Page 211 of Savage Suit
“Th-thank you.”
Feeling lost, I sat on the couch situated diagonally from the front desk. Two days ago, I’d had to run from Noah after he revealed Megan was pregnant by Reid. No wonder Quinn had been in such a state. Wilbur tried to stop me, but I’d ignored his call. Back at the motel, I’d cried half the day. By early evening, a massive headache compelled me to take a shower, where I came to a couple decisions. First, I’d send an email to my little sister after I dried myself and braided my hair. We needed to talk. Second, I had to send a formal resignation to Noah. I wasn’t sure what penalties I’d face for breaking the contract, though it didn’t matter becauseIwas broken. Nothing would ever be the same again.
When I’d pulled up my email, I’d ignored the dozens from Noah. Near the end of the long list of unanswered messages, I’d seen one from Graham Morgan, inviting me to his office to talk.
“Ryan?”
Swiping at a tear, I glanced in the direction of Graham Morgan’s voice. He wore gray trousers and a crisp shirt, sleeves rolled up. He was tall and beautiful, like Noah. Except he wasn’t so buttoned up. But one of the things I loved…had loved…about Noah how well he wore his designer suits.
As I stood, my legs wobbled. I shouldn’t have come. Graham was Noah’s friend and being in his presence wouldn’t ease my heartache.
“Come,” Graham commanded, not giving me a chance to decline.
Rich boys expected obedience. Today, I didn’t have it in me to thumb my nose at the dictates. I followed meekly. He waited until I stepped into his office to close the door. It was then I saw Soraya.
“Hi, Ryan.”
“Hi,” I mumbled, not angry. Not anything. Just there.
“Noah has been frantic,” Graham said, guiding me to a chair in front of his desk and encouraging me to sit. Soraya was already in the other one.
I licked my lips. “What do you know?” I asked, for some reason still wanting to protect Noah’s ratchet ass.
“Everything,” Graham responded. “About the videos you saw and the email you received.” His mouth tightened and anger wafted from him. “The one that inadvertently involved my wife.”
“Ryan, I had my reasons for going along with Quinn’s request,” Soraya said, then proceeded to explain her decision to agree to Quinn’s request.
“Thank you,” I said, snatching a tissue from Soraya and dabbing my wet cheeks. “You owed me no explanation and I really appreciate you giving me one.”
“We’re friends,” she said. “So, yes, I owed you an explanation.”
I sniffled and nodded.
Graham leaned back in his chair and pinned me with a look. “Is there anything we can do for you?”
“Turn back the hands of time so Noah could make a better choice.”
“Sometimes, there’s more to a story than meets the eye,” he told me.
“Video is irrefutable proof,” I said bitterly. “Nicholas showed me the videos because for whatever reason Megan sent them to him.”
“I know Noah, Ryan. If the indiscretion happened, there are extenuating circumstances.” Graham’s insistence annoyed me, but he ignored my glare and continued. “Noah is too self-possessed to lose such control.”
“Obviously, that’s not true!” I flared. “I know what I saw.” Images I couldn’t forget, especially Megan riding Noah’s mouth with such delight. A sob escaped me and I got to my feet, frantic to get away. “Soraya, thank you so much. I appreciate you clearing matters up.”
She stood too. When she placed her hand on her belly, I remembered her pregnancy. Before I could apologize for stressing her, she smiled. “Friends look after each other, Ryan.”
I could only nod. “Thank you, Graham.”
“I’ll have my driver drop you off at your hotel.”
I wanted to accept the offer, but I decided against it, afraid Noah might discover my location. The Morgans were lovely people who wanted Noah and me to work out our differences. They hadn’t said as much, but the insinuations had been clear. “Thank you, but I can’t.” My lips trembled. “I…how can I ever trust him again? He lied and had an affair. If I give him another chance, I’m asking for a life of misery and infidelity. I know you don’t understand—”
“I do,” Graham cut in quietly. “More than you know. My request that you hear Noah out doesn’t come lightly. If you knew my story, you’d get it.”
“I have to go.” Blindly, I hugged Soraya, turned, and rushed out of the office. The elevator took forever. When it arrived, I stumbled in and pressed the button for floor one.
As I walked outside and looked at the low clouds promising snow, Noah stepped out of the car parked in front of me on the curb. Seeing him in jeans and a long-sleeved pullover shocked me. One hand was bandaged, and his eyes were bloodshot. Despite everything, I soaked in his nearness, not knowing if I wanted to run the other way or straight into his arms.
