The Devil's Untainted Angel

Chapter 39

Ana closed her eyes and swung an arm across her face. "I am sorry I tried to remove my bra." Joseph sighed looking at her with pity. "It's only ‘cause I got to keep my mouth shut, Ana." He gently removed her hand from her face and looked down at her with an I-know-something-that-you-don't-know expression. "But trust me, you don't need to be here. This job is not for you."

"No, it's definitely not for me. I’m with you on that. But I do need the money." Ana pleaded.

Joseph grunted in frustration just as a waitress strolled in with a glass of ice and a bottle of Club Soda. Taking the tray from her, he poured the Club Soda into the glass and sat next to her on the couch, bringing the glass to her lips.

"Drink." Without hesitation Ana drank, because frankly, she hated being drunk. She needed nothing more than to head to the brothel and fall into a deep sleep. "Thanks.”

Joseph gave his signature smile. "My pleasure, Ana." He leaned over to whisper, "Just don't forget me." He gave the same earlier expression and got up giving her no backward glance.

What the heck was that supposed to mean? As her thoughts tried weaving through her intoxicated brain about Joseph's inexplicable behavior, something clicked in her brain. Mr Forbidden, has he something to do with this?

She was busy in her thoughts when familiar arms wrapped around her. "Thanks, Sasha. I needed that." Ana leaned over to her.

Situated on the thirtieth floor of a skyscraper, Hookah Bar was a private and exclusive members club, where only elite businessmen, mostly married and bored, were admitted. Ana was initially working only in a brothel when Sasha became her friend who performed shows at the club. She introduced her there as a bartender. Ana noted she had millions of fans who poured out money on her just to watch her sway her hips. Her waist worked as a magical spin. Joseph had bodyguards everywhere to watch men not to tumble on her and that's when Ana discovered dance is the easiest and quickest form of making money which would clear away all her debts and also her mom's hospital bill.

She took dance classes specially to get employed at Hookah Bar. However, it didn't take long for her to realize one needed a carefree psyche to get through a few hours for that kind of performance.

"Ana, I know you got some awful news tonight, but I can assure you, Patrón is nobody's friend," Sasha said, her brown eyes sincere, her caramel skin glowing. "Plus drinking and working don't mesh well. You'll start out doing things that’s just not you, then end up regretting it in the morning. I know you have problems but can your mom be cured by your drinking?"

Far too inebriated to take a lecture, Ana only nodded to her. "Let me help you get dressed and take you to the brothel. Sleep is the only thing that can help right now. In a way you must be pleased, no more customers for you. I overheard the manager speak to the club owner John on the phone, some cash rich hunk laid his eyes on you and from now onwards you will be warming only his bed. I know he will bathe you with money." She winked and Ana's eyes turned wide even in her drunkenness.

Was that Mr Forbidden?

Ana did not argue with her, she was so drunk that her brain stopped functioning. After getting dressed and gathering her things, she let Sasha steer her through the club towards the exit.

Joseph came into her line of vision. "You're leaving?" he asked.

"Yes, Joseph. I can't even stand straight. What do you expect? Am I restricted from leaving the club, too?" Ana asked him, annoyed.

"No, you're not,” he replied with a roll of his eyes. “It's just that, you-know-who is demanding a dance with you again." Ana blew a series of curses in her mind.

"Joseph, the guy...makes me wary. I'm not going even close to him. The fact he's been so insistent on getting a dance with me all week is creepy. He seems like a vampire to me in those horror movies. He's always dressed in dark colors. What if he's one of those gangsters who drug people and sell their body parts?"

Joseph flung his head back and laughed out. "No, Ana. I know him very well and he's nothing like that. He's not a member of the club either. He just started showing since you began working here a few days ago. Clubs are not his sort of thing. His presence here is only because of you."

"But, why? How does he even know me? Did he sleep with me earlier?" Joseph shrugged, but the expression he gave told her he knew much more than he was letting on, and Ana hated him for that. He wouldn't tell her anything.

"Tell him I said no, and he should leave me and find someone else for his entertainment. He’s creeping me out." Ana tugged on Sasha's arm prompting her to move with her when Joseph stopped her once again. "Maybe he has the power to get you back to the club, get you back your employment? Maybe you can see your mom normal once again?"

"Stop." Ana turned back and looked at him, alarmed. So all the while that she was thinking…..were her assumptions right? Does be have something to do with her retrenchment as a club dancer and sex worker?

Joseph gave a reluctant nod which confirmed everything she suspected. Ana was rocked awake from her short-lived happiness of alcohol. Before she could blow the curses on the man who was trying to hide things from her she pulled Sasha outside the club. "Tell him I will meet him tomorrow at Seven. My head aches, I can't dance with him now."

Joseph's smile was like a little boy who got his first Christmas gift. As soon as they stepped into the car Sasha told her. "You're not gonna stop. You are a sort of warrior queen."

Ana giggled like a schoolgirl. "You know me too well, I need the money by any means and this is the only profession where I can have it. If at all that mo**er fvcker who once I called my father allowed me to go to school, I would have been much better today. I need to meet the guy and work my things with him. Joseph is not going to help me in any way. I think he got bribed too big."

"Yes, he is behaving weird. I’m thinking he wants you to quit and get with that scary guy in the shadows who watches you like a hawk." Sasha supported her thought.

Ana chuckles, closing her eyes and resting her head to the seat. The guy is weird. He stares at me all night, but if I smile at him, his face gets all serious and disapproving. And then he sends Joseph to ask me for a dance? He is freaking me out. Damn sexy hunk."

Sasha laughed. "Is he that handsome?

"I have not noted his features thoroughly. He is always in dark colors like those Halloween costumes and appears only in shadows. Frankly speaking I have not seen him though he appears hot as hell, tall and lean with a perfect physique like a walking model on stage. Dancing in front of so many people looked so easy but I do not know what I am going to do with him." Ana managed a short laugh.

Sasha reached over and squeezed her arm. "You are strong, smart and fearless, Ana. You will figure it out. You always do." Opening the car door, Ana clambered when Sasha held her arm. "By the way there is some private information I want to reveal to you."

"The owner of Radiant group of Industries and CEO is going to come to the club tomorrow to watch your dance. Joseph will surely inform you to impress him. I want you to claim high, he will not deny you. I heard the man is too good a fan of you and Joseph will not be prepared to lose him at any cost. As you have already readied your mind to dance with the mysterious hunk, show up at work tomorrow, if only just to see the CEO and get your problems solved." She winks with a nod of acknowledgement.