Page 191 of Savage Suit

Noah didn’t protest, but he was still ashen, hurt, and vulnerable.

My big, strong, arrogant man hid a wealth of pain. But he was good and kind, so very misjudged. Silent, he went to the cart with the forgotten ice and grabbed a plastic bag hidden on the second shelf. He scooped ice into the bag.

Reid released a breath. “Do you need me to clarify any section of the contract?”

Just as promised, he’d had it sent to me so I could read and review it at my leisure. “I glanced at it. Everything’s there. The clauses with the bonuses, my salary, all the perks. It’s easy to understand, so I can’t think of any questions.”

Noah carefully moved the chair where my leg rested, so he could sit and put my leg across his lap. He studied my knee for long moments, and I wondered what went through his head. I regretted not signing the contract. He still could’ve fired me since there was a clause for that, too. Yet all the benefits for me felt unfairly bloated. Except I didn’t know what had been in the original document. I’d never received a copy and I’d been too busy working on what I’d been hired to do to remember to ask about it.

“Did you read all of it?” Reid pressed.

I dragged my gaze away from Noah. “The thing’s twenty-five pages, Reid.” Okay, I exaggerated. “I read the first five and reviewed the signature pages to make sure everyone had signed.”

Noah wrapped one of the kitchen towels around the bag of ice and settled it on my knee.

“Ryan—” Reid started.

“Oh,” I interrupted, smiling tenderly at Noah. He returned it, and I wanted to hug and kiss him so badly. “I almost forgot to mention I need an emergency passport.” I dragged my eyes away from Noah to look at Reid. “Channing Powers called me. The Amages have moved the meeting to Paris. A week from today.” I couldn’t keep the happiness out of my voice. I giggled at the shock on Reid’s face. “I know, right? Me? On a business trip. The Sauncier guy is getting there on Sunday to wine and dine them. We’re all getting suites. At the Ritz. In Paris. Claude and Channing want me to have dinner with them next Wednesday in their suite—”

Noah shot to his feet, knocking over the chair, and allowing my leg to drop to the floor. “Get that motherfucker on the phone.”

I didn’t know if he spoke to me, Mrs. Mikes, Reid, or Nicholas.

He stared at me, face red and eyes wild. “Now, Ryan!” he ordered. “You’re out of your fucking mind if you believe I’ll allow you to go on a business trip at all, butthey’refucking insane if they think you’ll have dinner in their suite.”

“The only one who’s insane is you, Noah,” Nicholas snapped. “You want the fucking account? She’s going to the dinner and the meeting.”

“Get the fuck out of my face,” Noah said, turning to his brother. “You came and showed me the footage of Ryan. Your job’s done. Go back to your office.”

“Reid, get Ryan’s passport,” Nicholas said, stepping to the elevator and pressing up on the call button.

“I’ll break every bone in your fucking body,” Noah swore, sending Reid an ugly look.

“We have spent thousands of dollars because of Amage. You’re fucking seeing it through or I’m not signing off on the KeeTel deal.” Nicholas glared at me, then threw Noah a disgusted look as he stepped onto the elevator. “The terms you gave Zocale benefit Keegan Enterprises. In other words,you,as majority shareholder. The rest of us get scraps, so fuck you.” The doors closed.

“You hired me for this, Noah,” I said, trying to stay calm and pretending he hadn’t talked down to me and treated me like a child. It wouldn’t help to have everyone fired up. “Nothing is going to happen to me. Channing promised that he and Claude would give me tips.”

He choked, as if I spewed filth.

“I thought you’d be happy,” I said, bewildered. “Channing’s even willing to sign off onLa Nostalgie. I need your approval on the box design first and—”

“Fuck Amage. FuckLa Nostalgie. You’re not fucking going. There’s going to be no one for you to meet because I’m going to fucking kill Claude and Channing.”

“Dramatic, much?” I huffed, rolling my eyes. “I’m getting very fucking insulted you think so little of me. You’re implying I’d fuck them.” Why else would he threaten to kill them? He’d shed his mien of a dignified businessman and transitioned into a jealous fucking boyfriend.

“Why the fuck do you think they invited you to their suite, Ryan?” he sneered. “For dinner and conversation?”

“Yes!” I snapped, wishing I could stand and stomp to my office. “I’m assuming they’re smart enough not to try anything, because I could sue them for sexual harassment. I know you aren’t fond of either of them, but you’re going overboard, so—”

“I hate those motherfuckers.”

“If that’s the only reason you’re acting this way, then that’s ayouproblem.”

“It isn’t,” he gritted. “The problem is you. Working. Risking your fucking life. Not listening to me and being a naïve little fool.”

I gasped and got to my feet, ignoring the pain and the falling ice pack. “Women work every fucking day, Noah. Business trips are where we go. We make presentations. We have dinner with businessmen. When it’s done, we go home to our families.”

“No. You’re out there, vulnerable to ruthless motherfuckers and overzealous reporters. You’re in here, stressing out over details for briefs, campaigns, and budgets. In one fucking morning, you’ve been hurt, and you’ve made an appointment to fuck,” he said coldly. “Go home, Ryan. You’re fired.”