Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68743 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 344(@200wpm)___ 275(@250wpm)___ 229(@300wpm)
“Do you want backup?” he asked.
She swallowed hard. “That’s sweet but this is something I have to do myself.” Her mother needed to see she could stand on her own. “But I’m grateful for the offer.”
He nodded. “Any time.”
Or not.
She was well aware this was probably her last day or two staying with Asher. Once Meg and Lance were arrested, there was no reason for her to avoid her apartment. But leaving wasn’t something she wanted to bring up. She had enough weight on her shoulders without a confrontation about their relationship.
One thing at a time, she thought, as she stepped into the bathroom and shut the door. First, her mother. Maybe someday, Meg and Lance. And too soon, she’d have to say goodbye to Asher.
* * *
Nikki walked up to her parents’ door and rang the bell. She knew they were home because she’d called and spoken to the housekeeper, who answered the landline. She didn’t want to give her mother a heads-up about her arrival. Though she was angry with her father, she viewed him more as a pathetic man who allowed his wife to lead him around and dictate his moves, but her mother? She was the puppet master and Nikki had had enough.
To her surprise, her mother opened the door, and if the open-mouthed expression on her face was any indication, the housekeeper hadn’t given her a warning that her daughter was stopping by.
“Hello, Mother.” Without waiting for an invitation that might not be coming, Nikki brushed past her and strode inside.
Her mother shut the door behind her. “Nicolette, what are you doing here?”
“Because I wasn’t invited, you mean? Just like you couldn’t be bothered to acknowledge me in public?” Nikki caught sight of the family’s new-to-her housekeeper hovering at the end of the long hallway and inclined her head in greeting. “Do you want to have this conversation in private or where the help can hear?” she whispered that last part to the woman who cared what other people thought.
“Let’s take this in the study.” Collette walked in the direction of that room, and Nikki followed into the room with dark wood furniture, heavy drapes on the windows, and an imported Persian rug on the floor.
“I hope you’re not here expecting an apology, because surely you understand being seen with you isn’t good for your father’s potential campaign. We were with very important donors,” her mother said, her gaze raking over Nikki for the first time. “What are you wearing? Who goes out of the house in that?”
Nikki glanced down at her black yoga pants, fitted tank top, and white Chucks. She had no makeup on and her hair was up in a messy bun. The way most women walked around these days.
Nikki looked at her mother, wearing a Chanel skirt and jacket and equally expensive shoes, and said, “I’m wearing what I want. Now let’s go back to your first question about whether I’m expecting an apology. Not only do I not expect an I’m sorry, I don’t expect or want anything from you. Or Dad.”
Collette fingered the pearls around her neck, making Nikki wonder if her mother was nervous or just wanted this talk over with.
“Tell me something,” Nikki said. “Why did you have children? Did you look ahead, knowing you wanted to be First Lady, and realize that you needed the two kids and proverbial white picket fence?”
“I—”
Nikki waved a hand in front of her. “You know what? Never mind. Don’t answer that. I’m not even sure I care. I’m here to tell you I quit modeling.”
“You did what?” her mother’s voice rose in disbelief.
Nikki felt her heart beating wildly in her chest. Confrontation didn’t come easily, but she couldn’t be her own person if she didn’t get through this moment and then face the two people she hoped would be arrested soon.
“I. Quit. Modeling.” She repeated herself, feeling freer as she did. “I’d ask why you care what I do but I already have it figured out. You want what I do with my life to make you look good, and I’m done trying to please you when I’ve gotten nothing in return. Just know that you can’t control me anymore. You can’t brag about me when I perform to your liking and ignore me when I let you down, which, let’s face it, is more often than not.”
Her mother shook her head, disappointment oozing from her pores. “You never appreciated what your father and I gave you. The money we spent, the opportunities you had.”
Nikki shook her head and drew a deep breath, ignoring the nausea that threatened. “I could argue with you all day but there’s no point. Just know you didn’t give me the true things I needed from you. Your love and approval, and I’ve learned those are things I will never get. Not from you.”