Page 21 of Inarticulate

Instead, I tried to make it up to you through touch—the only thing I seemed to excel at when it came to us. I could’ve told you there was no need to be quiet. The house was vacant, but establishing a level playing field was an opportunity I couldn’t deny. And what I had planned didn’t require conversation. I wanted your body, not your words. Your acquiescence, not your intrigue. Most of all, I wanted you to experience passion from my perspective. To strip the sensations down to pure carnality. Devoid of placating dribble and nonsensical dialogue.

I wanted you and me and nothing else.

Only something happened to me that night. I didn’t like it, nor did I want to allow it. You wove your delicate fingers around my consciousness and still haven’t let go.

I need to see you. I need to explain. Please message me back and let me know you’re receiving my messages.

Keenan

Chapter Nine

Savannah restedher elbows on the tiny suite desk and tried to pretend the bedside clock wasn’t glaring at her from the other side of the room. Today was meant to be a day of rest. Instead, her Sunday had been filled with panicked phone calls from staff and impromptu meetings with management to discuss how to handle the latest Grandiosity bombshell.

Evidently, Pennydidwork on weekends.

Savannah spared one last glance over her shoulder at the bedside clock—7:25 p.m.—then sighed as she swung back around to re-read the email sitting unsent on her laptop.

To all Seattle Rydel staff,

Earlier this afternoon I became aware of concerns from employees regarding interview requests from Grandiosity. Please be advised this is a normal part of the changeover process.

Although I wasn’t informed that you would be contacted, it’s your future employer’s right and obligation to prepare you for the transition into their team. This should not be considered an interview to fight for your employment, no matter how the correspondence was worded. As previously discussed, the security of your job was promised in the sale of the Rydel Seattle property.

I believe the interview is merely to establish a relationship between you and Grandiosity and to help pave the way to an informed future.

If you still have concerns, please feel free to contact me at any time.

Kind regards,

Savannah Hamilton

Her finger hovered over the send button, shaking. There was no doubt in her mind that Penny had sent the email in retaliation for last night. And it was entirely unacceptable. These employees had children and mortgages. They had bills to pay and family members to support. They also had guests depending on them to provide a hospitable environment.

Panic was expected. It was inevitable and exactly what Penny set out to achieve. All Savannah could do was work harder to soothe the uncertainty and hope her assurances wouldn’t turn out to be lies.

As stated in the contract for sale, Grandiosity had to retain all incumbent staff. However, they would all be placed on a three month probation period. What happened during that period was out of Savannah’s control.

She peeked over her shoulder again, still irked by the clock. 7:28 p.m. Last night, she decided meeting Keenan for dinner was a bad idea. It didn’t matter that she could still feel his touch in the darkness as she tried to sleep. It didn’t change her mind when she woke up from erotic dreams of him. And this morning, Penny’s drama had cemented the reasons for not going.

Only now she was searching for excuses to go back on her decision.

His smirk haunted her every time she closed her eyes. When she licked her lips, they tingled with memories. She pictured him in the restaurant, alone, suave and dripping with confidence. The thought of disappointing him made her itch.

“Damn him.”

She scrolled through her inbox, reading all the subject headings from terrified staff who feared for their future. It wasn’t right. Penny shouldn’t have this amount of control. And she certainly shouldn’t use it to intimidate Savannah on a personal level.

“Damn her. Damn her. Damn her.”

She pushed to her feet and faced the bed. The alarm clock changed before her eyes—7:32 p.m. She wasn’t even dressed. Her hair was in a messy bun and she didn’t have any make-up on. But if she met Keenan she could grill him for information on Grandiosity and Penny’s authority as the CEO’s assistant. The dinner could be used for business purposes. Meeting with him could give her insight to help smooth the sale transition.

It was in her employees’ best interest for her to go…

“You’re insane,” she grated through clenched teeth and ran for the shoebox sized cupboard in the hall. She yanked a long-sleeved dress from a coat hanger, thigh-high stockings, a black jacket, and shiny pumps from the floor. By the time she was dressed it was 7:38 p.m.

Make-up took another ten minutes. She was going to be late. Really late.

She didn’t bother with jewelry; she wasn’t dressed to impress, anyway. It was business, after all. Business, business, business, even though the palpitations of her heart said otherwise. She tugged on her heels, snatched her clutch from the bedside table, and chanced another glimpse at the clock. 7:55 p.m.

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