Page 73 of Savage Suit

My original experience with him tainted my views and made me wonder if an actual emergency had arisen. Yet, I was concerned, too. From what I gathered, he didn’t place much above his job, so his angry departure alarmed me.

Finished with the pasta, she rested her fork on the empty plate and daintily dabbed at her mouth. “You and Noah seem very familiar with one another.” She opened her can of Coke and poured it into the glass.

That I had the same thought aboutherrelationship with him put me on alert. Perhaps jealousy motivated her hot-and-cold treatment of me. On the other hand, she’d informed Billy of my identity and asked him to get my omelet when she could’ve remained silent.

“I had an interview with him a few days ago,” I revealed.

She sipped her Coke. “I see. What happened the first time you were here?”

“He kept me waiting five hours.”

“Now I understand all the unusual bonuses built into your contract. You couldn’t pass up what he’s offering.” She tittered. “I’d be open to a little bribery as well.”

Unusual bonuses? Noah mentioned bonuses for each milestone I made. To me, that wasn’t out of the ordinary. “What are you—”

“Amage is notoriously difficult to handle,” she went on, talking over me. “So, of course, your bonuses look good on paper, but earning them will be a problem for you.”

Her mocking glint revealed her real feelings about me. If I asked her to explain what she meant, her derision would only grow. The warm smile and cheery invitation to eat was nothing more than a ploy to lull me into a false sense of friendship.

“Reid tells me Noah ordered him to invite Ingrid Warrington to the press conference. At your urging.”

“Yes,” I said with a nod, uneasy at her hardened tone. “Why bar her? She should be here to ask any questions she might have.”

She leaned forward. “You’re a naïve little fool. That woman is going to rip you to pieces and Keegan Enterprises along with it.”

With so much hostility around me and Megan’s executive position in the hierarchy, I ignored her name calling. No one would goad me into insubordination or any other misstep. Only Noah had that power; he frustrated me to the extreme. Besides, he’d elevated me to this position. I’d only allow him to topple me. I cleared my throat. “Noah wouldn’t have given the go-ahead if inviting Ingrid wasn’t a wise move.”

“Mr. Keeganis drowning in grief, and he has been for a very long time,” she snarled. “His brothers are assholes, and his father was as cold-blooded as a fictional villain. Noah wants to honor his mother. Period. He sees you as a stopgap to that awful article until the furor abates. He isn’t thinking clearly, so he’d agree to any suggestion.” Her eyes narrowed. “Unless there’s another explanation?”

Either her implication I fucked Noah for the position shocked me silent or the promise to myself to protect my place in the company. Otherwise, I would’ve muttered more than, “Excuse me?”

She pressed her lips together, blinked, and heaved in a breath. “That was unworthy of me. Forget the insinuation.” She rearranged her hair to cascade over one shoulder. “Noah hates drama. If he learned of our spat, I would be written up and you’d be subjected to immediate termination.”

Her embellished account would paint me in the worst possible light.

“What did you think of Ingrid’s piece?” she asked, in complete control of her anger and dislike.

She was baiting me.

“Well.” It took a moment to collect myself and play her duplicitous game. “The article was eye-opening, but unsurprising. I’d drawn the same conclusions beforehand.”

“Is it your intention to sabotage Keegan Enterprises? Is that why you insisted that woman attend?”

“Of course not!” My voice was firm but cordial. “Why would I bite the hand that feeds me?”

“As far as I know, you haven’t been fed yet.”

Anger sweeping through me, I stiffened. “Megan, you think I’ve slept with Noah to get the job.”

“Jobs—” she spat.

“Jobs,” I echoed sweetly. “That isn’t true, so please refrain from spreading such a malicious rumor. My resumé, body of work, and my job performance at T.S. Marketing got me here. I have never, and will never, have an intimate relationship with Noah.” My regret was beside the point.

“As if he’d fuck someone likeyou.”

Oh, no, this bitch didn’t. I could take the comment many ways, but she forged on.

“Both Tina and I released statements refuting Ingrid’s claims, but the public is firmly on her side. Our Kee-Tel stocks are still down on the market. Your confirmation of that article will be the death knell for Keegan Enterprises’ publicly traded subsidiaries.”