Inarticulate

by Eden Summers

Keenan: What did she want?

  She began typing instantly. Penny threatened me to stay away from you… No, that was too dramatic. She deleted the words and then started again.

  Savannah: She wanted to talk about you.

  This time the response came within seconds.

  Keenan: What about me?

  There were numerous paths to take. The dramatic, dump-Penny-in-trouble route or the let’s-not-make-a-big-deal-out-of-this avenue.

  Savannah: She told me to stay away from you.

  Once the wait for a reply ticked into minutes, she began to pace. She should get back to work. At least show her face in the lobby so Kelly and Grant didn’t think she was up here playing with lingerie instead of doing her job.

  She palmed her cell, staring down at the device that had begun to run her life. Mr. Rydel wouldn’t approve. Spencer, Dominic, Penny, and even her mother would feel the same.

  She should spend her spare time sightseeing. Doing whatever Seattle people did for fun, instead of becoming obsessed with her experiences between the sheets that seemed to act like an addictive drug.

  The screen brightened and another message beamed up at her.

  Keenan: Do you plan on listening to her?

  She sucked in a breath.

  Savannah: Should I?

  Keenan: Probably.

  She waited for more. At least an explanation.

  Nothing came.

  Savannah: Is that what you want?

  Her stomach flipped as she pressed send. She wasn’t sure how she would react to an affirmative response. She didn’t want anything other than a glowing indication that she wasn’t the only one ignoring the wishes of the world.

  Keenan: You know it’s not.

  Maybe, but a girl deserved confirmation.

  Keenan: Nobody has ever affected me the way you do. Nobody. Ever. I leave you and within seconds I have to push myself not to turn back and go in search of you again. It might be a normal feeling for others, but for me it’s a first. And although I don’t have the experience to back it up, I think this uncomfortable, clingy sensation might be something normal people consider a good thing.

  What she wouldn’t give to see him right now. This very second. She had a million plans that involved kissing, licking, sucking. She’d assure him this was a good thing. She’d make him goddamn sure he knew the difference.

  Keenan: Too much?

  Never, she wanted to reply.

  Savannah: That’s a good enough reason for me.

  She pressed send again and this time her stomach flipped in excitement. They weren’t going to let her cousin ruin this. In fact, she wouldn’t let her cousin get away with it.

  Savannah: I think I should speak to Grandiosity about Penny. I can’t risk her causing more trouble for my employees.

  There was no delay this time; his reply came in seconds.

  Keenan: Let me talk to her. She’ll listen to me.

  Of course Penny would. They were close.

  A dull ache impeded every heartbeat, bringing with it a sixth sense of apprehension, and yes, jealousy, too.

  Keenan: Savannah? Let me talk to her, okay? I can smooth this over without involving more people.

  She re-read his messages, hating that it was the most logical strategy when her anger demanded blood. Trust was going to have to play a role in this thing between them. Anyway, it already did. Her reputation was in his hands, and at the moment, she was content to allow it.

  Savannah: Okay.

  She would step back and give him the opportunity to pull Penny into line. It was the best move for her, seeing as her position was already under scrutiny due to the condom heist and now the lingerie display.

  Distancing herself was the best option. She had to play it cool. Be careful. And most of all, she needed to trust that he wouldn’t be sharing a bed with Penny tonight, no matter how much her cousin’s taunts were currently haunting her.

  Email

  Date: 24th December

  Subject: How did the lingerie look?

  Dear Savannah,

  I’m not the type of man to be intimidated when walking into a lingerie store. In fact, the morning I picked out those items for you was akin to foreplay at its finest. I imagined stripping you of every item I passed. I could’ve spent my life savings in one purchase just knowing that the skimpy material would adorn your skin.

  I still wonder what you would’ve looked like in the items I bought for you. I wish I would’ve had the opportunity to see you in them before you shoved the package back in my face.

  You deserved to keep them. You also deserved not to go through the heartbreak that caused you to give them back.

  I want you to be aware of something, though. Do you remember the day I sent you that package? Do you remember the messages you sent back? One of them was a chastisement for leaving you to wake up alone. Do you ever wonder why I did that? Do you ever think back and see how I was trying to protect myself from you?

  The first night in your hotel suite, I left as soon as you began to wake. I hadn’t noticed how much time I’d spent lying there watching you. I memorized the way your features changed as you dreamed. The way your lips twitched. The way your breathing hitched.

  I was even more careless the night in the penthouse. I slept peacefully beside you until morning. I woke up with the scent of your hair in my lungs and the softness of your body against mine. I awakened to an extra beat in my chest that I already knew I wanted to keep.

  I didn’t want to let you go. I suppose it’s clear I still don’t.

  When you told me about your argument with Penelope, I knew it was the beginning of the end. Hope vanished as if it was never there, and I became frantic for the briefest of moments with you.

  I’m not an optimistic man. I’m a realist. And the devastating reality of what Penelope could do with your feelings for me made me panic. She held all the power. She held our relationship in her hands.

  It wasn’t easy speaking to her. Penelope is extremely protective of our past, present, and even the future. But the realistic part of me had thought our discussion had sunk in. I told myself you were only in Seattle temporarily, and the measures I’d taken with Penelope were sure to work for that amount of time.

  It could’ve worked out. It could’ve remained perfect.

  I guess I became complacent, too blind with thoughts of you that I didn’t notice how truly wrong I was. It’s a weak excuse, but I told myself that I hadn’t lied to you.

  How could I, when I’d never said a word?

  But now we both know I was deceiving you with every breath. Every touch. Every kiss.

  I’m sorry. I’ll forever be sorry.

  Please, let me show you how sorry I am.

  Keenan

  Chapter Nineteen

  Savannah entered the lobby the next morning to find a group of staff hovering around the reception desk. They spoke in hushed whispers, around eight or nine of them hunched together like a mob of angry villagers, only the occasional sentence being raised to a level where she could hear the caustic tone.

  “Good morning.” The cluster stiffened at her voice. One by one they looked her way and muttered greetings before disbanding to a smaller group of Kelly, Grant, and Amanda.

  “I guess it’s not a good morning?” she addressed Kelly, who stood on the working side of the reception desk, one elbow resting against the top counter. “Did I miss the memo for the staff meeting?”

  “No.” Kelly sank into the chair behind her computer screen and tapped buttons on her keyboard. “Just more bullshit from Grandiosity.”

  The printer burred to life, spitting out page after page.

  “More bullshit?” Savannah had actually had an uninterrupted seven hours sleep. She was energized, pumped, even overly enthusiastic about Keenan kicking some Penny ass.

  “It’s probably nothing,” Grant offered, skirting the counter to stand beside the printer. He grasped the spat out pages, separated the top sheet from the rest, and handed them
to her one by one. “This is your usual occupancy report. Nothing new there. But this…” He handed over the other piece of paper. An email header lined the top of the page, with two paragraphs of text below and an ominous business signature from Penelope Augustine at the bottom. “This is the latest correspondence from the evil queen.”

  “What has she done now?” She skimmed the Times New Roman text.

  Dear future Grandiosity staff,

  By the end of business today, you will receive an individual email notifying you of the time and date allocated for your interview with someone in our management team. Due to the large number of interviews necessary, we are unable to facilitate changes to the schedule.

  We appreciate your understanding on this matter and would like to reiterate that attending your interview at your allocated time is imperative in securing your position in the new Grandiosity hotel.

  Penelope Augustine

  “Is this what everyone was discussing?”

  “It’s nothing, really.” Grant’s expression said otherwise. “We could all be reading too much into it.”

  Amanda scoffed. “Discussing is probably an understatement. Everyone is pissed.”

  “That email is only half of it.” Kelly made a shooing motion with her hand and the three of them straightened on the other side of the reception desk at the approach of a young family.

  As Kelly checked the guests into their room, Savannah flicked through the pages of the occupancy report. It wasn’t anything new. She already had access to the numbers from her laptop and had a notification installed if a sudden influx of cancellations occurred.

  Only her problem now wasn’t the probable influx of cancellations, but the rush of resignations she sensed approaching. Without staff, the unlikelihood of turning away guests would become a reality. And the wedding… Jesus Christ. If more of the Rydel team found new employment, or walked regardless, Savannah would have to stand beside Amanda as she told the bride and groom they couldn’t have their special day.

  It was a lawsuit waiting to happen. A disaster that would gush more money from the company.

  “Fuck,” she muttered and then winced as the family of four eyed her on their way to the elevators.

  Kelly stifled a snort and Grant looked at his toes, a sheepish grin tilting his lips. They remained silent until they were alone—a receptionist, a shift manager, the event manager, and Savannah, the person who was meant to fix a mess she couldn’t fully fathom.

  “You said the email was only half of it,” she started.

  “Yeah.” Kelly leaned on the armrest of her chair. “Some of us already have our allocated times. I’m booked in to see them during the middle of visiting hours at the hospital. I won’t get to see my mother that day.”

  Savannah winced.

  “Sue in the restaurant is scheduled for her only day off and doesn’t know how she will find a sitter for her daughter. And Terry in maintenance is scheduled during one of his shifts. He’s already covering the work of two other people. Even if he did have permission to leave, he isn’t sure it’s feasible because the jobs he already has logged are too much for him to handle.” Kelly released a defeated sigh. “The entire hotel is going to hell in a handbasket.”

  Savannah nodded. Nodded and nodded and nodded. “Right.”

  She could fix this. Everything was fixable. “We’ll all work together. I’m a chameleon when it comes to this type of thing. I can work reception, albeit temporarily. I can help out in the restaurant and assist with cleaning rooms, if necessary. If we all work together we’ll be fine. I don’t mind if Sue needs to bring her daughter here for me to babysit.”

  She didn’t know the first thing about children, but she’d learn. Penny wasn’t going to defeat her.

  “That’s what I said,” Grant added. “I’m happy to work extra hours and cover where I can.”

  “I wish I could say the same.” Amanda’s face was a mask of distress. “This wedding is going to be the death of me. I’m already working three to four extra hours a day. I don’t think my kids recognize me anymore.” She ran her hands down her cheeks. “I’m not like everyone else here. I don’t need this job. My husband is making enough money off shore for the both of us. But I can’t shirk my responsibilities. I can’t let this bride down. It will kill me if I do.”

  “We’re not going to let anyone down. Especially not your mother.” She met Kelly’s gaze. “Can you open a new email for me?”

  The receptionist nodded and focused on her computer screen.

  “Write the following: Dear Rydel Seattle staff. Please notify me immediately if you are unable to make your interview appointment with Grandiosity. I will be on stand-by, covering positions where possible, to make sure you can leave during work hours. If you are unable to attend due to personal reasons, please rest assured that you will also be catered for.”

  Kelly’s fingers pattered like tiny tap dancers.

  “Then sign it off from me,” Savannah added. “Include my email address and cell number. I want to make sure everyone feels comfortable calling me with any concerns instead of forming an angry mob in the lobby.”

  “So, we’re just going to try and make this work?” Grant picked at the quick of his nails, his anxiety evident. “How are you going to work around those with personal issues?”

  “I’m not, but Grandiosity will.” Savannah pulled her cell from her suit pants pocket and double checked her credit card was still stored in the case.

  “How?” Grant’s voice rose. “What are you going to do?”

  “Something I should’ve done when I first arrived.” She gave them a salute in farewell and strode toward the lobby doors. It would’ve been best to grab a coat, or at least taken a few moments to calm down, but anger would keep her thoughts sharp and hypothermia at bay.

  It was only a short cab ride to the building that housed the Grandiosity head office. Short, yet enough time to let her annoyance fester and determination solidify. She glanced up at all the reflective glass and shiny metal and swallowed against the churning in her stomach.

  Keenan had his opportunity to dissolve the situation with Penny, and he failed. It was her turn now.

  She didn’t care if he was trying to protect a long-term friendship, or whatever relationship he had with the Augustines. Savannah’s responsibilities were far more important. She had a long list of employees who deserved security. They were owed the right not to fear for their future. Especially when the holidays were upon them.

  He’d understand. He had to. Right? Or should she warn him?

  She palmed her cell, unlocked the screen and opened a new message. The curser blinked at her in deafening silence. Yes, no. Yes, no.

  “Forget it.” She placed the device back into her pocket and sucked in a calming breath. For now, she needed to forget him. Forget Dominic and her aunt, too. This was business.

  She held her head high as she entered the immaculately polished lobby, scanned the directory for the correct floor, and then stalked into the awaiting elevator. There was no prepared speech, no inkling of how the conversation would unravel, and it didn’t bother her in the slightest. This was her job and she was going to forgo all thoughts of Keenan to ensure it was done to the best of her ability.

  The elevator doors re-opened on the Grandiosity floor and she stepped into an office environment dripping with over-indulgence. The space was akin to their Seattle hotel. A chandelier hung from the roof, sparkling its glow over the shiny black walls. Elaborate floral arrangements scented the air with sweet perfection, and the receptionist beamed a smile at her from her position behind the speckled marble of a high counter.

  “Can I help you?”

  “Yes, please.” Savannah approached the woman. “I need to speak to Patrick Black.”

  The slightest glimpse of a wrinkle marred the receptionist’s brow. “Is he expecting you? I don’t have anyone booked into his schedule at this time.”

  “No, he isn’t. But my name is Savannah Hamilton and I’m
from the Rydel head office. It’s imperative that I see him to discuss the upcoming settlement.”

  The woman gave a faux smile. “I understand. He’s on a conference call at the moment, so I’ll send his computer a message to make him aware that you’re here.”

  “Thank you.”

  Savannah turned in a half circle and headed for the white leather sofa. She crumpled into its firmness and mentally batted away the barrage of thoughts about Keenan. He had no place here. There was no room to falter due to her feelings. But guilt began to niggle. It crept up her spine and settled itself on her shoulders, pressing harder and harder the longer she waited.

  She wished she could deny that her decision had even the slightest tinge of jealousy woven into her reasoning. It was only minute, the tiniest gleam of the green-eyed devil, but it was there nonetheless.

  Keenan kept shielding her cousin. He stood proud at Penny’s side at the bonfire. He protected her when Savannah was ready to draw battle lines over the vicious emails. Their connection was something more than friendship, and yes, Savannah now had the balls to admit she didn’t like it. The bond between the two nipped at her insecurities, taunting her every waking moment no matter how she tried to ignore it.

  Her heart began to thump, the growing echo throbbing in her ears. She reached for a magazine on the coffee table and mindlessly flicked through the pages. The pictures swam past her vision, not one of them sinking in. It was useless. She threw the publication down, pulled out her cell, and began typing.

  Savannah: I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait for you to handle the Penny situation. She’s upset more employees this morning, and I’m now waiting to discuss the matter with the CEO of Grandiosity. I hope you understand.

  “Ms. Hamilton?”

  Savannah glanced at the receptionist as her finger hovered over the send button. “Yes?”

  “Patrick will see you now.”

  “Thank you.” She pushed to her feet as she sent the message. Done. There was no turning back. She switched her cell to vibrate, placed it back in her pocket, and made her way to the receptionist who stood waiting.