Page 69 of The Naughty Elf

That’s not good. Especially since he’s the one who stepped in to help. Panic builds in my chest, and I press against it.

She’s okay. At least physically. We can help her through the rest. I want to help her through it.

Jackson’s phone chimes, and he reads the same text. Our gazes meet, and I feel vindicated in my anxiety.

“I’m going to shut everything down and send everyone home.”

“Good idea.” He nods. “I’ll send everyone here home, too. And we’ll go to her.”

Exactly. I need to get to her.

I don’t dilly dally, marching back to the sites and getting things wound down. The guys ask about what happened. They all stop to hear my answer, so I straighten, transforming into an engineer—a professional.

I look the men in the eye. “We had an incident. Everyone just needs to head home while we figure this out, and we’ll let you know what’s up when we know.”

They take me at my word and disperse to do as I asked, and I’m glad. I don’t want to drag Ginger’s name into this. But the way gossip spreads on a site, I’m sure they already know. Still, no one presses the issue.

It takes an hour to get everyone on their way. Jackson is already waiting with Sawyer at the house. She won’t let him in either.

Every minute it takes to get to Ginger’s house tightens a noose around my heart. How do you fix something like this?

How did we hire someone who would treat her with so little respect? She’s become the bright center of our job. And not just for me, Sawyer, and Jackson.

I slam my palm against the steering wheel. “Fuck.”

How did this happen?

I arrive, parking on the other side of Jackson’s truck. I’m agitated.

They step out of Sawyer’s truck and meet me at the tailgate. Their frowns reflect my own emotions.

A quick movement at her window draws my gaze. Ginger’s pale hand at the curtains disappears, and it cranks everything up a notch.

“Has she said anything to either of you?”

Jackson shakes his head.

Sawyer huffs, crossing his arms. “Not since she closed the door in my face.”

“What about before then? On the way here? Has she filled in any of the blanks?” I run a hand through my hair and grab the back, ready to rip it out. I’m so out of my depth. I don’t want to fuck this up.

“She thinks this is her fault.” The growling anger in his voice echoes the feelings roiling in my center.

“That’s ridiculous.”

Jackson narrows his eyes at his brother. “That’s not all she said.”

“I am barely holding onto my control here. Just tell me.”

After a beat, Sawyer clears his throat and repeats word-for-word what she’d said.Asking for it. Nepotism. The office whore.

I stare at her front window, willing her to reveal just the beautiful curve of her face. God, I just want to be in there holding her, telling her how brilliant she is, how sweet and smart andgood. She’s the best thing to ever happen to me. I can’t stand the way she’s been made to feel like less than absolute perfection.

The three of us stand there, watching her house, leaning against the back of the truck. The cool May air barely touches me. I’ll probably regret it later, but I can’t sit. I can’t drive away. I can’t bust my way in.

So I just wait.

And wait.

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