Hawk thought it over. It was still morning. Chances were, the custodial staff was still on duty. “We need to get to the bottom of this. Page Stina Malus and have her keep the crew after their shift.”
“Will do, sir,” Ethan said.
Clary peeked up at him with concern. Hawk touched her arm, not entirely sure how to form the words. Was he glad she’d told him? Glad they’d finally obtained an indication of who the culprit was?
Of course. It was always better to know. But he never—never—would have suspected it would be her. Ella. The woman whose kisses unraveled him. The woman who’d branded herself into him. Unfortunately, now his focus was on her for a different reason.
He felt so betrayed. So tattered. All that talk about stealing kisses. About thievery. Had she been trying to give him hints, or just plain mocking him with the insinuations?
Hawk thanked Ethan and the other guards and dismissed Clary before stepping out to a quiet corner in the hall. His thoughts were a tangle.
Ella’s smile. Her charitable gifts and sacrificed time for the kids at Harmony Children’s.
The jubilant interaction he’d witnessed of her with them completely contrasted the sneaky, over-the-shoulder glance and devious stuffing of stolen items into her bag. How could she be the same woman?
“She was a thief after all,” he said. He couldn’t believe he’d fallen for it.
***
Ella’s morning passed by in a blur. Excitement was a battle cry inside her. The usual, menial chores, typically such drudgery day after day, became nothing more than rungs on a ladder. A ladder that would lead her up to the glorious event that was an official date with Hawk Danielson.
Finishing the last few touches on a pair of carpeted staircases, she roped up the vacuum cord and wheeled it to the main closet with a whistle. Even the sight of Pris and Charlotte speaking in hushed tones and darting devious glances in Ella’s direction from the opposite end of the hall couldn’t put a damper on her mood.
The two continued on at her approach, making for the breakroom.
Janice fell into step beside Ella with one hand on the large, wheeled garbage can. Its wheels were anything but quiet.
“What are you so happy about?” she asked.
“Can’t I be happy?” Ella smiled.
“Yeah, but you’re never this energetic.”
“It’s the happiest time of year,” Ella said with a shrug. That kiss, the one in the hospital waiting room, it’d been clouds and illusion and all the things dreams boast about. It had wriggled its way into everything she did, everywhere she went, and everything she saw. She was definitely hoping for a replay later.
Hawk was not what she thought a billionaire would be like. He was friendly, funny, and completely charming. Not stuffy or prideful. She never would have been able to guess his financial situation if it was just a chance meeting on the street. And seeing him around all those kids? Talk about icing on the cake.
She turned the corner only to be confronted by Pris. Ella instantly tensed, a coil ready to spring. After what Pris did to her at the ball, she never wanted to speak with her again. Yet, Pris didn’t seem to get the message.
“I wouldn’t look so happy if I were you,” she said. She’d already slipped out of her jumpsuit and into her winter coat. The expression on her face somehow managed to be both derisive and gleeful all at once.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Pris pursed her lips, staring at the wall with a smug, ridiculous smirk before returning her gaze to her. “You know what, Ella? I’ve found that people get what they deserve. And it looks like you’re about to get yours.”
Pris strolled past, knocking into Ella’s shoulder with her own and leaving fear pulsing in Ella’s veins. What was she talking about?
Stina strode behind them. Her nails were a vicious shade of red, and she folded her arms in an immaculate gesture as if to display her claws. “Pris, hold up.”
Pris paused, rounding back to Ella’s side. Ella sidestepped away from her.
“I guess you two didn’t get the memo?” Stina said.
“What memo?” Pris said, one hand on her purse strap.
“They’ve insisted the custodial staff with Malus Custodial Management meet in the breakroom. There’s been another theft.”
Ella’s astonishment was genuine. Who would be stupid enough to do it a second time? How could Hawk still think it was someone in custodial?
“None of us would have done that,” she said.
“I’m not so sure,” Stina replied with concern. “They have video evidence this time, Ella. It really is unfortunate you weren’t where you were supposed to be Christmas Eve.” Her words had too much undercurrent to be mistaken for anything but a jab.
“I get it, okay? I let you down. But I didn’t steal anything.”
Stina pursed her lips so tightly her dark lipstick gave the appearance of a miniature bow. “I guess we’ll see about that, won’t we?”
Misgivings accompanied Ella into the breakroom. The space was crowded. Crew members, including Pris, Charlotte, and Janice, gathered together before the row of lockers. The customary, lighthearted chatter, the relief at finishing another day, laughter at mishaps or discussing plans, were muted.
Discomfited silence resided in every glance, every unspoken question. Stina lingered near the door like some sort of guard.
A bald man in a dark suit had taken Stina’s spot at the desk and pushed her computer aside to place his laptop in its stead. Beside him, stood Hawk. Wonderful, charming Hawk, in a suit that made him look like a million bucks, with arms folded across his chest and an expression devoid of the delight that had been there Christmas morning.
Ella’s stomach knotted. No. He couldn’t see her here. He couldn’t find out the truth this way. She should have just told him. Why hadn’t she told him?
His ice blue eyes were cold and calculating. They trailed from person to person, widening just enough when they landed on her.
The worst sort of glower passed from him. How could
