Page 39 of Found By Him

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Jack

“Is there anything else?” I ask gently.

Gisella slowly shakes her head.

My eyes find Nate again. His face has morphed into one of deep thought as he watches Gisella. Despite knowing Nate for many years, I can’t tell what’s going through his mind. The assurance I felt last night is unchanged—there’s no way Gisella is guilty of this.

A vibrating sound from the opposite side of the table draws me and Gisella’s attention. Nate pulls his phone out of his pocket, shifting his eyes to me, before looking at Gisella. “Ella, I’m sorry you’re dealing with all of this. I know Jack is committed to helping you, but I want you to know I feel the same way.”

Her smile is uncertain but hopeful. “Thank you for taking the time to talk to me. And for all the help you havegiven me.” When she glances at me, my breath catches in my chest.

Once the door closes behind Nate, I swing my chair toward Gisella. I turn her chair and cage her knees between mine. She’s staring down at her hands in her lap, lost in a spiral of overwhelming thoughts, I’m sure. I want to pull her into me, but I hold back. I settle for gently resting my hands on the sides of her thighs, right above her knees.

“Hey,” I say softly to bring her attention to my eyes. When she looks up at me, I explain, “Gisella, I want to be very clear. I don’t think you did this. And Nate and I are going to help you. I’m not exactly sure what we are going to do, but I’ll talk to Nate. Then we can go from there.”

Her eyes are glassy with unshed tears, and it’s heart wrenching. “Thank you, Jack. Even just hearing you believe I didn’t do this makes me feel better.” She goes to say something more, but hesitates.

I grip her thighs a little tighter. “What, Gisella? You can say whatever you want to me.”

She bites her full bottom lip. “I know I said this last night, but this is just so much. I can’t expect you to help me with all of this for free.”

“It isn’t free. You made me muffins, remember? Which were delicious, by the way. Please feel free to pay me with those at any time.” I wag my eyebrows at her. “Or…we can work another means of payment, if you would prefer. But.” I raise a finger to emphasize my point. “Just like baking, it’ll be payment only for me.”

Gisella laughs as she shakes her head and punches me weakly in the shoulder. “Jack, don’t be ridiculous.”

I somber immediately. “Gisella, I never joke about being paid for my services.”

Her answering eye roll and smile make me happy.

“Look, I will have Tyler take you home. I’ll talk to Nate, and I can check in with Carlos to see if he has anything regarding the texts.”

She nods as we stand, and I walk her to Tyler’s desk. I want to kiss her goodbye but don’t since we’re in the middle of the office in front of all my employees.

I watch her walk with Tyler across the office. She smiles up at him as she says something I can’t make out. He laughs and shrugs as he presses the button to call the elevator. I tamp down the jealousy that he gets to take her home and I can’t, knowing there’s no way I’m not seeing her the second I’m able. Especially after this morning. Once they enter the elevator, I head straight to Nate’s office.

When I’m seated in the chair facing his desk, he leans back and regards me.

“Everything okay with whatever that was?” I ask.

Nate nods, rubbing his eyes with his finger and thumb. “Yeah, just had that client about the show next Friday blowing up my phone. But he’s been handled.”

“Good.” I glance around his office, unsure of where to begin. I level my gaze back on my best friend. “What are your initial thoughts?”

He blows out a breath. “Well, I don’t think she did it, if that’s what you’re asking.”

I’m relieved by his words. It wouldn’t have changed my mind if he disagreed, but it makes things so much easier with him on the same page.

“But…” He continues, then pauses to get my attention. “I don’t know what to do.”

I cross my arms and grunt in frustration. That echoes my concerns. “We have to do something.”

Nate leans forward and places his elbows on his desk. “We will. You know as well as I do that the more importantthing is keeping her safe from whoever has been texting her. We also don’t know for sure if the company will take whatever they have to the police.” He shrugs. “Losing her job is awful and will make it harder to find another job in that field, but if they do nothing with it, we don’t need to do anything either.”

I sigh. “I wish there was a way to make this go away altogether. I would hate for this to cause her any issues in the future, no matter how small.”

Nate’s grin splits his face as it widens. “So, you two…?”

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