Page 58 of Savage Suit
“I don’t know much about advertising, so I can’t estimate how busy you will be, but this might be the only time for a while to celebrate. You deserve a toast, honey. C’mon, don’t disappoint this country boy.”
“You’re so full of shit.” Suddenly, I looked forward to a night out to commemorate my feat. Somehow, I’d gotten hired at Keegan Enterprises. Reasons didn’t matter. My foot was in the door, and I intended to kick that bitch down. “Fine. You win, good sir.”
“Pick you up at eight,” Ian said, his smugness clear.
“Sounds like a plan. Now say goodbye so I can prepare for our date.”
“Sure thing, babe. But you’re gorgeous and we have five hours between now and the time I see you.”
“We’re celebrating, right? I want to look special.”
“Well, then, darlin’, who am I to stand in your way?”
“Exactly, so bye!”
“Bye, beautiful.”
For the first time in months, I felt carefree and lighthearted. Ian was right. I needed a break. The last time I’d enjoyed myself was at the masquerade ball over two months ago. I would make the most of the evening with Ian.
It was so fucking awful how we overlooked the good guys in favor of fucking assholes. Except, in my defense, I had no one else.
That Noah had a MacBook Pro and a Dell Alienware delivered to my door a few hours after I left his office meant nothing except he was a good boss.
Instead of opening the boxes at once, I’d opted on texting. I’d gotten his cell phone number from the card he’d given to me and messaged my thanks to him. His response had been almost immediate.
It’s almost midnight. You could’ve thanked me at a reasonable hour.
Embarrassment had warmed my cheeks at his rebuke. I’d decided against responding. His answer deflated me, so I’d set the boxes on my coffee table, intending to sleep. Before the laptops arrived, I’d been pouring over the physical files, wishing for a glass of wine. Wishing, too, I hadn’t been so fucking stupid and left the money Noah offered on his table.
There was pride.
And there was raging, stinking stupidity.
The ringing doorbell had interrupted my attention on the files and my anger at being a dumb bitch. Receiving the unexpected items stopped me from berating myself and appeared to be an extraordinary gesture. Instead, he’d only been an employer supporting an employee.
A bout of overwhelming sadness hit me, but another text from Noah lifted my spirits.
Why did you wait so long to text?
Wait? What did he mean?
They didn’t arrive until five minutes before I texted you.
WHAT? You were supposed to have them by the time you arrived home.
I stared at his words and broke into peals of laughter. Before typing words, I sent him ten LOL emojis.
You’re laughing at me?
Yes! Even THE Noah Keegan can’t order such high-end laptops delivered in such an abbreviated time.
Good night, Ms. Hagen.
His terse response left me hollow. His signals were so fucking mixed I’m surprised my head wasn’t spinning like that girl from The Exorcist.
Scowling, I’d simply responded,Good night, sir.
Of course, he’d wanted the last word.
