“
Hello?” Alena answered.

“
Hey it’s me, you’re never going to believe what I just got myself into,” Jessica said into the phone.

“
What are you talking about?” Alena questioned.

“
I told Aaron that I’d go on a date with him,” Jessica replied.

“
What? Really?” Alena exclaimed excitedly.

“
Yep,” Jessica replied.

“
Jessica, I think that’s great!” Alena said.

“
What? Why do you say that?” Jessica questioned.

“
Because now you can finally see what he is like outside of the club. Maybe he will act differently and if not... well now you at least know. You won’t have to waste your time wondering what might have been,” Alena said.

“
Alena, you are right,” Jessica said.

Jessica
continued, “So, are you going to come by tomorrow and help me get ready?”

“
Of course!” Alena replied enthusiastically.

The next night
Aaron was going crazy. He paced around his kitchen.

“
Crap,” Aaron muttered to himself.

“
I have to make tonight really special for her. What to do... what to do...” Aaron continued to talk to himself.

Aaron
immediately made reservations for the most romantic Italian restaurant in town. He then went by the flower shop and bought Jessica an arrangement of red roses.

Since he had some time to kill he decided to call
Royce and let him know what was up.

“
Hello?” Royce answered his cell phone.

“
Hey man, you are never gonna believe this,” Aaron began.

“
What?” Royce questioned.

“
You know that girl Jessica I was telling you about?” Aaron said.

“
Don’t tell me you tricked her into going out with you,” Royce joked.

“
Haha, yeah man. We are going out tonight,” Aaron replied.

Royce
and Aaron talked for a few minutes.

Aaron
then stopped by his place and put on a dress shirt and slacks before heading over to Jessica’s house.

***

Alena curled Jessica’s hair, helped her pick out a lovely dress to wear and put the finishing touches on her makeup.

“
Wow!” Alena exclaimed as she looked at Jessica.

“
We might have problem— Aaron is not going to be able to keep his hands off you,” Alena stated.

“
Oh whatever, Alena!” Jessica retorted refusing to take a compliment.

Alena
embraced Jessica in a big hug, “I know you won’t take a compliment but you look beautiful. I hope everything goes great tonight.”

“
Thanks Alena,” Jessica sighed. “I just don’t know. I am very confused when it comes to him. Thank you for everything.”

Alena
smiled, “Hey that’s what friends are for.”

Alena
gathered her things, “I’d better go he will probably be here soon.”

Jessica
walked Alena to her car and the two said their goodbyes. Jessica promised to call Alena the next day and tell her all about it.

A few minutes later
Jessica hears a loud knock on her door.

Jessica
took a deep breath in and answered the door.

Jessica
opened the door fully expecting Aaron but instead found a tall, blonde haired, blue eyed man.

“
Oh, uhm I think you have the wrong house?” Jessica said perplexed at the man standing at her door.

The man
smirked, “I’m looking for Alena.”

Jessica
furrowed her eyebrows, “Well, she doesn’t live here anymore.”

He
rolled his eyes.

“
Alena?” he called out.

“
Alena, I know you’re in there!” he continued.

Aaron
pulled up into Jessica’s drive way and quickly made his way to her door upon noticing Blake’s presence.

“
Blake, dude what are you doing here?” Aaron asked as he approached Jessica’s house.

“
Nothing man, nothing forget it I’m out,” Blake replied as he dashed to his car.

Aaron
and Jessica watched as he sped off down the block.

Aaron
turned to Jessica and took in how stunning she looked, “Jessica, I’m sorry about him. I don’t want him to ruin tonight. Do you need to call Alena?”

Jessica
sighed, “No, I’ll just text her she is with Royce. I’m sure she’ll be safe.”

Aaron
pulled Jessica to his chest, “Jessica, I don’t like that he knows where you live either.”

“
Aaron, I’m fine! It isn’t me he wants,” she replied pulling back.

“
Yeah but you here by yourself until Lisa moves in isn’t cool either,” he continued. “I mean a beautiful woman like you by yourself… did I tell how gorgeous you looked tonight? What if someone from the club followed you home?”

“
Really I’m fine! I’m not a little girl—I can handle myself,” she replied.