Page 105 of Savage Suit

“I’m up,” Ryan blurted. “Fuck.” I heard a whoosh. “Fuck off, Quinn. I sat up so abruptly, I almost fell out of the fucking bed. My pillow feels extra comfy with my head on it again.”

“I think Megan is the catalyst behind what Ingrid Warrington said about Mama and Daddy.”

“In my heart, I think you’re right,” Ryan said, sadness in her voice.

“Tell Noah. I told Reid.”

“No.”

“But—”

“We could be wrong,” Ryan interrupted. “If you’re basing your conclusion on Ingrid looking at her phone or Megan losing her color after my praise, it might be coincidence.”

“Stop making excuses and defending her. What the fuck is wrong with you?”

“Besides sleep deprivation?”

“Where the fuck is my sister?” Quinn said, ignoring Ryan’s response.

“I’m not making excuses for either of them, honey,” Ryan said. “I’m being practical. From a personal standpoint, what took place was a travesty. If it is untrue, we can sue. From a professional perspective, Keegan Enterprises doesn’t have the luxury of losing Megan Buford.”

“You’re an employee, not a fucking shareholder. Your concern is an account for Keegan Media Group. Keegan Enterprises as a whole—”

“Is losing millions every day after Ingrid’s article. I arrived on my first day with no small amount of hubris. Hell, I accepted the job with an inflated self-importance, believing I could be the voice of the women in the company and bring in more women. The women are status quo, as much a problem as the men. Maybe that’s what I lost today. The illusion of my opinion mattering, and they would see me as important and respected.”

“Respect is earned, Ry,” Quinn said softly. “It’s one fundamental of life you’ve preached to me.”

“Basic respect as a fellow human, a fellow woman, shouldn’t be. It is supposed to be a tenant of life. Anyway, my love, we aren’t getting into a philosophical debate at almost three in the morning. Keegan Enterprises, KMG, Kee-Tel, all the many other subsidiaries, and Noah, can’t afford to lose anyone right now. Especially Megan, Tina, or Mrs. Mikes. If I’m let go in the next week, that fucking press conference will be cited, so ramifications will be minimal. Noah needs to focus on a major telecommunication deal for Kee-Tel. Any turnovers will pull his attention away. Besides those Amage brothers? I delved beyond all the documents given to me.Theyare the fucking assholes, especially Claude Amage. Jesus. Read over some of his past interviews. That motherfucker has it in for Noah, Quinn. It’s fucking personal. We all need to work as a team, stay in our lanes, to fucking beat Ingrid, Claude, and all other motherfuckers. As much as I want to know where Ingrid got her information, I don’t care right now. I was hired to win the fucking account and see his mother’s parfum on the market and that’s what the fuck I’m going to do. Megan’s intent to take my money is the only thing I’ll talk to anyone about. It’ll probably be Reid. Now that I’ve elucidated, will you let me go?”

“You should be wide awake by now,” Quinn complained.

“I’m not. You can’t imagine my exhaustion. I didn’t even change.”

“Slept with your man’s clothes on, huh?”

“He isn’t my man,” Ryan said sharply.

“Ummmhmmm.”

Silence fell again. One could only admire Ryan’s indulgence of Quinn, as annoying a younger sibling as I’d ever seen.

“I want details, Ryan.”

A little snore greeted the demand.

Quinn giggled. “Ryan!”she blared.

A thump came over the line. “Ouch, fuck!” Ryan grunted. “You scared the shit out of me.”

“You snored in my ear.”

“I fell out the fucking bed,” she snapped.

“Are you okay, Ryan?” Quinn asked in all seriousness.

“Yes. Fine.”

“Lovely. As I was saying, I want details.” Quinn winked at me. “Then I have something juicy to tell you.”