Page 88 of Savage Suit
“Fuck, Nick, shut the fuck up, dude,” Nathaniel said at my growl. Even to my own ears, I sounded like a mad dog. “Noah’s going to kill you.”
“Fire her,” Nicholas said coldly, “or I swear I’ll tell the world it wasn’t her bitch of a sister who fucked you, but Ryan herself. I’ll call an emergency meeting and present the other qualified candidates you passed on.”
Animosity aside, I’d never felt one way or the other about Nicholas. Definitely not the hatred flowing through me. It vibrated through me like a call to arms. I couldn’t think beyond Ryan’s pain and humiliation, captured for the world to see. I was livid. With Ingrid Warrington. Nicholas. Jose. Megan, Reid, Tina, and myself. Especially myself. I should never have given Ryan the job. It was too much for her, left her exposed and vulnerable. I intended to fire her, but it wasn’t Nicholas’ call, so I refused to give the asshole the satisfaction of my agreement. “Back off, Nicholas, or I’ll reveal your fucking affair with Megan to the board and the world.”
His shock was my reward for keeping the information to myself. “You’d humiliate my wife to have your fucking way?”
I barked a laugh. “The fucking irony. You’d humiliate Ryan for the same reason. No, excuse me. You’d humiliate her to satisfy your fucking vengeance, so choose, motherfucker. Revenge on me or protection of your wife’s pride. Who, might I remind you, is already aware that you fucked Megan Buford.”
Nicholas choked “Did Tina tell you?” he demanded.
“No,” I said coldly. “No one told me. It’s my fucking company and as unfortunate as it is, you’re my brother. It’s my duty to know. By the way, I hired Ryan because of her talent. Her portfolio is in the company files. Our relationship is strictly professional. Before you make a bigger ass of yourself and open yourself to a lawsuit by defaming her character, get your fucking facts straight.”
“If you haven’t fucked her, you want to,” he declared.
“Untrue.” Any more than the one word might’ve revealed the lie.
“I don’t believe you.”
“I don’t give a fuck.”
“Nicholas, back off,” Nathaniel said. “You’re out of line on so many levels. Talking about an employee with such disrespect and in front of other employees. So what if Noah is hooking up with this Ryan chick? She’s fucking gorgeous.”
I frowned at him, but he ignored me.
“If she wants him too and Noah is finally happy, why would you want to block that?”
Nathaniel’s words surprised me, and I blinked at the reproach and concern in his voice. Yet he didn’t notice, still focused on Nicholas.
“Happy?” he scoffed. “Noah? He’s spent almost two-thirds of his life mourning a dead woman. It doesn’t matter who pitches pussy at him. He’s nothing but a miserable boy, haunted by a mother whose death he caused. If he hadn’t whined for her to come home, she wouldn’t have gotten on that fucking plane. She’d still be alive. Her blood’s on his hands. He’d already stolen her love from us. Karma repaid him by taking her from him.”
Bitterness gleamed in Nicholas’s eyes, but his words pinned me to my spot. We stared at each other, all the ugliness once again out in the open, poisoning any strides we’d made in the last few years.
“Noah, we need to talk among ourselves,” Nathaniel whispered. “Tell the men they aren’t fired, then make them leave. Fuck, you should thank them. They saved you from more bad press and murder charges.”
The words dragged my attention away from Nicholas, and I nodded. Nathaniel was right. “Jose, gentlemen,” I began, turning to them, surprised to see at least a dozen men in my office. I hadn’t realized so much security followed us. “I spoke prematurely. Thank you for seeing to my well-being. Your jobs are secure. Expect bonuses. Please adhere to the NDAs you signed upon your hiring. You’re dismissed for the evening. Jose, before you go, call Reid and have him send Ryan to me. Inform Wilbur I am not ready to leave.”
I sounded like an automaton. Emotionless. Robotic. I needed to see Ryan, but knowing I intended to fire her left me hollow inside.
“I’ve already called Mr. Reid and Wilbur, Mr. Keegan,” Jose said, his concern directed at me as surprising as Nathaniel’s.
“Thank you,” I said, hiding a grimace as his worry turned into astonishment. I thanked no one for following my orders. Fuck. Ryan would hand me my ass on a platter. Again.
Once the others left, Jose turned toward the door, but I wanted to be a man Ryan admired. “Jose, tell—” I searched my brain for his wife’s name. I’d met her several times at company events. At his expectant look, I cleared my throat, relieved when her name popped into my head. “Say ‘hello’ to Noella for me.”
He smiled. “Yes, sir, Mr. Keegan, sir. Will do. See you in the morning.” He left me alone with my brothers.
“Get out.” Seeing Nathaniel’s shoulders droop made me amend my order. “Get the fuck out,Nicholas.” Turning, I stalked to my desk.
“You want her,” Nicholas spat, still hoarse from my near strangulation, but otherwise unscathed.
“What if he does?” Nathaniel demanded.
“Shut the fuck up, Nate,” Nicholas said. “You’re an irresponsible piss ant. You’re not part of the company, because you’re too fucking stupid. You have the brain of a fucking rock.”
Nathanielwasirresponsible, but he was also so much gentler than Nicholas and I combined. I disagreed with his impulsive decision to marry his pregnant girlfriend, yet it was out of honor. Misplaced or not. Seeing the hurt in Nathaniel’s eyes at Nicholas’ words didn’t help my fucking mood. “Nate is careless, but he isn’t stupid, asshole. He’s good with numbers and he’ll have a lot to offer if he gets his act together. Stop insulting him, Nicholas. Out of the two of you, you’re the fucking moron. I’ve told you to get the fuck out of my office twice and yet you’re still here.”
Nicholas threw me a dark look, while Nathaniel’s was grateful.
