Page 192 of Savage Suit

“You’re a fucking insecure, untrusting asshole,” I yelled. “You don’t care how important this is to me. What a sense of accomplishment I feel. It doesn’t bother you I have dreams of a seven-figure bank account. It’s all about you.”

He stared at me, the man I’d met at my first interview, not the man I thought him to be. I saw nothing but cold distance in his eyes. “Your career is that important to you, Ms. Hagen?”

I lifted my chin, refusing to show him how devastated I was, how my dream of a future with him was so short-lived. “Yes, Mr. Keegan.”

“Then choose. Your career and your fucking bank account. Or…” His voice trailed off.

Before he finished the sentence, I knew what he’d say. I shook my head. “Don’t do this, Noah,” I said, desperate. “Please.”

He swallowed. “Choose, Ryan. Your career and your money. Or me.”

The past few days without Ryan had been excruciating, and I’d been counting the hours until I was back in town. I’d had every intention of heading to her apartment. We had an exceedingly difficult conversation ahead. Instead, by the time my plane landed, Kee-Tel executives wanted another amendment, placing all our strides and compromises in jeopardy, so I’d gone straight to the office, thus winning a reprieve. Losing Ryan would be inevitable. She wouldn’t care I’d fucked another woman because I was drunk off my ass. It would be that it happened in the first place and with her bitter enemy.

After a long conference call, I’d slept for a couple hours on the couch in my office. Upon awakening, I’d grabbed a quick shower in my private bathroom and put on clean clothes.

By the time Nicholas stormed into my office to show me a clip of the back of Ryan as she ran, I was just finishing a breakfast sandwich Billy had made for me. Observing the chase horrified me but her crumpling out of view almost stopped my heart. I’d feared she would be trampled. The clip ended when she’d stood and limped forward.

Nicholas said he’d gotten the video from a photographer friend who’d alerted him to what had happened. My brother hadn’t understood my panic or my anger, since she’d seemed to be well enough to drive off. When I asked what the fuck happened to her security, he’d said they had CE classes, per our requirements, to remain part of the building safety team. He’d also pointed out I hadn’t made them her permanent detail, so company protocol was followed.

I was fucking exhausted, missing Ryan, worried about her, and even less tolerant of Nicholas’s bullshit. If Reid hadn’t walked into my office, the argument between Nicholas and me might’ve turned into another fight. I needed to talk to Reid about Megan. I was angry my cousin had turned his back on her and ashamed of my own behavior. Even if I didn’t remember the details. When Nicholas awakened me, Megan and I had both been naked and wrapped around each other. He’d been as disgusted by my behavior as me. Because I was running late, he'd taken it upon himself to check on me.

He'd said I’d given the front desk permission to have my door unlocked. Though their timeline was a little off, the staff had verified my brother’s account. Once he saw me to Zokale, he’d found lodgings for Megan then headed to the airport.

Reid came to my office to request the go ahead to deposit the money into Ryan’s account, but she hadn’t mentioned the contract to either of us. I suspected she’d given it a cursory glance. She wanted a seven-figure bank account, so she’d get it. But it was best to tie that money into her work, even if it came from my personal funds. I wanted her to read the fucking contract before I approved the transfer. We’d just gotten a plan together when Curtis called and said he’d spotted Ryan on a security camera. Limping, he’d said. I’d ordered Rosa to find a doctor who could come and check her out.

At some point, a few photos of the incident were leaked, and the phones went wild. Then Billy called and told me Ryan needed ice and was finally on her way up.

I’d ordered him to get his ass to the reception area and stalked out of my office to wait for her. Nicholas paced, Reid and Billy waited, and Rosa managed the phones.

Finally, Ryan had hobbled off the elevator. In my entire life, I’d never felt so many emotions—relief, longing, fury, desire, and fear. Her lack of makeup took nothing away from her beauty. Her golden skin remained flawless, silky-soft and enticing. Her eyelashes were still long and thick, her lips pink and kissable.

Her voice had been a little strained and slightly tired sounding. Yet she’d been just as vibrant as ever, while the moment she’d fallen played on repeat in my head. Somehow, she had eased my concern. I’d stood down, and not fired her to keep her safe.

Then she’d hit me with Channing’s invitation. Of course, she wouldn’t understand my feelings abouteverything, especially that fucking dinner, but she knew my mother had been killed in a plane crash, returning from a business trip. She knew Channing Powers was a fucking snake and Claude Amage a fucking lizard. She’d met both. So, she understood why I told her she couldn’t go. To her, it was a personal affront. She wasn’t looking at the fact that I, her boss, was giving her orders. No matter how we tried not to let our private relationship infringe on our working one, it did.

And it wouldn’t fucking work.

She’d been so excited about going on a business trip and staying in a suite at the Ritz. She’d expected me to congratulate her and share her happiness. The hurt in her eyes at my behavior made me feel like the lowest motherfucker alive.

But she wouldn’t compromise, and I couldn’t.

I wanted her to care about me, trust me enough, choose me, and damn her career. I wanted her to understand me enough to know my unhinged response had deep roots.

Tears slipped down her cheeks. I looked away.

“So many things from your past affect you now,” she said, so miserable my heart ached. “I…tell me why you feel so strongly about…about…” Sniffling, she swiped at her wet cheeks. “I know why you don’t want me to travel. You can come with me, Noah. If it puts your mind at ease.” She met my gaze. “Tell me why you’re so furious over Channing’s invitation.”

The explanation she deserved and would lend clarity to the situation was one I couldn’t give. Protecting my mother was the main reason. However, confiding such a traumatic event to Ryan to bend her to my will was emotional blackmail. She deserved better than that.

Ideserved better.

“Something,” she pleaded. “Anything.”

“Is it not enough I’ve told you the invitation is to fuck you?”

“You don’t like Claude and you don’t like Channing. Admittedly, they’re both assholes. Yet, you’re still doing business with them, so I see no reason you’re so set against this meeting and private dinner. If I were a man, you wouldn’t give a fuck.”

“You’re fucking right I wouldn’t,” I snapped. “You’re not. You’re a beautiful, desirable woman, and they will use that. If you want the fucking contract, you’ll have to fuck them.”