Page 72 of Mail Order Christmas (Hawthorne Billionaire 5)

Chapter 45

Asher

Iarrived at the mall before opening to see where we were on decorations. The party was only ten hours away. I looked away from the file I was reading when I reached the center.

It’s done!

I had to see who did it this time. I entered the security office. Toby wasn’t in there. Maybe he was making rounds. I sat my stuff down and rewound the film.

It is an elf. I knew it wasn’t kids.

I dialed Gunner and nearly shouted with excitement. “I told you it wasn’t kids. I have proof right here on the camera from last night. It’s an elf. Come to the office, I’ll show you.”

The guys piled into the small security office. “See, I told you,” I waved them over to look at the screen, “an elf.”

“It’s an elf alright,” Gunner laughed. “It’s also me on the screen there.”

“What? Oh, come on. You played a joke on me?”

“No, it’s the elf you’re afraid of. She stayed to help us last night,” Charlie said. “She’s a nice girl.”

“She’s an elf,” I said under my breath. “She can’t be trusted. Elves are shifty.”

“Seriously?” Charlie shook his head. “You think that tiny little girl is a shifty elf?”

“She did the trees. I know it.”

“I thought you’d decided the trees were done by a magical elf,” Charlie laughed. “So, which is it?”

“Maybe she’s the magical elf.” I cringed when I heard myself say it, then laughed. “Yeah, I heard it. What can I say? I’ve been working too hard, my brain can’t handle the overload.”

“You gonna be alright?” Gunner asked. “Maybe you need a few days back on the island.”

“That’s it. There couldn’t possibly be elves on a tropical island. There has to be some kind of an elf rule on that, right?” I asked, then went on, not needing an answer. “Some sun on my skin is exactly what I need to unfreeze my brain, but I have to see this ball through first.”

“And the mall project,” Gunner reminded me.

“Of course, but a two-day break might be what I need.” I paced the room. “I have to get elves out of my head. I feel like I’m going to see them at every turn.”

Gunner and the guys were roaring with laughter. I really couldn’t blame them. This is exactly the kind of thing that would have had me on the floor in tears, had it been anyone but me.

“My brothers can never hear about this.” I stopped pacing and looked at them. “I’m paying you to be here and you’ve signed Hawthorne confidentiality contracts.”

“We have. Not for you against your own family but, sure, we can keep the secret,” Gunner said between bursts of laughter.

“It’s not funny.” I crossed my arms and glared at the four of them.

The room erupted into laughter once again and, this time, I joined in. We must have laughed for ten minutes when Toby burst through the door.

“Oh, sorry sirs, but we have a problem.” Toby said in a panic.

“What’s the issue?” Gunner stopped laughing instantly.

“Someone has locked themselves in Mr. Hawthorne’s private office,” Toby said. “I can hear someone in there, but they’re not answering.”

“We’ll go take care of whatever it is.” Charlie gestured to the other two men then they walked to the door. “Maybe it’s an elf.”

All I could hear was laughter as the three of them exited the security office. Gunner stayed, leaning on the desk. Toby turned to us then to the door, several times.

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