His eyes flicked to Poppy, and he nodded once. “Good dog.”
Chapter Thirty-Two
Poppy
“What the fuck was that?”I’d expected him to blow up as soon as we got to the car, but instead, he’d let his rage simmer until we made it back to my building. I could practically see it rolling and writhing under his skin as he clenched and unclenched the steering wheel.
My cheeks hurt, and my nose burned, but I refused to let these men see me break. I would wait until I was in the safety of my own room, but now it didn’t seem like Ivan was going to allow that to happen.
I clamped my teeth together and stared at the closed elevator doors. I was almost to my room. I was almost there. I could break then. I just needed him to not ask me any more questions. I needed Ivan to remain in his lane.
If he hadn’t been there today in Donovan’s penthouse… I don’t know what would have happened. I was thankful for his presence, but I had a feeling I was going to pay for it later.
Was there any way to escape this life?
“Poppy,” his voice sounded strained, and I refused to look at him. I’d gotten my fill while he drove. I didn’t need to know that he was disappointed in me. I was disappointed enough for the both of us.
The doors dinged open, and there was a note on the entryway table.
Going to the library to study with friends. Don’t worry, Don is my shadow. Be back around dinner time.
Good, I didn’t need to worry about her worrying about me. Just a few more steps, and I would be free to feel it all. My eyes were already filling with tears again.
“What’s going on? You can’t possibly want this. Does he have something over you? Is this blackmail? Why the fuck would you want to marry that monster?” His voice was soft, but I could hear the hurt and anger under the surface.
“It doesn’t matter,” I muttered as the first tears fell.
“Poppy, it matters. You matter. This is stupid. You deserve so much better than that, you have to know that!” His voice raised slightly, but I refused to turn around. I refused to let him or anyone else see me cry.
His footsteps stopped just behind me. “Talk to me, Poppy.Please. You could haveanyone.You do not need that loser.”
Anyone? I turned around then and looked up at him. I didn’t care if he saw my tears anymore. I didn’t care if he knew I was broken.
“Anyone? What a joke, Ivan! I’ve never had anyone before in my entire life.”
He rolled his eyes, but I could still see the hurt in them. “You are a knockout. I’m sure you’ve had a nice revolving door of men. Anyone would be lucky to have you, and I know the men you have had… They’ve thought of you ever since, because I have.”
I reared back. “You think I’ve had a revolving door of men?”
“I mean,” He shook his head. “Look at you. You are one of the smartest, prettiest women I've ever met, and I’m sure that’s how it is anywhere you go.”
I laughed then because I needed to do something to keep myself from crying more. “You’re an idiot.”
His brows pulled together. “Excuse me?”
“I was a virgin.” The words blurted out before I could stop them. “No one ever wanted me, and then when the one guy did want me, he walked away! So you only wanted me halfway, and that’s not good enough.”
He blinked and shook his head. “And so Donovan Madden is good enough?”
I threw my hands up. “Way to change the subject!”
He dragged a hand down his face and let out a sound somewhere between a growl and a groan. “I’m not changing the subject, Poppy. I’m trying to figure out what the hell you’re doing throwing yourself to someone like him.”
“I’mnotthrowing myself at anyone,” I snapped, voice cracking halfway through. “You think I have a choice? That... this is what Iwant? You think I looked at Donovan Madden and thought—yeah, that’s the dream man?”
“Then why?” he shot back, stepping closer. “Why areyou letting them push you into this? Why are you lettinghimtouch you?”
I gritted my teeth and shook my head before I turned on my heel. “I told you I was a virgin, and you can’t even stay on that topic long enough for us to communicate. You have to dig into something that isn’t your business.”
