Page 14 of Savage Suit

I frowned at his emphasis on ‘Ms.’ “Thank you.”

I punched floor twelve’s button inside the elevator, still puzzling over the guard’s reaction.

It almost seemed he’d been expecting a…holy shit.

A ludicrous possibility hit me. Could it be they didn’t know I was a woman? I’d checked my sex off on my application, so they must know.

Right?

My heartbeat increased, and I wrestled my nerves under control. Noah Keegan couldnotsee how he intimidated me because of a silly rumor. In modern-day America, he would’ve faced numerous lawsuits if he rejected hires based on gender, so it couldn’t be true.

The reminder calmed my nerves a little.

“Floor twelve,” the robotic monotone announced as the elevator stopped too soon. I wasn’t entirely composed yet.

I stepped out of the elevator, and the large, cheery room instantly eased my fears. The Noah Keegan of rumor wouldn’t allow the yellow walls or the four English Ivy. One sat on the large walnut desk, the other on the table in the middle of the waiting area, and one on each end table, which stood on either side of the wall and sat between four chairs.

“May I help you?”

I looked over my shoulder.

A petite woman with a blonde pixie cut and dressed in a calf-length sedate gray serge suit stood behind me, a long, dimly lit corridor in the background.

Smiling, I turned. “I’m Ryan Hagen. Mister Keegan is expecting me for an interview.”

Her porcelain skin turned paler. “You! You’re Hagen?” she asked slowly, as if she didn’t want to face the inevitable.

I shifted my briefcase to my other hand, the weight of my purse hanging on my shoulder suddenly as heavy as lead. Exasperation combined with my returning unease. “Is there a problem, Ms…?”

“Mikes.Mrs.Mikes. Mister Keegan’s secretary,” she supplied, pity warring with apprehension in her blue eyes.

“Ms. Hagen—” She stopped and pursed her lips.

I eyed her, noting the silver wedding band on her left finger. “Say what’s on your mind, Mrs. Mikes,” I said gently, not wanting to upset her. Unfortunately, I had a nasty habit of snapping at anyone in the path of any emotional distress I experienced. Hence, me taking up yoga. And relaxing music. And Zen spaces.

I’d heard weed worked wonders too, but I hadn’t gotten that desperate yet. Marijuana is legal now in many places, including New York State. Still, I’d never enjoyed being under the influence of anything except champagne. It was such a weakness I’d created a bucket list of vintages to experience.

The silence stretched as tautly as my nerves. The secretary’s delay heldmeup, guaranteeing my tardiness. Hopefully, my almost boss would understand his employees were partly to blame for my extreme lateness. “Mrs. Mikes?”

“Please forgive me, Ms. Hagen. I’ll show you to Mr. Keegan’s office.”

I followed Mrs. Mikes down the long, twisty hallway with an array of doors and arches, frowning at more abstract paintings hanging on the walls between the many entrances. I preferred Impressionist works and had never been able to make sense of abstract art. But maybe I just wasn’t creative enough to get it.

“Here we are,” Mrs. Mikes said at the end of the hallway. She retrieved a ring of keys from her jacket pocket. Unlocking the heavy wooden door, she opened it and placed her hand inside the room. In seconds, light illuminated the office.

“Excuse me for a moment, Ms. Hagen,” she said, leaving me alone without waiting for a reply.

I clenched my teeth at the hi-tech, sophisticated elegance. The furniture—black, sleek, and devoid of warmth—stood boldly out from the austere gray décor.

It wasn’t long before Mrs. Mikes returned and used a remote control to open the draperies.

“Ms. Hagen, I’m afraid Mister Keegan has been unavoidably detained. He asked me to extend his apologies and request you to be kind enough to wait.”

“I don’t have a choice if I want the interview, Mrs. Mikes,” I answered, annoyed and disappointed. “Of course, I’ll wait.”

On the bright side, I would have time to control the butterflies in my stomach.

“Thank you, Ms. Hagen. Please make yourself comfortable.” Mrs. Mikes grimaced as she vacated the office and closed the door behind her.