Alpha's Revelation

Chapter17

I turned myself a little towards Blake and leaned my head against the headrest.

“For as long as I can remember, mum would get visits from random guys. During the day, during the night, and sometimes even early in the morning. Mum had this one guy who would come every Friday to do “collections”. I discovered this much later in life. You know that apartment building next to the club”

Blake nodded

“Well, that’s where we lived. Mum still lives there. There used to be a little hidden storage space under the floorboards in one of the closets. A druggie used to live in there before us, and he had made the space with a trapdoor to hide his stash. Mum would give me a blanket, a pillow, and my favorite teddy, and she would make me sit in that space while her random man turned up. Once they were gone, she would call out “Choo Choo”. That was my signal that it was all clear and I could come out now. I had spent so much time in there that I had stashed more things in there to make it comfy and keep me entertained.” I smiled a little. That memory wasn’t as bad.

“I never knew who my dad was because mum didn’t know. She was 16 when she got into this business and fell pregnant on the second day of the job. She had me and went back to work. Our neighbor, Aunty Sue, basically raised me. Mum said she tried to figure out who my father was, but what was the point? What guy would want to know if they had a child with a hooker? If it wasn’t screwing random men for money, then it was snorting a white line on our coffee table or drowning herself with bottles of cheap whiskey. Sometimes it was screwing random men for drugs and alcohol. She would get drunk or high and beat me up because she called me the biggest mistake she made. She said she was lucky that her pregnancy didn’t ruin her body and her chance at her new career. There were a few nights when she would make me serve her clients booze and food because she would have like 4 or 5 of them over. Those nights were the worst because she would let them torture me, too. One even tried to...... but Aunty Sue walked in and threatened to call the cops since I was a minor. I have little cigarette marks on my back from where she and her clients used me as an ashtray.” I sighed and carried on.

“Growing up was hard... Most of the kids in my class knew who my mother was. It was never a secret that some of the kids' dads had f****d my mother at some point in their lifetime time and they used to love reminding me of this. I put my head down and focused on my studies. I didn’t want that life; I wanted to be someone and have a much better life.” I had tears forming in my eyes that I quickly wiped away.

“I was 13 when mum shipped me off to Mariners Bay Boarding School. She had told me this the week before my 13th birthday. She said she had organized everything, including money, and that I would have a much better life in boarding school away from her than I would here in Greenwoods. That’s where I met Taylor and Rocky. They have known my story since we became friends 15 years ago. On my 16th birthday, I went home to see Mum. She had organised a birthday party for me. But when I got home, mum had to work. She had signed a contract with the club to be a stripper by then, and it stated she had to work when they needed her to. It turned out that the guy who came every Friday for “collections” was the new boss at the club, Nova Grim. His a small town gangster that likes to walk around like he owns the trashy side of Greenwoods. Mum later told me that Nova had his eyes on me and wanted Mum to get me involved in the “business”. He said a little virgin like me would fetch a lot of money. Mum didn’t want me to be part of that world, so she saved every single cent she had. She saved until she knew she could afford to send me to Mariners Bay Boarding. I knew Mum was busting her ass, literally, so she could keep me enrolled. So at 16, I applied for a scholarship and was granted an all-expense-paid one. Do you know who the scholarship was donated by?” I asked Blake, and he shrugged.

“Dwayne Johnson Cooper,” I dragged the name, and Blake looked at me quickly before looking at the road again.

“Apparently, every year he donates an all-expenses-paid scholarship to one struggling family. My family was classified as a struggling family since Mum had missed so many bill payments and had asked for grace periods to pay them. Once I got the scholarship, mum didn’t have to work so hard. I went to see mum now and then, but I only went over weekends, so I didn’t have to stay very long. 90% of the time I was alone because mum was working.” Blake started quietly and just peeked over at me every now and then.

“I graduated from high school with very good results, and again I was granted a scholarship to college by Mr Cooper. Then, to top it off, I got an internship at Cooper & Co. So I pretty much owe your grandfather my life. If it wasn’t for his scholarship donations, I don’t think I would have made it this far. It was he who actually made me a Sales and Marketing Manager, even though I was inexperienced and still finishing my degree. He said he liked my confidence and how I performed even without the experience. He wanted to take a chance, and now he says it was totally worth it. I’ve managed to bring up the company sales by 60% in the last 5 years.”

“With the management position came a big paycheck, and I wanted to help mum. She had put herself through hell those first 3 years I was in boarding school, and I wanted to repay her. So I go to visit once a month. I do a big grocery shop for her and Aunty Sue and drop it off at the apartment. I leave some money for her with Aunty Sue for emergency purposes, and I also give her some money in her hands. I know if I give her all the money, it will all go into drugs and alcohol. She’s had 2 overdoses and 10 hospital visits from assaults by clients. I always get a call from the hospital asking for bills to be paid. I ended up just opening an account at the hospital where I transfer money for her hospital expenses.”

“When I was 21, I visited the club she works at for the first time, and Nova saw me. He threatened Mum that he would make her life hell if she didn’t make me join his club. Mum refused to get me involved, and so he cut off Mum's income and only gave her like 10% of whatever she earned. She has never shown me love or affection. Like even today, nowhere do I hear that hunny, I’m proud of your achievements. All I get is, Did you bring me money. But she showed me love by making sure I didn’t end up like her. So I have to do something for her in return,” I was crying now. Tears were just spilling out, and I couldn’t control them. Blake pulled the car over and got out. He came around to my side, opened the door, and pulled me out. He hugged me tightly and rubbed my back.

“Rosy.... s**t, I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry you’ve gone through all this. No one should go through s**t like this. I’m so sorry, Rosy,” he said and held me tightly.

“Why is this happening to me now, Blake? Why?! How is it my fault that I was born as a bastard? I was born with a mother who loved drugs, alcohol, and s*x more than she loved me. But today, the people that I love and trust have turned against me. Why did Mr and Mrs Callum do this?? They always said I was like a daughter to them. That they had 2 daughters and 2 sons. How have they abandoned me today? Just because my mother is a prostitute! Why has Vince done this?!?! I trusted him, Blake, I trusted him.” I was crying so hard that breathing was becoming difficult. It felt like someone had stabbed me in my heart, and my lungs were on fire.

“I’ve avoided being in a relationship just so I could make sure my past would never be the reason for my heartbreak. I thought Vince would understand and support me. I don’t even know how he found out about this! Did he really think I was just like my mother? Just like her, I would drop my clothes when I saw money?! Do I look that swallow to you, Blake ?! Do I come off as a w***e?” I asked Blake and looked up at him.

“No, Rosy! Don’t even think like that. I haven’t known that long, but I know you’re not that kind of girl. f**k what others think. You’re very brave and strong, don’t let this break you now, Rosy. You gotta keep your head up and pull yourself together. This is not your fault. We saw what Vince did, and Rocky and I even beat the crap out of him. Mr and Mrs Callum are HIS parents, Rosy. Vince is their blood, unfortunately, and sometimes blood relations just overpower everything. I know it’s hard to hear, but it’s what it is.” He wiped the tears from my face.

“I don’t want this affecting Taylor’s relationship with her family. She’s got an amazing relationship with them, and I won’t be able to forgive myself if something goes wrong there. She is very lucky to have parents who are like hers. Rocky and Taylor have been part of my burden for way too long now. Maybe Mr Callum is right, I do need to learn to live without her.” I said to Blake. I was holding on to him for support. My legs were wobbly, and my eyes were still foggy from my tears.

“I understand. You are welcome to stay with me for as long as you like, Rosy.” Blake replied and hugged me again.

“Really? Even after knowing all this, you still want me to stay with you? What about your family's reputation? Wouldn’t your parents get angry once they find out?” I asked. My face was pressed against his chest.

He chuckled, “If you like Taylor’s parents so much, I would like to see how you react with mine. They honestly would go with you to see your mum perform on stage. My parents are crazy. Don’t even worry about them, okay. Trust me, they are going to be fine,” he replied. “Come on, let’s get going. It’s getting late.”

He opened the door of the car and let go of me to let me sit down. He got into his seat, and we started our journey back to his apartment. During the drive back. Blake asked more questions about my mum and my childhood. He cursed at things he didn’t like and laughed at things he thought were funny, but I answered all his questions honestly.