Chapter 5
1060 Words
Vanessa's POV
As I hang out with my mom in the living room, I read Jake's message.
"Wow, a party! You're going, no excuses!" Mom exclaims.
I text him back, asking what to wear.
"Leave that to me," she smiles while we watch reruns of Teen Wolf.
Curious about my father, I ask her, "Mom?"
"Yes, Vanessa," she replies, tucking my hair behind my ear.
"Who's my father?" I inquire, and she suddenly freezes, shutting down.
Tears fill her eyes as she turns away.
"Mom?"
"We shouldn't talk about him," she says, leaving the room.
I sigh, knowing I inherited his hair and height, as I'm almost taller than my mom.
"Mom, I'm going to Dianne's house," I call out as I head for the front door.
"Okay, be back by dark," she replies from her study.
I put on my jacket and walk down the block to Dianne's house.
When I arrive, I hear shouting inside.
"You piece of s**t, you're not my daughter!" Dianne's mom yells.
"The feeling is mutual; you're not my mother either!" Dianne retorts, followed by a baby's cries.
"You woke the baby up! She's yours; you should feed her!" Dianne says.
"My baby? She's yours! You didn't have the guts to give her up for adoption!" her mom shouts.
"She's not mine; I didn't open my legs for some random guy!" Dianne yells, and then there’s silence.
I see Dianne's mom storm out and slam the door, then get into a waiting car.
I open the door and find Dianne and the baby crying.
"Di?" I say, walking upstairs.
"Oh Vanessa, it's gotten worse. I'm glad Daniel isn't here to see the fight," she says, crying on my shoulder.
Dianne picks up the baby from her crib.
"Mom gave birth a month ago and isn't taking care of her," Dianne explains, preparing formula and a bottle.
Dianne’s mom is an alcoholic who sleeps around since her husband died years ago.
Dianne was 14, and her little brother was 7 when their mom became a single parent.
"I have to work today, but I can't because I have to watch Daniella," Dianne sighs.
"Maybe my mom can help," I suggest.
"Thanks, but Daniel will be home soon, and I can't leave him alone," she replies.
"My mom can pick him up, and then you can go to work. By the way, where are you working?" I ask.
Dianne got a job at the end of summer, but I don't know where.
"At a strip club," she mumbles.
What?!
"A strip club? Didn't your mom work there when she couldn't afford it a few years ago?" I ask.
"It's the only job I could find to support my siblings," she cries. "Because that b***h who calls herself a mother isn't helping. Plus, I'm not sleeping around, and the money is good," she adds.
"Fine, but be careful," I say as she hands me Daniella to get ready.
She puts on a short skirt, netted tights, red heels, and a tank top that barely covers her.
"You look hot; Kevin would flip if he saw you," I smirk.
"Oh s**t, I forgot about our date!" she gasps.
"Text him and say you can't make it; he'll understand. We're going to a party on Friday anyway," I suggest.
"Okay, I'll do that," she nods.
__________
Dianne's POV
After Vanessa leaves with Daniella, I drive to the strip club.
"Hello, darling," the bouncer says, smacking my a*s.
"Hey," I flirt, kissing him on the cheek.
He lets me in, and as I step inside, loud music plays, and people are dancing, drinking, or making out.
"You're late," my boss says.
"Go meet the others before I do something you'll regret," he adds, walking off with a blonde woman.
Guys check me out and whistle.
"Damn, I could take you home and do you all night," one says, smacking my a*s as I pass.
I get on stage where the poles are, and a few older girls are doing their thing.
I start dancing, bending to show off my behind.
Some throw money at me; one guy hands me a shot, which I drink before giving him a lap dance.
He puts money in my top and smacks my a*s.
"I feel like taking off those clothes and doing you right here," he growls in my ear, and I get up.
Pervert.
Two hours later
Most of the strippers are making out or sleeping with guys.
I've made a good amount of money tonight.
"Hey princess, why don't you hook up with guys? I know you don't have a boyfriend," a guy asks.
"Because I don’t want to get any diseases," I snap, and he chuckles.
"You remind me of someone I know; I banged her more than once," he smirks.
He has dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, just like my sister.
"Does this woman happen to be Donna Anderson?" I ask.
He clenches his fist. "That hoe who slept around and drank?" he inquires, and I nod.
"I'm afraid I do," he growls.
He's the guy who got Mom pregnant?
"I resemble her because she's my mother," I say.
He looks at me with a frown. "And you had no choice but to work here for money," he guesses, and I nod.
"I wouldn't blame you; here, take this," he says, tossing me $5,000.
"I can't—"
"You just did," he interrupts.
"Did you know my mom got pregnant last year?" I ask, and he glares.
"And you think it was me?" he growls.
"No, but my sister has dirty blonde hair and hazel eyes, just like—"
"Then we'll go to the hospital and see if it's true. If it is, I'm taking her; my fiancé can't have kids, and I'm sure she'll love her like her own, unlike that hoe," he says.
The thought of giving up Daniella is sad, but I know it's for her own good.
"You can visit her anytime you want; if you need anything, just ask me," he adds.
Two hours later
It’s confirmed: Daniella is his daughter.
His name is Brandon Johnson, and he's the owner of most of the hotels around the state.
What I can get out of my mind is that his ears, nose and jawline are similar to someone I know, but who?
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- Writer
