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“I just want my mother to love me,” I say.
“You can’t force someone to love you, Poppy. You can only see how they love you and decide if you want to put up with it. Believe me, I know.”
I nod, because he’s right. I don’t like having to earn my mother’s love, but I have no choice if I want to get rid of the empty hole in my chest.
Poppy
Istare at myself in the mirror as I comb my hair down my back. I’m having a girls’ night with my sister and best friend, and we haven’t had any alone time with each other in a long time. Ever since I’ve been married, I haven’t had much time to do anything. Marriage with Jasper can be demanding. We have to attend galas together, make appearances in fashion shows and charity events, not to mention the paparazzi follow us everywhere we go. Just last week there was a picture of us leaving the mall. Jasper wanted to take me on a shopping spree even though I told him he doesn’t have to buy me things. I’m set for life in the money department. He literally came and swooped in like Superman and saved me from my poor lifestyle, and I’ll be forever grateful.
I don’t like the person I’m becoming. To please a mother who doesn’t call and check in on me to see how I’m doing. She hasn’t yet apologized for the other night. The ambush of the party that was supposed to be a private dinner with them getting to know Jasper.
I smear concealer under my eyes, hoping to hide the bags, then I swipe lipstick over my plump lips.
When I’m around Jasper, he doesn’t make me feel as if I need his approval or acceptance. Maybe, I’ve been wrong about myself the entire time and I don’t need other people’s approval for them to accept me. I don’t want to be this person who has to seek people’s approval to get accepted.
It’s exhausting and nerve-racking. And being a people pleaser is becoming more of a headache. I love people and value them, but when am I going to put my own needs above others’? For once, I want to think about what I want and need.
I fluff my hair and slide my pedicured feet into a pair of black heels. Michael strolls inside the bedroom, keeping his eyes reverted to the shiny marble floor.
“The limo is ready, Mrs. Barrett.”
I don’t know how many times I’ve told him to stop calling me Mrs. Barrett, but this time I let it slide.
We head out the door to the limo. First we swing by Lake’s penthouse, then Sophia’s home. Lake pops a bottle of champagne and she pours me a glass. I sip slowly as the bubbles tickle my nose. She pours Sophia a glass and places the bottle back in the bucket of ice and reaches for a can of Coke for herself.
We talk about everything under the sun. Lake tells me how her business is going. She’s always been the type to focus on her success and career. Apparently, Atlas was able to bring her stocks back up in her company. Sophia told me she’s going to start college behind Tate’s back so she can get her nursing degree. I hope she leaves him for good. I spoke with Jasper’s PI last week and she said she’s going to look into his case.
We’re headed to the hottest club in the city, one Jasper owns. Once we arrive, we make it to the front door.A long line of people are waiting to get inside. The air is thick, smoggy, and cool. Cars pass by on the street. I love the city nightlife in New York. It’s inviting and lively.
The bouncer eyes us from head to toe. “What is your name?”
“I’m Mrs. Jasper Barrett.” I flash my hand in his face, showing off my diamond ring. “Poppy Barrett.”
He smiles. “Good evening, Mrs. Barrett. Can I see your ID?”
“Of course.” I reach into my clutch and hand it to him, and he looks at the ID before giving it back to me.
Paparazzi snap pictures of me, asking me a bunch of questions that I ignore.
The bouncer opens the rope and moves from the entrance door. “Are these two with you?”
I nod and we walk into the lit club.People dance on the floor, body to body, and techno music plays in the background. The club is noisy and stuffy, but Jasper says they have the best drinks in the city.
“I need to tell Atlas to invest in clubs, it looks like a money machine,” Lake chimes in.
The gold dress she’s wearing hugs her small figure and her pastel pink hair is cut short. She looks like a Greek goddess. She has always been beautiful, even with her scar. I’m glad Atlas came along and showed her how beautiful she is.
I never tried to use Jasper’s connection for anything, and I try to keep everything about business, but since we’re going to be married for the rest of our lives, I’m going to enjoy the perks of it. No need to spoil myself with his life of luxury. He wants me to enjoy it, and he told me so. Especially now I have my own money, I can do what I want to do. My mother finally gave me my inheritance from my father’s death, so now I’m also a further two million dollars richer. I put it in my savings for a rainy day.
“We’re going to the rooftop. It has the VIP section,” I scream in Sophia’s and Lake’s ears over the noise. The music is so loud that I can barely hear myself think.
Once we’re on the rooftop, we sit on the lounge seats as the skyscrapers light up the dark sky. I love New York City. The atmosphere. The weather. Everything about it. It makes my worries melt away and gives me hope for a new day.
Sophia unties her hair from the pineapple ponytail it’s in and lets her kinky hair fall to her shoulders. The dress she wears is purple with diamonds embedded in the sleeves. The bartender brings us samples of different alcoholic beverages, but I notice Lake ask for a glass of water.
I lift one of my eyebrows. “Why aren’t you drinking?”
She blushes and takes a sip of her water. “I have work in the morning, and I can’t go in sloppy drunk.”
