Chapter 10 The Handsome mafia lord

CHAPTER TEN

THE HANDSOME MAFIA LORD

"Diana... Diana," a soft voice whispered in my ear, gently rousing me from sleep.

As I fought to open my eyes, I could just make out the figure standing beside me-it was Mum. "Wake up, sweetheart, you've been asleep for hours. Aren't you going to the dinner?" Her tone was filled with concern.

Dinner? I had quit my job at the diner weeks ago. Confused and still groggy, I struggled to grasp what Mum was talking about. Then, the memories flooded back.

"Oh my God, yes! The dinner!" I exclaimed, leaping out of bed in a panic. My heart raced. I had almost let my secret slip to Mum.

Fortunately, I had kept it to myself. She smiled knowingly, almost as if she sensed my unease, and said, "I'm glad I woke you up. It seems you forgot." With a soft sigh and a reassuring smile, she left the room, leaving me feeling a mix of relief and embarrassment.

I quickly threw together my bag, ensuring I had everything I needed for tonight. Then, I called Sarah, my heart still pounding. I perched on my bed, eager for her to pick me up.

Finally, she answered. "Hey girl, are you already at work?" I asked, half-expecting her to be running late, as always.

"Nope, I just pulled up at your place. Come out!" she chirped, her voice bubbling with laughter.

I felt a hint of excitement in her tone but brushed it off, thinking, "She's probably just having a good day." I couldn't help but wonder if something out of the ordinary had happened to lift her spirits so high.

Stepping out of my room, I got myself ready for the night ahead. I made my way to the living room, where David lounged on the couch, engrossed in his phone.

Leaning down, I planted a quick kiss on his cheek and said, "I'm off to work, bro. Catch you tomorrow!" I zipped past Mom, who was busy sautéing something aromatic in the kitchen, and called out a hasty "Bye, Mum!" as I burst through the door.

The moment I stepped outside, excitement and nerves stirred inside me. I'd been anticipating this night all week and was eager to dive in.

Taking a deep breath, I filled my lungs with the cool evening air and set off toward my destination.

Mom's voice floated from the kitchen, warm and maternal, "Be careful, dear! Have a good night!" A smile spread across my face; her support always meant the world to me.

David chimed in, "Later, sis! Good luck!" I waved goodbye, even though they couldn't see me, and continued my journey.

As I walked out, I scanned the street, expecting to spot Sarah waiting by a cab. But to my surprise, there was no sign of her or a taxi in sight. Suddenly, I heard a horn honking nearby.

I turned to see Sarah in the driver's seat of a shiny black Mercedes, her face lit up with delight. My jaw dropped in disbelief as I took in the sleek beauty of the vehicle.

"You got a car???" I gasped, my voice thick with shock. "Oh my God, Sarah!" My steps quickened as I hurried toward her, my eyes glued to the luxurious ride.

"I can't believe you did this!" I exclaimed, still reeling from the surprise.

As I climbed into the car, Sarah erupted in laughter. "Well, I decided to treat myself. Had the money, so why not?" She had me speechless, and I couldn't take my eyes off her, still in disbelief.

"That's amazing, Sarah! Wow!" I said, attempting to comprehend the surprise. "I had no clue you were planning this!" I turned to her, a huge grin breaking across my face.

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I know, I wanted it to be a surprise! I'm glad it worked!"

As we sped off to work, joy bubbled within me for my friend. Who would have thought she had been secretly planning this? It was a thrill to be part of her special moment.

Sitting in the passenger seat beside Sarah, I felt an exhilarating sense of fulfillment.

Gazing at her confident smile, I thought, "If I can keep up with her success at work, maybe I can get a Mercedes like this, too." The idea of bright prospects filled me with hope, and I couldn't help but imagine how proud Mum would be of all of us.

The thought of my future filled me with a sense of serene happiness, and I found myself smiling all the way.

I envisioned being able to afford college, forming new friendships, expanding my knowledge, and ultimately becoming a successful entrepreneur-a classy one at that.

My mind buzzed with possibilities, and I eagerly anticipated what lay ahead.

As we drove, I reflected on how Sarah's success fueled my ambition. I felt a deep gratitude to have her as a friend.

"Are you ready?" Sarah asked, snapping me out of my reverie. I blinked at her, completely lost. "Ready for what?"

She rolled her eyes playfully. "Come on, do you think Albert is going to just pick you out of the crowd of girls at the club? You have one shot to catch his attention."

I hesitated, a rush of apprehension washing over me. "But what if he travels?" I stammered. I tried to sound casual as I added, "I could just find someone else."

But Sarah, knowing me all too well, let out an exasperated sigh. "I get that, but he's the highest-paying client at this club. You need him to reach your goals. Besides, you could save your mom's life with that money." Her mention of my mom snapped me back to the harsh reality of my situation.

I knew I had to take drastic measures to save her.

Taking a deep breath to gather my courage, I asked, "So how do I get his attention among all the other girls?" I focused fully on Sarah, desperate for guidance.

A sly smile crept across Sarah's face. "Leave that to me. I have a plan. Just follow my lead, and you'll stand out." She paused, studying my expression. "But you must be confident and seductive. Can you do that for me?"

Leaning in close, her voice lowered to a conspiratorial whisper, she said, "It's simpler than you think. Just make your performance revolve around him. Focus solely on him-your body language, your eye contact, everything. Got it?" She gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze as I took another deep breath, steeling myself for what was to come.

We arrived at the club, went through our regular routines, took our baths, and prepared ourselves for the night ahead.

As we were getting ready, Sarah suddenly rushed over, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "Hey Diana, I have an idea!" My interest was piqued by her infectious enthusiasm; I sensed this could be a big moment.

"I told the supervisor that you're going to perform solo for a special presentation tonight," she said, her beaming smile lingering as she awaited my reaction.

My heart sank in an instant. "What?" Panic surged through me, my breath quickening. "I can't do this alone! I've never performed by myself. What if I mess up?"

Sarah giggled, trying to ease my panic. "Breathe, Diana. You can do this."

"Not without you! I'm terrified!" The thought of facing the stage solo paralyzed me.

"Just trust me," she insisted with a grin. "This is your chance to grab Albert's attention. You'll see." Despite the fear gripping me, I felt a flicker of determination ignite within. I would do whatever it took to save my mom.

I focused on my breathing, slowly calming my racing heart.

"And I haven't even told you the best part yet," Sarah said with an enigmatic smile that only fueled my anxiety.

"What did you do?" I demanded, exasperated.

Just then, the MC of the club grabbed the microphone as one of the dancers finished her performance. "And now, a special presentation for Mr. Albert. Presenting... Sexy Ana!" he boomed through the club.

My eyes widened in shock. "No, you didn't!" I exclaimed, my voice barely a whisper as Sarah started nudging me towards the stage from our backstage area.

"Yes, I did! You're going to crush this," she whispered back, her eyes brimming with support. I felt light-headed, grappling with disbelief. Could she be doing this to me? Before I could voice my concerns any further, she gave me one final push.

I took a deep breath, letting the comforting thought of my mum wash over me. Her warm smile and encouraging words echoed in my mind, reminding me of the strength I had inherited.

I envisioned my future-the endless possibilities, the life I was determined to build for myself.

Then my thoughts drifted to David, my brother, and how he had always been there to lift me, ready to believe in me, no matter the odds.

I steeled myself, whispering, "I can do this. I have to do this. I'm all in."

With that newfound determination coursing through me, I opened my eyes, squared my shoulders, and stepped confidently onto the stage.

The air felt charged around me, and I could sense the murmurs from the other dancers behind me-discontent and jealousy seeping through their whispers.

They weren't pleased with my ambition to impress Albert, but I refocused, shoving those thoughts aside. This was Sarah's idea, not mine, and I couldn't afford to let others' opinions cloud my mission.

My sole focus was on earning that prize-the money that could change everything.

As I sashayed toward the front of the stage, I moved my hips in a sultry rhythm, my eyes scanning the crowd for Albert's familiar figure.

I hadn't seen him before, but I knew he would be hard to miss-always surrounded by guards, lavishly indulging in the most expensive drinks.

As I danced, my gaze finally landed on him, but his face remained tantalizingly obscured in the dim light. Was he even aware that this performance was meant for him? He seemed engrossed in his conversation, paying no mind to the stage.

I pushed aside my disappointment and kept focused on delivering an electrifying show, ensuring that the men in the audience were captivated by my every move.

With each sweep of my body and every spin on the pole, I felt the energy in the room shift-I was the star of this performance.

I glanced toward his table again, hoping for a flicker of recognition, but he remained oblivious. Maybe I could just revel in the attention of these other men, I thought. After all, I was still after the cash.

As I finished my fourth song, still striving for Albert's attention, I caught a movement from his direction.

His imposing security moved aside, and suddenly, there he was-front row, close enough for me to see the details of his striking face.

Our eyes locked, and I was momentarily breathless. His gaze was piercing, filled with a magnetic allure that sent shivers down my spine.

His features were sculpted to perfection-curved lips, a sharp nose, and hair that fell stylishly over his forehead, reminiscent of a footballer's cut.

In that split second, I lost my footing, stumbling toward him, my face dangerously close to his.

He smirked, a hint of mischief playing across his mouth, and said, "Well, you've got my full attention. Show me what you've got."

His voice was authoritative, deep, and compelling, making it sound as if I'd follow any command he gave.

Despite his wicked reputation as a mafia lord, I couldn't help but feel drawn to him, a desire to please igniting within me.