38. Poppy
38
Poppy
W e arrive at Kurt’s office as the workday is winding down. It’s late Friday afternoon and people are drifting around in that aimless way they do at this point in the week, waiting for it to be quitting time.
I stride purposefully across the office floor, intent on Kurt’s office, Wyatt at my side. It should feel good, knowing I’m going to finally put Kurt in his place, but it’s hollow without Bailey. She’s the one who helped me realize the damage he was doing. She’s the reason I found the strength inside to leave, and I know she’d want to see this.
Well, I did. Now, I’m not so sure.
Kurt’s assistant sits at her desk, playing on her phone, when Wyatt and I approach. It takes a moment for her to remember me, from the times I’ve visited in the past, but the recognition dawns in her eyes and she stands from her desk.
“Poppy. Hi. What… what are you doing here?”
I could stop and make small talk, try to weasel my way into Kurt’s office, but why should I?
“Hi, Rochelle. I’m here to see Kurt.”
“He’s busy—”
Wyatt cuts in with an assertive, “This can’t wait.”
I knew bringing him was a good idea.
We pass Rochelle’s desk and throw open Kurt’s office door. He leaps in surprise, gaze flying to us as we enter. Wyatt closes the door firmly behind us, then stands in front of it, his tattooed arms folded across his broad chest, like a bodyguard.
Holy shit, he is so hot right now.
Focus, Poppy .
I turn to Kurt, holding my chin high, as he rises from his chair with a thunderous expression.
“What do you want?” he barks, more to Wyatt than me. His gaze slides my way, raking over my clothes questioningly. “ What are you wearing?”
I bite back a satisfied smile. We took Wyatt’s bike here, and while he left his leather jacket downstairs, I intentionally left mine on. It makes me feel badass. It makes me feel powerful.
Just like Wyatt does.
“I know what you did,” I say, ignoring Kurt’s question. “You hacked my phone and told Bailey about us.”
Kurt sneers. “So what if I did? She deserves to know.” His gaze flits over my shoulder to Wyatt. “She deserves to know you’re fucking her old man.”
I grit my teeth. Don’t let him get to you. He’s not going to win this one.
“Don’t pretend you did this out of concern for Bailey. You did this to hurt me. Like you got me fired from Joe’s.”
He issues a nasty laugh. “That one surprised me. Didn’t expect the bumbling idiot who ran the place to actually go through with it.”
Despite Dave firing me, I feel a rush of anger on his behalf. God, Kurt is such a pompous asshole.
“This stops now, Kurt.”
Amusement flares in his eyes. “Or what? You’re going to get your old man to beat me up?”
My teeth clench so hard I’m surprised I don’t shatter a tooth. Every time Kurt calls Wyatt old, my restraint weakens a little more.
“Wyatt might be older than me, but he’s twice the man you are.”
Kurt’s eyes glint. “I bet he doesn’t satisfy you like I did.”
A bitter laugh bursts out of me. “Is that a joke?” I can’t help myself. I’m overcome with the need to hit Kurt where it hurts. “I’ve had more orgasms with him in a few months than I had with you in years.”
Anger flashes across Kurt’s face, his nostrils flaring. “I’ll sue him if he comes anywhere near me, you hear that?”
I suck in a deep breath, reminding myself why I’m here. If this works, I won’t have to worry about Wyatt needing to go anywhere near Kurt ever again.
“This is over, Kurt. We are over, and you need to accept that.”
Kurt scoffs, opening his mouth to argue, but I plow on.
“You have to leave me alone. You have to stop trying to hurt me.”
“I don’t have to do anything,” he spits.
“I’d listen if I were you,” Wyatt warns, speaking for the first time.
Kurt rolls his eyes so hard I’m surprised he doesn’t black out. “Go on then, hit me. I dare you.”
I glance at Wyatt. His jaw hardens to steel. “I’m not going to hit you, man. I don’t need to.” He pauses for effect, then adds, “I believe you recently met my friend, Weston Abbott.”
Kurt blinks, momentarily blindsided, and I bite back a triumphant grin.
I pull my phone from my pocket. “Wes sent me some very interesting footage of an interview,” I say lightly, as if I’m just fascinated by the entire situation. “And it did not make you look good.”
Kurt’s mouth opens and closes like a trout.
“It would look especially bad to the partners of your firm, wouldn’t it?”
“How dare you—” Kurt begins, but I’ve found my momentum, and speak across him.
“They’d have to fire you. They’d probably tell your father how much you’d let them down. And given this is such an influential agency, word would no doubt spread…”
“I’m sure Wes would be happy to help with that,” Wyatt chips in behind me, and it takes all my effort not to turn around and high-five him. We’re quite the team.
Kurt squirms, his face red. “You have nothing. You’re bluffing.”
I smirk, turning up the volume on my phone and pressing play. How many times does Walter Cross have to show up to the office drunk before someone gives a shit? blares from the speaker, and Kurt grimaces, waving his hand to shut me up.
“Fine,” he mutters, and I press stop. He glowers at me. “But you won’t do anything.”
God, the arrogance. It’s the same thing he said when Wyatt threatened to call the cops on him. Kurt thinks he can get away with anything.
“Won’t I?” I tilt my head, as if considering this carefully. “We passed John Elmore’s office on the way in, didn’t we?” I ask Wyatt, who nods. “I’m sure he would be more than happy to view the footage. Provided he’s not too busy, what did you say, ‘screwing his assistant’?”
Kurt pales. “What do you want, Poppy?”
Satisfaction snakes through me. “I want you to leave me alone, Kurt. Stop showing up at my house, where I work. Stop hacking my fucking phone and email and Instagram. I want you to pretend you don’t know me. That you never knew me. I want you out of my life, for good.”
Kurt hesitates. There’s a flash of something on his face, so fleeting I almost miss it, but it’s there. I can’t pinpoint what it is, exactly, maybe hurt, maybe regret, but for a split second I remember the man I used to know, the good Kurt, even if that feels like another lifetime. That’s what kept me coming back to him, I realize, those flickers of who he used to be, the hope that he’d be that man again.
But he’s not—he never will be—and it’s not my job to put up with his shit.
“Fine,” he mutters, his shoulders sagging in defeat. “I’ll… I’ll leave you alone.”
“That’s not all,” Wyatt says, stepping beside me.
I glance up at him, surprised. What is he talking about?
“You’re going to pay Poppy back every cent you stole from her.”
Ooh. I like the sound of that.
Kurt balks. “I didn’t steal—”
“Yes, you did,” I say firmly. I’ve had enough of his gaslighting. “You stole eight thousand dollars from me.”
“That was our money,” he protests feebly, but I know better. I know better now.
“No, it wasn’t. It was my money that you made me put into a joint account with you. And I want it back.”
Panic flashes across Kurt’s face. “I can’t—”
“You can,” Wyatt grits out, finally reaching the limit of his patience. He rounds the desk, Kurt flinching as he approaches, but Wyatt doesn’t touch him. “I’m assuming you still have her account number, right? You’ll transfer the money immediately. If you don’t, Poppy is more than happy to pay one of the partners a visit, while I stay here to keep you company.”
Kurt’s hands shake as he reaches for his computer mouse. Any trace of bravado from earlier is gone, and he sinks into his chair, dutifully doing as Wyatt instructs. I watch my man, towering above my ex, brow set in a hard frown, his stance imposing as he waits for Kurt to transfer the money. I’m surprised he hasn’t spent it.
“Done,” Kurt mumbles, glancing up at us.
Wyatt nods in my direction. “Check your account.”
“It might not come through yet…” Kurt says, and I narrow my eyes at him. We both know we’re with the same bank. If he’s transferred the money, like he said, it will be there.
And it is. I stare at my banking app, tears pressing at my eyes as I read the total, so much larger than I’m used to. The money he stole from me, the hurt he caused me… it’s over.
Thanks to the help of my new friends, I’ve taken back my power.
I’ve got my life back.
I nod at Wyatt, who sends me a relieved smile.
My breath comes out slowly, trickling from my lungs. It’s over. I can finally breathe.
Kurt looks defeated, slumped over his keyboard, his shoulders curved inward, and sympathy tugs at me, despite myself.
“Thank you, Kurt,” I hear myself say. Not that he deserves it, but I’m grateful. Grateful we can all move on. Besides, I know Kurt isn’t evil. He’s deeply insecure, deeply afraid, and too stubborn to do anything about it. There could be hope for him, if he got the help he needs, if he was willing to put in the work and look at his destructive behavior, but I’m not sacrificing myself by sticking around to find out.
“You ready, baby?” Wyatt asks, walking to my side.
“Yeah.” I look back at my ex, straightening my spine. “I hope you find a way to be happy, Kurt.”
His eyes narrow, and he stands suddenly, as if getting a second wind. “Fuck off. Both of you.”
Wyatt takes a menacing step in his direction, the veins in his forearms popping as he tightens his hands into fists. “That footage is the least of your problems.”
Kurt lifts his chin, but says nothing. I sigh, shaking my head. He’ll never change.
“I mean it, Kurt.” Wyatt’s voice is low, vibrating with threat. “If you ever bother Poppy again, I’ll kill you with my bare hands. Understand?”
Kurt lifts his chin higher, despite his defeat. Wyatt glares at him hard, unmoving, and Kurt relents with a tiny nod.
And with that, we leave his office.
The minute we’re alone in the elevator, Wyatt turns to me with a broad grin. “You were fucking awesome, baby.”
“I can’t believe I did that,” I breathe, my heartbeat finally slowing. I didn’t realize how much it had been battering my ribcage. “I stood up to Kurt, and it worked.”
“I’ve never been prouder of you than I am at this moment,” Wyatt says, tugging me into his arms. Warmth spills through my chest.
“And the money…” I slide my arms around Wyatt’s neck, rising on my toes to kiss him. “I didn’t even think to ask for that. That was brilliant.” Wyatt beams in response. “Now I can pay you back.”
His brow knits. “For what?”
“All the rent I owe you, the kitchen… God, I know it won’t cover all of that, but it’s a start.”
“Poppy.” Wyatt’s lips quirk in amusement. “I’m not taking your money, sweetheart. Forget it.”
“But—”
“You know what I think would be a great use of that money? Buying yourself a delivery van.”
I nibble my lip. I really need a delivery van, but…
Wyatt gives me a stern look. “Don’t tell me I should give the money back to Kurt…”
A laugh shakes out of me. “Okay, okay. Are you sure?”
The elevator doors ding open, presenting us to the bustling ground floor of the building, but Wyatt doesn’t move. “I’m sure, baby. That’s the perfect way to spend it.” Then he kisses me passionately, for everyone to see.
I’m giggling as we finally step from the elevator, Wyatt’s arm snug around my waist. I float across the lobby, high from the feeling of finally confronting Kurt, finally breaking free from him. If the footage isn’t enough to scare him, I know Wyatt is. Kurt puts on a brave face, but I know him better than that. I know he was shitting himself when Wyatt threatened him, and I know he won’t try anything more.
And if he does… Wyatt will keep me safe. With him by my side, I’m powerful, because he’s helped me find my inner strength. And that’s everything.
But as we ride home on the back of Wyatt’s motorcycle, my victory feels bittersweet. It’s a weight off my back, for sure, but it’s not the same if I can’t share it with Bailey.
I sigh, watching Manhattan slip past as we cruise along FDR Drive, missing my friend more than ever.