Page 142 of Savage Suit

Chapter Thirty-One

How should one feel after unknowingly fucking one’s boss? Since Tuesday night, the question plagued me.

My problem reminded me of a plot from a romance novel, except mine wasn’t guaranteed a happy ending. Work had been an absolute nightmare since I found out the truth about the masquerade ball. Being around Noah was just too awkward. Besides, it annoyed me he hadn’t told me about the night as soon as he found out.

As it was, I doubted he’d intended to tell me when he did. It had been a slipup. It didn’t matter. We’d hooked up, everyone knew but me, and no one thought I should know.

For the past few days, I’d avoided both him and Reid as much as possible. Thankfully, Megan remained on sick leave, so I didn’t have to deal with her.

Closing my eyes, I laid my hands against my yoga mat. “Ohhhmmmm,” I chanted, maneuvering from the wide leg forward bend position to revolved wide leg bend, trying to banish thoughts of Noah from my head. “Ohhhmmmm.”

After coffee this morning, I’d returned to my room to complete my once regular morning yoga routine. It had always given me a calming start to my day. Once I lost my job at T.S. Marketing, my focus had become survival.

Maybe because I hadn’t done yoga in a while or because Noah’s revelation overwhelmed me, today’s attempt to lower my stress wasn’t working. Vague memories of that night and thoughts of Noah and our more recent lovemaking made it exceedingly difficult to relax.

Conflicting feelings muddied my brain. I’d been hammered at the masquerade ball, and we weren’t yet boss and employee. Nor did we know each other’s identities.Andwe’d had sex again in his office. Somehow, though, our drunken hookup was so much worse. It painted me in such a poor light. Even if there was the minutest chance of a future between Noah and me, my irresponsible behavior might give him pause.

Huffing out a breath, I switched the arm supporting my weight, calling myself a thousand fools. I wasn’t the type of woman Noah looked for, my inappropriate behavior aside. We were just from different worlds.

I stayed in the revolved leg bend for another minute, then stood, rolled up my mat and placed it in the corner next to my desk. My brain refused to give me respite, so I pulled out my white desk chair with the fluffy gray pillow and sat.

Before I grabbed one notebook dedicated to calligraphy and my favorite calligraphy pen, banging on my door interrupted me.

I scowled, knowing it was Quinn. For days, I hadn’t answered her calls or her texts. Yesterday, she’d informed me she would come over if I insisted on ghosting her.

If I could have, I would’ve ignored her ass today. Instead, I huffed out a breath, jumped to my feet, and stomped to the door. When I threw it open, she rushed past me, not even allowing me the pleasure of slamming the door in her face.

Leaning against the open door and still holding the knob, I threw over my shoulder, “Get out.”

“No. Not until we talk about this. Besides, we need to resolve this before tonight’s dinner.”

Our monthly family get-together at Armani’s. “We can talk then.”

“I don’t want them in our business, Ryan. Do you?”

Fuck no. I didn’t want to hear what Quinn said right now, though. I’d spent most of the morning trying to calm down. I found another excuse. “We’ve discussed it, so there’s nothing more to say. You lied to me. I asked you point-blank if I’d slept with Noah—”

“No, you asked if you’d fucked a random stranger.”

“Who was Noah!” I flared. Unless I snatched her by the hair and dragged her ass out, she wasn’t leaving and having the door open only aired my dirty laundry to the neighbors. I slammed the door shut and turned to Quinn. “I’m never trusting you again.”

“When you called me Tuesday night with your accusations, I explained to you I-I-I f-found you alone.”

Glaring at her, I placed my fisted hands on my hips. “You’re a liar. D’you know how I know? Because you’re stuttering, long a hallmark of your dishonesty.”

“Have you considered I’m fucking stuttering because I’m scared you’re going to shut me out of your life? Maybe I’m looking for the right words to convince you of my truthfulness.” A little sob escaped her, and she swiped at the tears sliding down her cheeks.

No matter what, I hated to see my little sister cry, simply because she did it so rarely.

She sniffled. “You haven’t spoken to me in days. Do you think I’d risk losing you by lying?”

Did I? Quinn didn’t dissemble. She told it as it was and fuck anyone who didn’t like it. Walking to her, I pulled her into my arms and hugged her, then dragged her to the crowded sofa. After pushing files and recent purchases aside, we both sat.

“I think you know how I feel about that night,” I intoned. “And I think you know, not only did the alcohol affect me, but whatever drug Reid spiked the champagne with. You’d feel guilty for leaving me alone in such a state.”

Blinking back more tears, Quinn sniffled again.

“You know I’m unhappy you allowed Reid to fucking drug me,” I said tightly. “That was beyond irresponsible and will make it hard for me to trust you.”