CHAPTER EIGHTY-SIX —Whatever makes you calm, go for it

With her job gone, Joan Sparke felt more and more disturbed. You might not understand her, but she wasn’t the type to stay home. Staying home, she believed, was for people who don’t get bored easily. And Joan always gets bored. She hated not being busy. Work was life for her. This might be because she had no friend. And that wasn’t her fault either. People don’t want to befriend a weird person. It was probably why she doesn’t have a boyfriend too. Nobody wanted someone who acted strangely in their life. Am I strange? She scoffed as she picked her nails. Her last boyfriend had claimed she was an embarrassment. Well, he was like the second guy she dated anyway. So, his opinion doesn’t count. The first guy, Adam, she dumped him first. He had the unfortunate habit of hitting on her neighbors. Remembering him, she snickered. “And they say I’m weird.”

Joan stood in front of her room, watching the people going and coming. Out of embarrassment, she rushed back home after she received the sack letter. She cried, ate, watched a movie, and now, she was bored. And it’s not been 24hours yet. “How do I survive days with no work?” she wailed. The day was still young. Her neighbor, the older woman, wasn’t home too. She could have been good company. Peering through her window, she checked for her pets. At least, those could keep her company. But they were nowhere around. They were probably somewhere napping or playing. She stared at the people walking into the building. Two men stood chatting heatedly by the gate. Whatever they were saying attracted the security man, who was eating while standing. His attention was on the men. Men! Joan scoffed and turned away without interest. She was sure they were arguing about soccer or women or drink. That was all the men she knew did. They chitter all day long about fellow men running around the field with a rolling ball. How hilarious!

While that made her laugh a little, she turned to see a woman stroll in with shopping bags. Perhaps she should go job hunting. She couldn’t stay all week jobless and doing nothing. She was sure she would die of boredom. And pesky-betty; her boss would love nothing but that kinda news. She could see his face after reading the article: Former HR of NATURE COMPANY dies after being relieved of her job. He was going to laugh until his hoarse voice went croaky, like a frog’s. Shaking her head to discard such thoughts, Joan decided she had to get out. She needed to clear her head.

Satisfied with the decision, she headed towards her room. Then she found them. The ones who could relate with her. The birds had been going and coming from out of their nest. And she hadn’t paid attention. Now, she looked at them with interest. They were building. No, they were rebuilding their home. Joan laughed at their tenacity. Did they mind that this is her home? “Hey, you.” she called jokingly, “Don’t steal my home.” She warned. One of the birds looked her way, chirped, and continued with her business.

“Okay, you can have the house while you build.” Joan laughed and turned away. She suddenly had a bright idea while walking through the cold hard tiles. Before she had her certificate and got the job, she was a stripper. The job had paved the way for a sponsor who helped her get her certificate. Maybe now, it would get her the peace her mind so craved. “Strip club it is then.” she said to herself as she hurried towards the bathroom. If she hurries, she could still meet the backstage crew. That was where the fun lies.

As Bonnie and Clyde walked to the backstage, they smiled at the sight that greeted them. This would be fun. Unlike most strip clubs, the MOLES indulged her client. Men who could afford it get a special treat behind the stage. Most clubs allow their strippers to do their thing but with a no-sex strict policy. Not the MOLES. Not when the men were backstage. So, the two friends settled down and whispered.

“You can make a pick now.” the waiter said, showing the newcomers a line of beautiful ladies.

Bonnie and Clyde checked them out. The ladies all wore transparent nets that made their job easier. Clyde turned in time to see a striper raise her ass while the man she was with pushed into her. No holds barred. He whistled at his friend with piqued interest. As he turned, his eyes locked with a lady with a catty mask. She smiled seductively at him haven saw what he wanted. Clyde grabbed his hard-on and knew he had just found the lady he wanted. “I’ll take her.” he pointed at her. The lady strolled towards him with a seductive sway of her hips.

Beside him, Bonnie scoffed. She’s not even the type we go for. He knew his friend well. He liked his women curvy and busty. The lady was almost flat-chested. She more than made up for whatever she lacked though in the front, behind. Her ass was a kick-ass. “You sure?” he asked, “Not your type.”

“Variety makes the fun” was Clyde’s simple reply. He was already getting down to business as the lady began her job.

A lady strolled over and whispered in the waiter’s ear. He nodded as the lady walked away immediately. When he turned to the gentlemen about to pick, he smiled. “I’ve just been informed that one of our hottest will be making an appearance tonight. She’s here if you want her.”

“Hottest?” Bonnie asked excitedly. He couldn’t believe that his night was eventually getting spicier. The waiter nodded, and he accepted the offer. “Bring her to me.” That being concluded, he strolled to his seat beside his friend, who was moaning erotically now. Surprised, he turned to see why he was all hyped up. Seeing his dick bouncing on and off the stripper, Bonnies threw his head back and laughed. Little wonder the dick head chose the lady.

“Did you request for me?” purred a lady in a tutu, and pink net top.

Turning at the sight, Bonnie whistled. She was the most erotic lady he ever knew. But something about her was off. He couldn’t place it, but he could sense it. Ignoring that, he pulled her to himself. All charged up by her body; he sank his teeth into her cleavage. The stripper moaned as his teeth grazed her nipple. Oh, Gawd! He gasped.

The ringing phone made Damian look up. It was the alarm clock he set as a reminder. He was meeting with Axel today at the penthouse. But he wasn’t going there until his Android alerted him of his presence at home. His chef had been instructed though, to prepare dishes for the meeting. If Axel failed to turn up, he would give out the dishes. He had, however warned the chef not to prepare so much. When the phone rang again, he peered at it. This time, it was his Android. Axel was home. Good!

Stretching, Damian stood from his seat. He wore his suede suit, which had been lying on the armrest of his chair. “I’m off.” he said to his secretary. The lady got up from her seat hurriedly to retrieve his suitcase. He let her have it and followed her to the car. Seeing James, he nodded curtly and got into the car.

James retrieved the suitcase from the lady and complimented her lovely dress. When he got in the car with his boss, he updated his boss on the progression of things. “The chef is done cooking. And Axel is in.”

“Good.” Damian nodded as he leaned back in his chair to rest. “Let’s get going.”

James nodded and told the driver to get them home.

The drive home was quiet until Ainsley called to check on her man. He smiled when she told him she missed him so much. “What are you doing tonight?” he asked, looking out the window at the busy street of Texas. It was late in the evening, and the sky looked pale. He loved gazing at this sky.

“I’m home.” said Ainsley. “Wanna come over?”

“I’m meeting Axel.” he breathed out, wishing he could ditch his father. “I’ll come right after?” it was more of a question than a suggestion.

“Sounds good.” Ainsley said, “I’ll be waiting.”

“See you later.” he said, noting that they were at the penthouse. “Give the staff the day off.” he instructed as he got “Can I go too?” asked James though he could guess what the answer would be.

“No.” Damian told him quite frankly as he got in the elevator. The door closed with a James looking gloomy. His boss shrugged nonchalantly. When the elevator door opened, he found himself staring at his father, hands in his pocket, looking smug.

“Hey, you.” Axel greeted happily. His son stepped back like he was seeing a crazed older man. Laughing hard, Axel pulled him for a warm hug.

“Axel.” Damian greeted, pulling back. His father’s smug look made him shake his head as he went to the kitchen. The chef was all done with varieties of dishes. He could always count on him for last-minute drafts. “Thanks, Luna.” he said, “Can we have some now?”

“Yes.” Luna said, gathering some food trays. “I’ll serve the first course now.”

Nodding gratefully, he went back out. His father was seated now. Damian went to the opposite. “Food will be served soon.” He spat out.

“Why so far?” Axel teased. He stood up and went to sit on the adjacent chair to his son. “Now, this is better.”

Damian ignored him. He decided he would not be dragged into whatever game he was playing. “Axel.” he began but was cut short when his father started to wave his hands.

“Dad.” he corrected, “Not Axel. Dad.”

Interesting. He adjusted himself to lean over the table. “Are you saying you’re here as he then?”

“What’s that?”

“Are you here as my father?” He asked, “You know, the father I once knew loved even.” He paused, then added a deceptive softness to his voice. Something he was sure didn’t fool his father one bit. “Or are you here as Axel, the musician?”

Axel grinned widely, “Funny you should say that. I’m both”

Luna walked in with the food tray then smiled at the two men. “First course.” He said as he served the dish.

“Thanks, Luna.” chorused both men. They waited for the man to leave before Damian cussed slowly.

“It’s hard to tell both men apart.” he watched his father pick up his cutlery. He needed wine. Reaching for the bottle in the iced bowl where his chef left it, he uncorked it. Then he filled both their glasses. Passing Axel one of the glasses, he took the other. Holding the glass between his ring and index finger, he twirled the wine slowly.

Axel dug into his food then. He stabbed the meal with his fork angrily. “Damian, I got over the fact that you don’t want to work for me.” he said spitefully. “Even though I hated it, I’ve accepted it. so…”

Cutting into his speech, Damian said, “So what? I should be grateful?” he asked, hiding his anger behind the cup of glass he was sipping.

“I’m trying to be understanding about this. Can you not cut an old man some slack?”

“Not when that made you walk out on your family.” he hissed angrily. dropping his cutlery, he stared at his father. “Did you think of what that would do to mom?”

Axel dropped his cutlery. He wiped his mouth while trying so hard not to hit the table right now. Did he know what this took from him too? Heck, he was a man who worked hard. He had carved a niche for himself and prided in the fact that someday, his son would take over. And then what did he get for sending him to school? An attitude about wanting to build something for himself. It was a huge blow. “I did what I thought was best for everyone.”

“Crap.” Damian cussed loudly, dropping his drink. “Seriously?” what father sits there to say walking out on his family was the best? He ruined his family just because his son refused to take the seat he was offering?