Seven

JOJO:

I got to the restaurant a few minutes earlier than I was supposed to. I headed straight for the bathroom, I had to change into my uniform before anything else. When I was done, I stepped out to meet Mel, standing behind the counter. Harris took his usual flirtatious position behind her, leaning with one hand against the counter. I fought back the crushing urge to roll my eyes. He sprung up and gave me a charming smile when he saw me, scratching the back of his head like a naughty child caught doing naughty things.

"Hey, JoJo. Beautiful, but as always."

I managed a short glance at him and nodded in silence. My hands gripped Mel's wrist as she stared at me, and I dragged her to the back. She leered at me.

"JoJo!"

"I'm sorry, okay? I just need some makeup for my eyes. could you put it on for me, please?" I put on my best display of what she called "puppy dog eyes" while pouting.

She looked over at me and sighed.

"Sorry, JoJo, I was in a rush so I couldn't bring any makeup to work."

Before I could speak, her eyes narrowed at me.

"Jo, your eyes look swollen. You've been crying?" The tone of her question was several pitches higher than the tone of her statement.

I could only manage a shrug.

"Did something happen? Is Ley okay?" She was beginning to panic, I had to speak.

"She's fine, Mel. This isn't about Ley." I blurted out. I knew she would prove further, but I did not know if I was ready to speak about it.

"Who, then?"

I managed to tell her everything, mentally commending myself for not breaking into tears halfway. When I was done, her eyes were laden with pity as she stared at me.

"Shit. I cannot believe you have to go through this at such an age. I couldn't...I couldn't imagine it." Mel said.

I didn't reply, I just leaned against the wall.

"JoJo, I wish I could help. Honestly, I already used up most of my savings to redecorate my apartment. Even if I gave that to you, it's nothing compared to the amount of money they're asking. I just got rejected at an interview today and..." She trailed off and took out her phone from the pocket of her skirt. I watched in silence as she scrolled with furious intent.

"What's that?" I tried to peep into her screen, but she pushed her finger forward, gesturing for me to wait. I stayed patient, even though it was starting to get scorching hot. After a while, she pushed the iPhone into my hands.

"You know Alpha Lake Rush, right? I mean, everyone knows who he is in this city. Alpha of the Rush pack, the most handsome of them all? Well, that's beside the point, but you know him, right?"

"I guess I've heard about him before." I shrugged my shoulders as I spoke. She saw the lack of enthusiasm on my face but carried on anyway.

"Okay. Well, Lake owns the biggest casino in the country, located in this city, of course, and he is looking for... employees to work for him. They could be paid up to three thousand dollars in one night."

My jaw dropped instantly. Nope, that was too much. There was definitely something fishy and I could smell it in my heart. Only people in the legendary wall street could earn such an amount IN A NIGHT.

"Well? Are you interested?" Her question snapped me out of my trance.

"Of course! But, what kind of job is that?" I just had to be sure I wasn't about to join a drug dealing chain or work as a mafia's underdog.

"Strip dancer." She spat out.

The words strolled out of her mouth like it was just another normal word, like a waitress, doctor, or nurse.

"Strip dancing?!" I had to repeat it, I had to be sure.

She rolled her eyes so hard, I thought it ached her.

"Yes, Jojo Wyatt. Stripping. It's basically dancing on a pole. You need the money; so don't you dare say no."

She left out the part where I would be dancing, without clothes! This wasn't ballet, this was next-grade whore activities.

"No." I spat out.

"And to think that you went for an interview? Mel! What the hell?"

Her right brow arched.

"Seriously? Are you going to do this right now? I don't believe I need to remind you of what's at stake." She pressed her fingers to the sides of my head.

"Think Jo! Think!"

I thought about it, alright. But I was keeping my answer.

"I'll find a way out, Mel. There's got to be some other way, thanks a lot, I do appreciate your help."

My conclusion was final. I made to leave, but she drew me back.

Our gazes locked, and I could feel the intense concern in her eyes.

"I would never force you to do anything. But I'm always going to be here, no matter what happens, you know that right?"

A sad smile crept up to my cheeks and I nodded.

"Of course." I squeezed her hand gently. She chuckled and walked ahead of me.

"Now, let's get you some food. That stomach of yours has been empty since we stepped outside."

Shit. I was hoping she did not hear that. I watched in delight as she placed an order and paid for it in full.

Remind me why I shouldn't love this girl again.

"You are an absolute lifesaver!" I squealed, locking her in a tight embrace. She shook her head and laughed heartily.

Harris returned to the table, I immediately began to seek ways to disappear.

Harris was a member of the Rush pack, particularly known for his Casanova ways. He had been breathing down my neck about dating him ever since I turned eighteen. Yes, he was part of the reasons I was given this job, yet, it didn't make me like him enough to say yes. I got the sense of a strange aura around him, and it made me want to keep my fair distance.

Again, there was the thing where I wanted nothing to do with anything that had a penis. He watched me in silence, and boy, was I glad.

I briskly walked away, holding my first miracle in my hands; the food tray.

After my shift in the restaurant, I made my way to my second job; the automobile repair store I worked in, as a mechanic.

"This small woman would fix my car?" The strange man asked, with a scowl on his face. I could see and hear him look down on me, figuratively and literally.

"Yes, yes, I know what it looks like. But, she's the best we have around here." My boss, mister Greg, stretched his right hand out to tap my shoulder. I simply fiddled with the spanner in my right hand. My apron smelt of grease and sweat, and so did the dark room around us.

"How old are you?" His sharp tone irritated me.

Was this man serious? Greg gave me a gentle nudge, and I forced my most polite smile.

"Nineteen, sir. But, I assure you that my age is just a number. Your car would leave my hands in the best state, even better than it was when it was manufactured, be rest assured." I was as confident as I sounded. Thankfully, it gave him equal confidence to let me do my job.

His car was a recent Tesla model; I could not be mistaken.

He was definitely a pack leader or worked directly under a pack leader.

The car took me an hour to put together. He decided to give it a short test run. When he was assured it was in good shape, his eyes swept over my small frame, doubt laced in them. What was his deal though? He had never seen a girl fix a car before.

To be fair, he did leave a generous tip behind. But, I could not rejoice for too long. Before I squeezed the money and tucked it into my apron, Mr. Greg appeared from the blues, snatching everything from my hands.

His greedy eyes drank in the sight of the dollar notes.

"I'll consider this payment for the debt you owe me since I know you may not be getting anything like this after today."

He disappeared back to his counter. Whatever iota of joy I had gotten from holding the money in my hands, vanished instantly. I picked up my bag, dropped his apron, and left the store.