One Night in New York

Chapter Nine

"No one has ever made himself great by showing how small someone else is"- Irvin Himmel. Isn't that the truth, Irvin? Connie was one of those people who needed to put others down in order to feel better about themselves. She had a strong dislike for me, perhaps even hatred, and I could feel it with every piercing glare. I tried to ignore her, I really did, but she made it difficult. I'd rather chew on glass than relive what happened at that table.

"So, what do you do, Natalie?" Connie asked, insincerely smiling at me.

I took a sip of my wine before I began, knowing where that conversation was headed, "Well, I am a receptionist for an up-and-coming fashion designer, Karen Marcum."

She couldn't stop herself. "A receptionist, that's nice," his mother said, clearly judging my line of work. "So you don't make much money, do you? So, how did you ever come across my Liam?"

Liam shot her an angry look, "Mother, seriously?"

Connie just shrugged her shoulders, "What? It's an honest question. You are a wealthy man, and you need to be careful about gold diggers."

My blood was boiling as I imagined myself reaching around Liam and smacking Connie. "Yes, I am a receptionist, but that is not my goal in life; I, too, design clothes, specifically women's suits, and I just have to get my big break," I quickly added.

His mother scoffed at my response as she continued to down her glass of wine. "How long have you been a receptionist?" she then asked.

"Well, three years now," I replied.

"Ha, three years. Honey, if you haven't made a name for yourself yet, it's probably not coming; it's best if you accept that and move on. It's a lucrative business, and not everyone is cut out to be designers; you should know that." Connie couldn't stop herself. I hoped she would choke on the verbal diarrhea that continued to spew from her mouth.

"Mother!" Alyssa and Liam quickly piped up at once.

"Have you forgotten that you would not be in this big beautiful home, living this lavish lifestyle if it wasn't for Liam? How can you sit here and judge her?" Alyssa seemed irritated by her mother's blatant disregard for me as she scolded Connie.

"Thank you, Alyssa! I knew I would like this girl," I thought.

"Mrs. Taylor, I am not using your son; I would still care for him if he lived in a small one-bedroom apartment or even with his parents. I know you don't like me, and I understand that, but I am not the horrible person you have imagined in your mind." I had to speak up or build it up and lash out later, which I didn't want. I had too much respect for Liam and the rest of his family to let that happen.

"Well, I know a gold digger when I see one," Connie added as she dug the imaginary knife deeper.

"Jesus, Connie, leave her alone. Liam has feelings for her, or he wouldn't have brought her home. Can't you be happy for your son?" Thomas quickly inserted.

Connie scoffed once more, "No."

I had had enough. I was not going to be humiliated and dismissed in front of all of these people and I refused to listen to her for another moment. Liam, Alyssa, and Andrew stood up alongside me, as the rest of their family and friends looked on, stunned by what had happened. As the other three followed close behind, I went to retreat to the living room.

Liam leaned toward his mother and quietly told her, "I love you, mother, but you had no right. You need to get off your high horse and remember where you came from."

I tried to hold back the tears, but they flowed like they were controlled by knobs, and someone turned on the faucet. I had never felt so embarrassed in my life, and I desperately wanted to leave that house.