DARK SECRETS

Hidden Beauty

It was another new day.

As Yasmine prepared for her lectures for college, she decided to go visit her mother at the hospital later in the evening. It's been long time since she was able t see her mom due to school stress and her strenuous job.

But today she was going to visit her mother before she left to go to the club.

"Did you come back late again, Yasmine?" Her roomie, Tracy suddenly jolted her up from her train of thoughts.

"Huh? " She answered absentmindedly, then looked at Tracy and nodded. "Umm, yeah, I did."

"The dorm mistress came by yesterday, " She said. " She asked of you. When I told her you weren't around, she said she is getting suspicious of you. I think she has started watching your movements, Yas. Be careful. " She said and picked her bag before heading for the door.

"Ohh. . . " Yasmine muttered. She knew she was going against the rules. She wasn't allowed to come late at night to the dormitory, but she had no choice. She had to work. The dorm mistress isn't going to pay her tuition fees and dorm fees, and definitely not her mother's treatment at the hospital.

"Classes are about to start soon, " she heard Tracy say and she looked at her. "You coming?"

"Yeah, sure, just go without me, " Yasmine said. "I have to sort somethings out first. Just keep a seat for me. "

"Okay," Tracy said and headed out of the room.

Immediately she left, Yasmine sighed heavily and sat down on her bed. The words Tracy said to her got her thinking again. She knew if she continued to come late to the dorm, she would be sent out. It was bound to happen. Now she had to work twice as hard in order to save up to get an apartment in California.

She sighed. Things were always not going the way she wanted.

She stood up and packed her books into her bag before heading out of the room. She first had to attend classes. Then she would think about it later.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Erick was at his house, on the top floor, sipping wine at the balcony and having a nice view of the city when Jerry came to meet him.

"Boss, we've finally found Bruno's hide out," He informed Erick. "He's staying at a pent house in Philadelphia."

"Oh really? " Erick said, as he sipped his wine gently. "So he bought himself a pent house in Philly with my money, huh? " He chuckled gently. "Send me the details. " He said. "I want to know everything about this pent house of his, and how he acquired the money to get it. Bruno's a bastard. I'm sure he ran away and used my own money to buy that house of his."

"I'm guessing so too boss," Jerry concurred. "When you striked a deal with him he didn't have any penthouse in Philadelphia. I'm sure the last time he got missing was the time he was preparing to buy the house with your own money from the deal without us knowing about it. "

Erick scoffed. "I must say, he's pretty smart. " He said. "But it seems like Bruno has forgotten who I am, and the kind of person he made a with it. It's up to me to remind him now."

Erick sipped his wine and said; " When you've found information about him, keep me posted. We'll trap him in his penthouse and if I find out he really betrayed me and ran off with my money, he'll see the dangerous side of me. "

"Yes boss. " Jerry said and left.

Erick was still sipping his wine when a servant came over to inform him that someone was there to see him.

"Sir, Mr Sinclair is here to see you. " The maid said.

"Tell him I'll be there shortly," Erick said.

"Yes sir, " The maid left immediately. Erick downed his wine and left the balcony to go down stairs to see his visitor. When he got down, he found Mr Sinclair in the living room, with his legs crossed, sipping wine.

" Patrick Sinclair," Erick called as he walked forward.

"Erick Dúnn, " Patrick called back as he smiled gently while sipping his wine. He made himself so comfortable, you will think he's was happily sitting and sipping wine in his own home.

Patrick was a rich business man, home and abroad. He was also a dangerous man. He dealt with drugs and loves to have fun with good, sexy women. He was almost the same as Erick, who was his best buddy. The only difference was that he didn't get so angry easily like Erick, he was cool and calm, and didn't really like getting his hands dirty. He had Erick, who wouldn't mind to do his dirty jobs for him. They were simply a match in their friendship, both with wealth, power, and love for women.

"What's brings a man of status like you to my own home? " Erick said as he walked forward and sat at an opposite side with Patrick.

"I was very bored and I decided to come visit, " Patrick said as he reached into his pocket and lit up a cigarette. "I heard you're searching for Bruno Saxons. He ran away with your millions. "

Erick sighed and massaged his forehead. "News travels fast, " He said.

Patrick chuckled. "Don't worry, I'm the only one who knows," He said. "I've got my own ways of getting the information I want, be it you, Erick, the biggest tycoon in California. "

Erick chuckled. "Geez, man, you seem to know me too well. "

Patrick chuckled. "You're my best man here, man," He said. " Why won't I know you? And oh, by the way, did Tamina come by again? Dickhead, you had s*x with her again, right?"

"Geez, Patrick, how did you know about that?" Erick said. "Do you have a spy in my house or what?"

Patrick laughed. "Of course not," he said. "I wouldn't want an innocent man to be killed by heartless freak like you. She just told me she would be coming over to your place for work. But I knew she was lying. Its obvious she's into you. So, you slept with her, didn't you?"

"Almost. She was too sexy to resist, " Erick said. "And besides she was the one who threw herself at me. I just wanted to have some fun."

"Bastard, " Patrick said and Erick chuckled. "When are you going to tell the chick to stay away from you? It's obvious she's not your type. But yet you keep using her."

"Like I said earlier, she's just a play toy. You know I don't really fancy women. I just use 'em. I tried to keep her away from me but she wants me so I just have to play her game with her. When I'm done, I'll finish it up with her."

"She's one stubborn woman, you know," He said. "It won't be easy."

"Trust me, " Erick smiled. "I know what to do."

Patrick smiled. "I trust you. " He said. "Speaking of having fun, I'm going to Là Calantrò tonight. You coming?"

Erick sighed. "I have loads of work to do man, " He said. "I don't think I'll be able to make it. "

"Come on man, just chill out and leave work and your hot chase after Bruno for a while and come have fun with me. There's something I want you to see. "

"See? " Erick said. "What's there to see at Là Calantrò?"

"Hidden Beauty. " Patrick said.

"Hidden Beauty? " Erick repeated. "What's that?"

"It is said that she is the most beautiful and gorgeous girl there and the best stripper in Là Calantrò. She is so good that most rich men come to Là Calantrò, just to see her perform. And it is said that she is still a virgin. No man has been able to have her yet. So most men pay millions just to see her perform. "

"So why is she called Hidden Beauty? " Erick asked. "What's her real name? And why haven't I heard of her until now?"

"First, she is referred to as Hidden Beauty because it's rare to see her after she performs. It's like she just disappears, only to reappear and perform on another night. And as for her name, no one knows. And the reason you haven't heard about her is because you never come to Là Calantrò. It's all about work, work, work. And even when you do, you don't stay longer than 2 hours. Hidden Beauty is the spotlight of Là Calantrò. It's not always you get to see her perform."

"But she's going to perform tonight right? " Erick said. " That's why you're inviting me. "

"Yeah, sure. " Patrick said. "And I want to make a deal with you."

"What deal?"

"No man has been able to have Hidden Beauty, even if it's for one night. But I know you can. So I want to strike a deal with you. I want you to be the first man to be able to have her, even if it's for one night. "

"And what do I get in return?" Erick asked.

"Two million dollars, cash. " Patrick said.

Erick opened his mouth in awe. " You're willing to give me two million just have a one night stand with a stripper?"

"Not just any stripper, " Patrick said. " She's the best stripper in all of Là Calantrò, maybe even in California."

"You're impossible man," Erick said.

"You know I don't go back on my words, Erick, " Patrick said. "Two million dollars is a piece of cake for me. "

"So that's why you want to waste it? "

"I'm not. I'm going to get even more than that if you can do this for me, Erick. "

"Wait, so let me get this straight, " Erick stated. " You made a bet with someone for this? "

"Honestly, yeah. " Patrick said.

"Oh man, " Erick said, rubbing his forehead.

"Listen, I'm sorry man, but I already made the deal before I realized what I've done. So now, you have to help me redeem my honour. " Patrick said. " Please do it for your best buddy. "

Erick chuckled. "Don't try to sweet mouth me, " He said. " If I do win this, I want something more than just two million. "

"Name your price, " Patrick said. "Only after you do get the girl. "

"Fine," Erick said. "I'll do this not because I want a reward, but I want to see this Hidden Beauty my careless friend decided to bet two million dollars on and even more. "

Patrick smiled. "I'm sure, if you see her perform, you'll want to know who she is immediately and even want her too."

Erick smiled coyly. "Hidden Beauty, huh? " He said. "We'll see about that. "