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Meanwhile, people mind their own business and keep walking. Someone blows their horn. “Poppy, please get in the SUV, I don’t want to hurt you.”
My feet feel like cinder blocks tied to my ankles as I climb into the SUV and sit as far away from Link as much as possible.
Fear wraps around me. I can’t fight him, especially since I’m pregnant and I don’t want to endanger my child. I have my peanut to think about.
During the ride back to Link’s place, I think of ways to escape him without getting myself in harm’s way.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
“Home. I did what you said and I went to a therapist. They diagnosed me with a personality disorder called narcissism. Can you believe that? I’m working on my anger issues, but you played a part in this relationship, you did some fucked-up shit to me as well.” I have no idea what he’s speaking about, but I don’t comment, because I don’t want to feed into the fantasy he’s painted in his head. “I forgive you. I can raise the child as my own, but you will have to give me a child of our own, and you’re going to serve Jasper divorce papers.”
“I’m not agreeing to that.”
“You will or I’ll leak to the media about how he killed his daughter, Harper.”
My pulse accelerates. “How did you find out?”
“Your soon-to-be ex-husband isn’t the only one who has connections and money. I spotted him with his ex-girlfriend at a cafe a few weeks back and I wanted to know who the woman was.”
I don’t want to make him mad or say something that will upset him. He has a temper, and I don’t want to meet his wrath.
“He didn’t kill her, Link.”
He half shrugs. “It doesn’t matter if he did or didn’t. People care about a juicy story.”
I’m not going to respond to that because I don’t want to trigger him in any way. I don’t want to upset him and let him take it out on me, or try to force himself on me like last time. But if he tries to force himself on me again, I will go down fighting.
Once we make it to his penthouse, he grabs my arm and ushers me to the private elevators.
Every time I swallow, it feels like glass is cutting my throat, and my stomach churns with nausea.
When we walk into the penthouse, it smells like straight up ass and stale food. Stuff is everywhere, beer bottles and old plates of food, and the wooden floors are covered with clothes. This place isn’t how I remember it and I don’t miss living with him, I don’t miss the controlling and the demands he made. Jasper treats me so much better than Link ever did.
I sit on the couch, away from him, but he slides next to me. Link grabs my face and forces me to kiss him.
I want to bite him so bad, but I don’t want to make the situation worse. He might put his hands on me further, and I have to prevent that as much as I can.
“I’m married to someone and am having their child. How is that going to look to the public eye?”
He shrugs. “I might be a millionaire, but I don’t care about my reputation. I care about having my girl back. My life hasn’t been the same since you broke up with me. I can’t sleep, nor can I think straight, and the thought of you belonging to someone else boils my blood. It makes me mad. The thought of you carrying his child… He gave you something I tried to give you, but you didn’t want it.”
“You were cheating on me. Why would I want to raise my child in an environment where I’m not happy? Please just let me go, Link.”
“No, he can’t have you, Poppy. I mean it.”
He gets up from the couch and goes to the back before returning with a bunch of red roses and a big teddy bear. This is what he always used to buy me when he fucked up in our relationship. But he should know me well enough by now that this stuff doesn’t mean anything to me.
“This is for you.” He swipes a strand of my hair behind my ear. “It’s okay, it’s fine. You will eventually get over your crush. You’re going to eventually get over him. You still love me; I know you do. You just have to see we’re meant to be together. And you’re never going to leave this penthouse until you realize it.”
Jasper
Istare down at the diamond I picked out for Poppy to replace her current ring. The old ring symbolizes our old life, the one where we were business partners and our marriage was one of convenience. This ring symbolizes our real love, and I’m going to tell her that her new ring will be ready for her when she’s ready to be with me again. I have another present for her, but that’s going to have to wait until after tonight, when we go back to her place.
The waitress pours a glass of bourbon for me and asks me if I’m ready to order, and I tell her no. I’m too anxious to eat right now. I glance at the time on my phone, she’s supposed to be here any minute now. My phone buzzes and her name pops up on the screen. I answer on the third ring.
“Angel, are y—”
“Something has happened. We’re blocked off a—” Panic fills her tone.
