ALEXANDER

Chapter 4

“How’s aunt Millie?” asks Anj.

Her question makes me worry again.

A sigh escapes my lips before I respond.

“She’s trying to be strong. She acts okay. But she’s not.”

Anj holds my arm and leans on my shoulder. “Cassie, if you need money I can lend you my savings.”

Deeply touch by her offer, but I have to decline. Shaking my head, as I smile at her.

“Thank you, Anj. But you know I can’t take that. Don’t worry, I have my savings.”

“That’s not enough for you mother’s operation, Cassie. And you also have to take care of your family’s daily expenses. Your brothers’ school fees. I know those class fees are a lot. I don’t think your savings can sustain your family’s financial needs.”

“Don’t worry about it, Anj. I got two tips last night and the payouts from my two jobs. Those are big help already.”

“Cassie, I’m here. I know you’re just shy. But think of it as my help, too. I’m your cousin in case you forgot. And you’re like a sister to me.”

Her words make me smile. I appreciate that she still cares about us. Though she’s my second degree cousin, she still treats me as her sister and my family as hers.

“I will tell you if I badly need it. For now, keep it Anj and thank you for being there and for always being my sister.”

“You’re welcome. You’re a family, Cassidy. No need to thank me.”

“Still, I appreciate it.” Then I suddenly remember our conversation early this morning.

“By the way, what happened last night. What made you go home late, worst was in an early morning?”

Her face suddenly changes into uneasy expression.

“Oh, about last night? Uh, actually...” Sensing a bit of hesitation from her, but I still wait.

“Mr. Montavo was looking for you. When I went into the room and saw that I was not you, he got mad. He asked me about you. He was so pissed when I told him you'd gone home already. He'd never came back after I told him that. His friends were there until three, so I had to stay there. God! They are all elite men. In fact, I knew some of them. I saw them in the Billionaire’s magazine.”

Anj is still talking but my mind goes farther from the present.

Could it be the reason Hugo wanted to talk to me?

“Cassidy??”

I snap out of my thoughts and look at Anj who’s currently raising an eyebrow at me. I don't know how long I space out.

“What?”

Suspiciously, she stares into my eyes.

“Did something happen between the two of you? Wait, I remember you looked dumbfounded when you got out of thw room last night.”

“Nothing happened between me and Mr. Montavo.”

“Then look at me, straight into my eyes and tell me that again.”

Ugh! Can’t she stop being nosy?

“Fine! You’re right. Something happened between me and him.”

“OMG! Tell me! Quick!” An excitement commandeers on her face.

“I kicked his ass.”

“What???!” Disbelief registers on her face with her mouth agape. “No, wait! Did you what?!”

“Anj, you heard me right.”

“But, why??! Oh, my god! Why did you do that?!”

“He deserved it, Anj.”

“Now, you’re making me more confuse and curious! Tell me the entire story, Cassidy Lopez. Don’t leave me hanging.”

“Ugh, let’s just forget about it, Anj. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

I lay on the bed and check the time on my phone. It’s six-thirty in the evening. I still have two hours before I go to work at StarVIP.

“No. You need to tell me what happened. Don’t hide it from me. Come on, Cassidy!” Anj has kept pulling me up.

Seeing how persistent she is, I have no choice but to sit back and tell her what exactly happened. From the very beginning to the time I got out, the time she saw me.

After telling her everything, the reaction from her was quiet surprising.

“Oh, Em Geeee! He’s into you, Cassie! Alexander Montavo, the handsome billionaire, likes my cousin, Cassidy Lopez, the workaholic girl."

“No, he is not.” Can't help but to roll my eyes on how she exaggerates it.

“Oh, I’m sure he is. The reaction I saw from him when I told him you went home already was so epic!”

“Haha! You’re just taking it differently, Anj. And for sure, he was only looking for me because he didn’t get his vengeance when I kicked his ass.”

Anj laughs. “Hahaha! Kicked his ass! Hahaha!”

“Uh-huh... He’s a total jerk. Anyway, let’s stop talking about it. I need to take a nap for now. We still have work tonight, Anj.”

“Yeah. I’ll wake you up.”

“Thanks.”

In the StarVIP...

“Hi, guys.” Hugo is in his jolly mood.

We are in the Huddle room as he tells everyone to head straight here before the club opens. His club only operates by night at nine-thirty during weekdays, but during weekend this opens an hour early.

“Hi, boss. What’s this meeting all about?” asks Gracie. She’s another waitress who loves to use her body to get money.

Hugo doesn't tolerate that inside his club. But, I know most staffs here are doing it behind his knowledge. Just like Gracie. She always comes here bragging about how good in bed every man she f***s with and the money she takes from doing. She’s closer to being a slut. I don’t want to call her a slut. But, yeah, she is to some.

Hugo clears his throat before responding.

“Last night was a success. And just like what I have always promised to you guys, whatever the club has earned you sure have a percentage as well. We did get a good impression from the Billionaires club. So---“

He pauses, leaving us hanging.

“So--?? What now, boss?” Mark is so adamant to find out, so am I.

“We got a big tip from them!!” Excitement fills with everyone.

“Wait! I am not done yet.” Hugo sways his hand to stop us from being too hyper.

He continues when we stop. “They promised me to use this club every weekend and they will invite more of their friends. So expect a volume of billionaires coming every weekend. And this will be an enormous opportunity for everyone of you, guys.”

“Hell, yeah! Billionaires, I’m coming for yah!” Gracie shouts at the top of her lungs. Our boss snorts while some of our workmates laugh at her.

“Anyway, I have divided the amount to everyone. And-” Hugo spins around the table then opens his top drawer.

Envelopes spread on the table as soon as he slides them in the middle.

“Grab the envelope that has your name written on it. No need to compare. Y’all have just the same amount. Every one has a fair share.”

“Whoah!! Thank you, boss!”

We all thank him and take our envelope one by one.

“Alright! Get back to your area now. We’ll open in a few minutes.”

“Yes, boss!”

“OMG, I can’t believe we have another tip from last night.” Anj squeals as we walk out of the huddle room.

“Yes. Me too. This is a big help.”

I can deposit this into my savings account.

“Cassidy?”

“Yes, boss?”

“You stay. I have something to talk about.”

Anj and I look at each other and she nods eventually. Leaving me with Hugo alone.

“Please close the door.”

“Yes, sir.”

“You may sit."

"Okay."

“Do you have any idea why I need to talk to you?”

Shaking my head, “No, sir.”

“Any hint? Wild guess?”

“I don’t have any, sir. Can you please get straight to the point?”

“Alright. It’s about last night, Cassidy. Let’s just say you left them with a wonderful impression, most especially to Alexander Montavo.”

Admit it or not, but my heart jumps when I hear that name. But I suddenly remember his kiss.

Why am I like this? My stomach does a somersault

Seems the memory of last night, especially that kiss, has already embarked deep within me.

“What do you mean, sir?”

“He had gone ballistic as he dashed into my private office, looking for you.”

“Why? What did he want?”

Trying to sound normal in front of him. But secretly, my hands are on my lap in ball fist form as I am trying to calm my heart.

“I have met Alexander once, and I have read a lot about him, which some of those were not great. I also don’t know what you did with him last night, Cassidy. But one thing I know is you caught his interest. A billionaire like him doesn’t come to anyone’s office like what he did last night.” He pauses again and gives me a stern look.

“He has been asking me about you. Your address, and anything related to you.”

“Wait, what?”

All I could hear right now is my heart pounding so loud while I am trying to focus on what Hugo tells me.

“I’m sorry Cassidy. I had to give him your full name.”

'What is your name, Moya Milaya?'

That question rings in my head again. I lied to Alexander about my real name as I told him a different name.

“Did you also tell him my address??”

“No, No. I didn’t. But I’m giving you a heads up. He may come here most of the time and wants to see you. I need you to be nice to him.”

Oh, god.

It didn’t occur to me the chance of meeting him again here.

‘This is a club, Cassidy. So yeah, he can come here whenever he wants to.’ Mentally, I scolded myself for being an i***t.

Half of my shift didn’t go smoothly. My mind was at the entrance door as I checked if he’s one of the customers coming in.

All I could do is to pray he won’t be back anymore. I am torn between wanting to see him and wanting to hide from him.

Unknowingly, Anj notices my behaviour.

“Let me guess. Your sour mood has to do with our boss. Am I right?” She's always observant and there's no point on denying it.

“Yeah. Let’s just forget about it. What I need to do right now is to do my job, and to get paid.”

Immediately, grabbing the tray of drinks from the counter as soon as it fills up, Leaving Anj waiting for her tray to fill as well, I saunter towards the customers’ table and give them their drinks.

StarVIP is not a typical club where a waiter or waitress shows his/her private part to the customers. This place is purely for drinks, dance and sometimes for business meetings. There are separate rooms they can use, all soundproof. Just like the Room 007.

Every room is soundproof, for the customers to do anything inside, but no weapons allowed even before entering the club. No sensual physical contact allowed between the customers and staffs. Yet, I already violated that.