Poppy rubbed her eyes as she shoved her laundry into the washing machine, closing it and turning it on. She walked into the living room, stopping short on her track at the news that suddenly came on the TV.
[TERRIFYING HOWLS IN THE NIGHT: CAMPERS CLAIM ENCOUNTER WITH UNKNOWN FOREST BEAST]
She creased her brows, amused. Forest beast, how funny. What kind of forest beast would suddenly appear? They probably came across some kind of animal, which wouldn't be a surprise. It was the forest after all.
She was all for the thrill and daring herself, but a forest or mountain was one place she would never give a try. Life was that sweet to her.
Taking a soft breath and shaking her head at the news, Poppy headed off to make herself something to eat before heading off to meet her patient, Mr. Winslow. The bastard had kicked out like some stray animal right after she made him a fine meal.
That was rude!
It didn't say in her contract she had to cook for him, but she still did, and he couldn't have been any nicer.
Clicking her tongue in annoyance, she went ahead to get ready, and in an hour or so, she was fully dressed, putting on her above-ankle white shoes that went well with the jean pants she wore. She buttoned up her shirt, grabbing her bag, and ruffling her fixing her round glasses properly onto her face.
Then she left her house and, but stopped at the store, where she usually bought her yogurt.
"Good morning, Mr. Robert," she waved, smiling at the owner of the store, a middle-aged man who gladly waved back at her.
"And how are you this morning, Poppy?"
"I'm alright, thank you." Poppy walked over to the shelf and smiled at the sight of two of the yogurts left. She picked it up and snorted at the sudden thought of Xavian.
Okay, maybe she should have given it to him then. He could have been dying for all she knew. That was quite petty of her.
Shaking her head, she paid for the yogurt and left the store to flag down a cab, but her phone suddenly began ringing. Poppy fished it out to see Cily's caller ID on the screen.
"Um…hello?"
"Oh hi, Poppy. I'm calling to let you know that you don't have to come in for work today."
She blinked. "What? But why? Am I fired?" The fear in her voice could be heard.
"Oh, no, no, of course not."
"Then, didn't I do a good job yesterday?"
"No, it's nothing like that. Your work was fine, Poppy. It's just that Mr. Winslow would prefer not to have visitors for today. You can come back to work in the next two days, alright?"
The call ended right after, and she stood staring at the screen of her phone. Why…didn't they send a notice at least very early this morning? It was freaking nine am.
Annoyed, she looked to the sky, gritting her teeth and wanting to scream. She could have sat back in her house and watched Netflix all day long if they had just informed her earlier, but now she was standing out here fully dressed for work.
Her gaze shifted to the yogurt, and she tossed it to the ground, marching it over and over again. "Stupid. Little. Product!"
"Boss…"
A voice pulled her out of thoughts. And when she lifted her head and blinked, her gaze dropped on a man approaching. A lean figure draped in a pair of fresh suits, his black hair tousled with a taper fade below, and a lighter in his grip.
Poppy's expression changed, darkening in an irritated manner.
"What are you doing here, Felix?"
The young man, Felix, didn't answer, eyeing her for a second before sighing and kicking the rock on the floor. "What exactly are you doing, boss? This is all bizarre, it has been from the very beginning."
"And what is that supposed to mean?" She narrowed her eyes on him, questioning in a very unpleasant tone.
"I think you and I know." Felix shrugged. "First you wasted your time on becoming a caregiver, and now, you're hired as a caregiver for who? Xavian Winslow." He took out a pack of cigarettes from the pocket of his slacks and lit one of them up, holding it between his teeth.
He inhaled and let out a puff, throwing his head back to stare at the sky. "What are you trying to do? Become normal?"
"Felix—"
"That's delusion, Boss. You can't run from what you are, ever. You can't try to be a normal woman after years of being trained for this by your parents. They set this part for you, you just refused to walk it. But it will never change the fact you're part of it, nothing's going to change that. Not getting a job like a normal person, doing a job like a normal person, having friends, and putting a smile on your face, it's never going to change a thing. At the end of the day, you'll come right back to the mafia, where you are needed, because they are waiting for you. So why don't we drop this and go back? You know this entire charade is dangerous."
Poppy stared at him, eyes as hostile as they could appear.
"Are you done?"
"You're never going to listen, are you?"
She stepped closer to him, popping her hands into the pocket of her knee-length coat. "I am normal, Felix. Just because my parents were in the mafia doesn't change that—"
"It does—"
"Don't interrupt me." She sighed, slanting her head. "Being a caregiver isn't a way of trying to be normal. I took my time on that job because I liked being a caregiver. I enjoy it, taking care of people who need it."
The man snorted a light laugh, shaking his head. "Enjoy taking care of people? You're amusing."
"Am I?" Poppy asked, not a trace of amusement on her face. "It's one thing that is mine, one thing that I worked for and earned. The one thing that was my own decision and not forced on me. Felix, I'm not your boss, and I'll never be. Tell them to find someone else, because I won't be replacing my parents. I don't belong to anyone and I'm not afraid of them. My life is here, and I assure you that I appreciate this simple life. Leave me alone, don't ruin it for me."
She fixed her glasses, shoving past him to leave, hands that were hidden inside her pocket, clenching tightly.
Felix stared at her figure as she stormed back into the convenience store, tired eyes surrounded by dark circles, falling shut.
"Run all you want, Poppy." He released a puff of smoke. "You'll eventually come back. A simple life isn't meant for you, was never meant for you."