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“I hope that took the edge off.”
My cheeks burn. “It did.”
There’s a knock on the door, and I sigh.
“We can ignore whoever that is and I can suck you off until you come on my tongue,” I suggest.
There’s a glint in his eyes as I unzip his pants. He places his hand on mine to stop me, then shakes his head. “Not tonight, Angel. You are the one who’s stressed out. It’s not about me, it’s about you.”
The banging grows louder. “Poppy Mae Barrett, I know you’re in there. Open the door,” my mother snaps.
“I’m coming, Mother,” I say. “You have lipstick smeared around your lips,” I tell Jasper.
He grabs the napkin from his breast pocket and wipes his lips. Grabbing my hand, he opens the door. My mother takes one good look at Jasper, then at my flushed skin.
“We’re leaving.” Jasper’s tone is laced with anger.
“No, you can’t leave. I have all these people here.” My mother looks to me for help, but I simply don’t answer.
“I don’t give a fuck. Poppy wanted to have a simple dinner, but you made it about you, to boost your image, and the way you ambushed her is wrong. So I’m taking her home, right now.”
My mother glares at me. “You did this, you turned him against me. How am I goi—”
“I can get you any connection you want, but not like this. Not at the cost of my wife’s mental health.” Jasper squeezes my hand tight, and my heart gallops in my chest.
My mother bursts into tears and my stepfather walks in our direction. His smiles falters as we make it to the door.
Richard casts us a curious glance. “Where are you two going?”
“Home,” Jasper answers.
“What abou—”
“Fuck you and your party. We’re leaving.”
My stepfather looks stunned, and his eyes go to me. Instead of throwing a temper tantrum, he simply nods at Jasper. This is weird. My stepfather has never backed down from an argument. When he wants something, he goes after it like a dog with a bone.
“I’ll see you at the golf course at the country club?” my stepfather asks Jasper. “To go over the business contract,” he elaborates.
He follows us all the way to the car, then Jasper answers, “Yeah.”
I slide inside of the car, Jasper beside me ordering Chance to take us back to the penthouse.
“Your mother is no longer allowed to treat you like a pawn in front of me again. I won’t allow it.”
I nod and stroke the side of my temple.
“You need to stand up to her, Poppy. I worry she will bleed you dry for money.” He strokes the back of his neck. “So, I set up a bank account for you and you get five percent of investments from Wolfgang every month. Even I can’t touch it.”
My mouth hangs open. “Why would you do that?”
“Because you need to be taken care of, Poppy. You need someone to protect you from your money-hungry parents.”
Tears well in my eyes, because he’s right. I don’t have a backbone when it comes to my mother. She says she sacrificed her life for me, but isn’t that what a parent is supposed to do? I would do it for my child, if I had one.
Jasper wants the best for me, and I should want what’s best for me as well. My feelings should matter, and I’m tired of putting them on the back burner for other people.
I let the tears fall freely from my eyes. I don’t know why I’m crying. Jasper strokes the back of my head and pulls me into his lap.
