The sky was getting darker minutes by minutes whether it was because of the clouds or it's just the sun started to hide its presence. The air getting colder and the cold winter wind became unbearable to the visitor of Venice Beach.
The book store has devoid of any souls unlike a few hours ago when there was an unbelivable crowd that came from far away just to get their books signed by Alphonse Brandt. Many people now preferred to hide away from the cold outside temperature and scattered to find a warmer place to crash.
Elisabeth and Al had parted way as soon as possible after knowing he was that guy who sang in Venice Beach two years ago.
Even she had begged him to at least sang for her in the café but he politely rejected her. But he did promise to sing for her someday and their parting ended with him getting an affectionate kissed on his cheek. Jessica saw that and she had been teasing him since they left the book store.
Al once again released a tired sigh while leaning his back behind the comfortable back seat of the car. John was looking at him from the rear mirror in amusement.
Then he was shuddered by a gaze beside him and turned to see Jessica with her annoying shit-eating grin he always hated.
"Okay, you two, stop doing that. I hate you both when you are doing it. And wipe that grin off your face Jessie, it makes you ugly."
"Nah, I feel so beautiful when I'm doing this," Jessica said, and John? John was being him, just shrugged and giving him a light smile before going silent mode again.
"Another innocent maiden fell from their grace and seduced by the Don Juan himself." She added.
"You are making it sound worse." Al groaned and both John and Jessica were laughing at him. Bunch of ungrateful employees.
"What's going on between you two? I saw that Australian girl didn't leave your side after you went back from going for a coffee." She pestered and her face appeared only a couple of centimeters from him.
He tried to keep her face away from him by pushing her forehead with his forefinger.
"Well, Beth, she's..."
"Uh, already on the nickname basis, I like where this will be going." Jessica rubbed her hands and put them on her chin.
"Let me finish first Jessie," he spatted and Jessica immediately shut her mouth and made a lock gesture to her lip. "Beth is searching for two singers that performed in Venice Beach two years ago."
"Then why she... oh!? You mean that theatrical thing you did a few years ago! What's your persona name, yeah Bullet and Anastasia."
"It's Borat, and she kept pestering me to perform there and if possible, in TV stations."
"No shit, and what did you say?"
"I said I'll see what I can do if I have time but don't expect much."
"Seriously, I think she has a deep crush on your alter ego. Look, when I saw you with her before, she remains civil and friendly. But after you are back with her after your beach walk, she acted giddy and blushing around you like a maiden in love. I swore that if you ask her to sleep with her, she will immediately disrobe her cloth right away and jump on you." She teased.
"Jessie! She's the daughter of the media's mafia, you want me to appear in The Times?"
"Oh, you mean, she's the daughter of Rupert Murdoch?" Her face started to become ugly, "Well, if you befriend her, you'll get her favor for publication but... agh, he's fucking Republican!"
"Hey, what's up with Republican, Jess?" John interjected.
'Oh, boy, this trip won't end well.' Al slapped himself in his mind.
The rest of the trip was spent with childish banter between their preferred political party which actually Al didn't give a damn about it.
Both of them just a puppet that created by the big corporation so everyone thought that democracy was running in this proudful nation.
Of course, soon Al would also become one of the gamemasters of this country if he would own multibillion dollars company in the future. He can't just make money while not spending it well.
As Frank Underwood had said or would have said, "Money is the Mc-mansion in Sarasota that starts falling apart after 10 years. Power is the old stone building that stands for centuries. Hard to respect someone who doesn't see the difference."
Jessica stopped her banter with John and suddenly, her sight turned to the car window behind Al.
He turned his head to where hee gaze was and saw dozens of women were standing under the streetlights on the quiet dark sidewalk.
They wore a skimpy outfit that showed many of their skins and only wearing a furry jacket to cover themselves from the harsh cold windy night.
If Al didn't know who they were, he might guess this was a street catwalk. Every type of girl he believed he could find it here.
From the beautiful ones, the face that could rival any model on the fashion magazines complete with their ravishing body, skinny ones that he guessed a bit anorexic, fat and greasy ones, too ugly ones. From young, old, too young, or too old.
Blondes, brunettes, redheads, whites, blacks, asian, it was like a market that only filled with women who would do anything for getting warm dinner everyday.
Al looked at John from the rear-view mirror and said, "John, we took another route again?"
"Yes, boss, I saw some cars following us and I think we need to take the longer route and cross some hidden street in Sunset Boulevard. Sorry, you need to see this."
Al rolled his eyes, "John, I know what this place is."
This place has been long famous as the red-light district in Los Angeles and for them crossing would be inevitable.
"Oh, you know this place?" Jessie said/asked sarcastically.
"Yes, Jessie, I'm not a child anymore and I think this thing was a public secret for Los Angeles citizens."
He continued to see the scenery outside with a sad look and murmured. "American Girls with their American Dream."
Jessica hummed sadly, "Yeah, those who could act became an actress, whose who has a pretty face and beautiful body became a model, and those who were none of them, this is the last thing they can do. There are bills to pay and bellies to fill."
As they drive through the dark but not so empty streets, Jessica asked, "Is it just me or their number keep increasing as we passed this street?"
"Well, maybe because it's Christmas. A lot of people don't want to spend their Christmas alone, so maybe a lot of them went out today. Funny that prostitution is illegal in this county but they turned a blind eye in this street."
Al could sense a worrying gaze directed at him. "What?"
"Do you, you know..."
"Gods, no Jessie, I know I'm alone tonight but I don't want to hire them... not yet anyway."
"Al!" She shrieked.
"Relax Jessie, I'm exclusive with Gwen."
"You better stick to your words there."
"Cross my heart. Come on Jessie, what happened with the teasing about me having more girls before, Jessie?" He tried to joke but he thought he failed after seeing her mad face. Women, he never understand them.
"That's just a joke. I don't expect you to, hire them, that's below you, Al."
"Jessie that's rude, they are also people struggling for their lives. But to make it clear, I promise I never use any of their services. Well, if there's someone catch my attention in this street, I may take her offer." He smirked in a perverted way before it was all gone by a smack in the head by Jessie.
Jessica snorted, "Al look, you're my boss and your relationship is not my responsibility. But between you and your girlfriend, I will prefer to keep my job and keep your secret to the grave. I only warn you that I quit my last job because my last boss is a horndog who liked to do sexual harassment to every woman in the office, party with prostitutes in company outings, and many times cheated on his wife. Now he lost his job, wife, children, his future and only has a small apartment and eating canned tuna for dinner for the rest of his life." She said with a tone devoid of any cheerfulness she had before.
"Short story, divorce hurt you financially." John quickly said.
"John, not helping! What I want to say is cheating never ends well."
Her last word stuck on his mind before silence took over.
Although they were out of Sunset Boulevard, he could still see them at some corner of the street where officers in patrol could clearly see them. Maybe they have just turned a blind eye to them because they've been bribed by their pimps.
As they drove through the beautiful streets of Los Angeles, Al saw something that stole his attention. He thought that she was the most beautiful thing he ever saw and he wanted her.
"John, stop the car!" Al shouted.
John immediately stepped in the brake pedal and pulled the car on the driveway of the gas pump. Al then got out of the car and asked for the person who was in charge.
Then, came a man who said he was in charge. He was a bit tall and had a muscular build so both John and Jessica got worried and get out of the car and approached Al. They overheard him having an intense argument with the man.
"She's beautiful. How much for her?"
"She's just for display, sorry young lad."
"I'll pay for any price you offer, I just want her."
"Sir, I think you might want another. She's already old and I can provide you new ones." The man had slimy smiles all over his face.
"No, I want her!" He hissed.
Al was offering a high price for her but the man just smiled and shook his head. Al groaned and started to become pissed at this guy. He wished he can hit him and took her, then threw the money on the ground.
After long bargaining, on this freezing winter night. Al and the big man finally made a deal and both of them shook hands. Al stood in his place admired this beautiful creature while the man went inside to seal the deal.
He turned to Jessica and said, "Jess, you can go first with John." Then he turned to John and said, "John, once you safely reach there, be back here. I'll take care of this first."
Jessica still had her car on his house, maybe this way she wouldn't have to see him with his new activity tonight.
"Right, boss."
John and Jessica went back to the car and she whispered, "It's rare to see him this excited. I know I was wrong when I teased him because he was lonely in that big house tonight. I wish I didn't, do I have to worry?"
"Nah, let him have his first time," John replied.
Tonight, Al came home with a big grin plastered on his face.
~~~
Al was never interested in any of this activity but what can he say, he was bored because he was all alone in the house and she can fill the emptiness in this quiet humongous house.
Gwen was currently unavailable for this entire Christmas because she had to help her parents in her church and he can't go to the orphanage for the current time because paparazzi became rampant these days.
And with her, she may be able to fill the emptiness for the rest of the night. Although she cost more than it should be, she was worth every penny he had spent.
When he turned her on, he was sure that her cry could be heard by neighbors.
An hour later he suddenly heard ringing from the bell in the front door and he immediately shut her off. He was confused at first about who was visiting him late at night as the possible outcome was maybe his neighbor who wanted to complain or maybe need some help or Jehovah's witness.
He shrugged it off and came to the front door. He wanted to shoo them as soon as possible and went back to her and finish whatever he was doing before.
When he opened the front door and saw whoever the one behind the door, he closed it again in a heartbeat.
"Hey! That was rude!"; "Show ladies some respect!"; "Can I borrow your bathroom please?" Came 3 cries with different crescendo levels and the last one a bit unexpected and cute in some way because her Russian accent is still thick.
He opened the door again to see 3 little girls with a different kind of appearance. One was so cute that he could bite her cheeks off and eat them, one looked mature and elegant while the last looked like a doll, perfectly sculpted and innocent.
"Drew, Jolie, and I don't expect you Mila, but why are you three are here? Wait, how are you three here? Who took you to here?" Came rapid questions from his mouth.
"Mom took three of us here. Well, I want to visit my dearest foster big brother because I heard from someone that he was lonely here." Al immediately cursed Jessica in his mind. Also, why their mother permit them to be here? Another question was left unanswered to him.
Then Drew continued, "Besides, tomorrow is Christmas's Eve and it's such a shame to celebrate it alone. And why did you immediately shut the door? It's rude you know! Or, is there any girl there? I knew it wasn't Gwen because I was told she had a big Christmas preparation in her church." She squinted her eyes at him.
Jolie gasped and pointed her finger at him. "Al, Are you cheating on Gwen! Oh my, how am I gonna tell her."
'These girls...' Al made an exasperated sigh on his mind. Of course, he knew they were teasing him but they were 10 years too early to do this to him so he decided to tease them back.
"Oh, there is but she's kind of shy to meet strangers. Especially after I brought her here from the streets after I paid her. Do you want to see her, girls? Maybe get to know her?"
Drew and Jolie's jaw fell to the floor, they didn't expect that their teasing turned out real. What if there was a girl there and Al said that he just brought her home today.
"Al, i-is she a c-call...' She became mad after saw his grin, "Arrgh, she's that right!"
"Yes, yes she is, Drew." He said with a smug smile.
Both of them turned at each other and held their gazes. Drew and Jolie had reached an understanding and both nodded. Al was a grown man and he may be felt lonely and hired some call girls. Of course, they knew what it was; Hollywood let them grew faster and knew things that adults knew. Even more, both of them were girls who were supposed to be matured faster than boys.
So the two of them agreed they should keep this a secret to Gwen. They knew what things should be left unsaid and let her discover herself. It was wrong but Al was more important to them than her.
In their mind, they regret coming here and witness something they shouldn't have. Well, except Mila, she seemed clueless at everything. She was new to everything and didn't know him very well.
"Do you want to see her?" Their jaws dropped again when Al told them. Behind the challenging gaze that Al gave to them, Drew and Jolie became uncomfortable. But they were also curious. So both of them nodded at him.
"Follow me, and don't get separated, it was a bit big and maze that can make you lost."
As they followed him inside, they began to wonder at how big this mansion was. Especially for Mila who was never went to any big house before. She lived in a crappy 2-room apartment with her mother who worked as a housekeeper.
The three of them continued to follow him but Drew and Jolie became more confused as they were brought not to any room in here, but a backyard.
There, they saw a small building with a glass construct and that had a road for a car to go outside. They knew it was a garage from the moment they saw it.
This house had two garages, maybe the architect designed this so the owner of the house would have two types of cars, for everyday use and collection.
"There she is, isn't she beautiful?" Al opened the garage door with a remote and showed his prized possession.
"Al, that was a car?" She half stating, half asking while looking at the muscle car painted with black color with 2 white stripes on the hood.
The car had rusts everywhere and looked ungroomed with dents all over the place.
"Yes, it is Drew. That's Ford Mustang Boss 429. I saw her today on my way home in the used car dealership. Her condition was so bad but that shithead sold me a sky-high price, what an asshole."
"Langage, Al!" Jolie screamed while covering her ears from bad words.
He gave them sheepish smile, "Sorry for the languages girls. And this car, there were only a few hundred in the USA."
"So, it was not a girl?"
"Of course, I never cheated on Gwen. Wait, are you thinking that I'm seriously hired a call girl. Oh my, you girls had some dirty thoughts apparently. I never knew it. I need to tell Jaid and Marcie that their daughters have grown up too soon." He teased.
"ALLL!!!" They screamed and kicked both of his shins. This time, it was left unprotected because he had no idea that these girls would come, and he whimpered in pain on the slippery garage floor.
"What happened?" Suddenly a voice came to his ear. He looked up to see Mary and others from the orphanage were coming behind her. There was also his friend it seemed and of course, Robin who had an evil grin stuck on her face.
Al finally knew that they were going to surprise him and these three girls have zero patience and knock on his door and snuck in first. As for why they could get in, Al gave one of the spare keys to Mary ages ago.
"Nothing..." Both Drew and Jodie said and looked in the other direction while fake-whistling.
"Oh, they said Al hired a call girl and we want to see her. Turned out, the call girl means a car." She said with a thick Russian accent.
"Alphonse Edward Brandt!!!" Mary shrieked.
'Well. I'm dead.' Al cursed in his mind.
To Be Continued...
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