Skin Walkers: Gauge (3 page)

“
Her
,” Gauge amended.  “I meant her.  I haven’t yet met the child; I momentarily forgot whether it was a boy or girl.”

“What about the little girl
?” Monroe turned calculating eyes on Gauge and he knew the CEO would make him pay for his slight.  “Are you implying that a Walker male wouldn’t want Ella simply because she has a child from a previous relationship?

Gauge was unsure how to answer.  He knew that when Monroe had met his angel, she’d already adopted four of their children and had brought them into her relationship with Monroe.  To this day, Walkers that weren’t
residing at StoneCrow when Monroe’s affliction hit had no idea which of the four children were initially Eden’s and which one was adopted later.  No, the CEO loved his children in equal measure.

“What I’m saying,” Gauge cleared his throat, “is that maybe Ella isn’t looking for a mate.  Perhaps she doesn’t want a new father for her child.  You know, some people actually enjoy the freedom that comes with being single.”

Monroe snorted derisively.  “No.  They don’t.”

“I do,” Gauge challenged.

Monroe’s eyes narrowed and his lips flattened into an angry line.  “I don’t even have to scent you to find the deceit in that remark.”  His lips tweaked into a smile; it was a cold and terrifying display.  “No worries, friend.”  He turned and stalked to the end of the hall before tossing over his shoulder in his typical, leave-with-the-last-word fashion.  “You worry about you.  Leave little Ms. Garret’s mating to me.”

Alone in the hall, Gauge scowled at the now empty corridor. 
God damn it!  Damn King and damn Monroe!
  He shoved a hand into his short, blond hair.  Ella seemed like a sensible woman, she wouldn’t let herself be forced into a mating…
would she?
  The thought of any other Walker approaching Ella with those intentions had him biting back a growl. 

Chapter
4

The next morning at the office, Gauge was irritable. 
He wanted to ask Ella if she’d gotten a call or visit from CEO StoneCrow, but knew the inquiry would be out of line.  What business was it of his if the CEO had contacted her?  He was scowling at his blank computer screen when Ella entered in her ridiculous get-up that did little to hide the womanly curves beneath.

She approached his desk and cautiously delivered his morning coffee.  He attempted to scent her and his eyes stung at the cloud of vanilla perfume that overpowered his senses.  When she turned to leave
, and he couldn’t help but snap, “I told you to stop wearing perfume.”

“Oh,” she turned to eye him.  “Sorry, it must still be lingering in my clothes.”

Lie.

“I haven’t worn any since I’ve started.

Lie
.

“I’ll try to air out my clothes, but some of this stuff is so strong…”

Lie!
  Each lie only served to enrage him further and had his teeth aching from the tension in his jaw.  “Ms. Garret, if you would like to keep this job, I suggest you arrive at work tomorrow smelling like nothing but fresh laundry and woman.  Am I clear?”

Her mouth fell open, “Uhh, yes.  Yes, sir.”  She turned to leave but only got two steps.

“And I don’t approve of your work attire.”  He was done letting her hide.  She’d come out even if he had to force her out.

She turned to look at him in confusion before dropping her eyes to her
look at her clothing.  “Sir?”

“Your work attire is ill fitting,” he stood and shoved a hand into the pocket of his slacks.  “Your appearance is a reflection of this office and thereby a reflection of me.”  He pulled out a rolled stack of bills and pulled several free.  “Take this,” he held the cash out to her.  “And take the rest of the day off to shop for proper
clothing.”

Ella didn’t move.  “Mr. Alexander,” she waved a hand down her body, “I’m wearing a pencil skirt, with blouse, and suit jacket.  My hair is up.  I-I don’t know how else I should be dressing.”  Recognition flashed.  “Pants!  You want me to start wearing slacks?”  She sounded hopeful.

“No,” he growled as he approached.  “I have no issue with what you’re wearing, aside from the fact that your clothes don’t fit.  The blouse is too large, the skirt is too old fashioned, and the hair.”  He lifted his eyes to stare at her head searching for the right explanation.  “Doesn’t it pain you to have your hair pulled that tightly?  Loosen it up for Christ’s sake.”

***

Ella couldn’t believe her ears.  Hadn’t this asshole ever heard of sexual harassment?  She lifted a hand to tuck a stray hair back into her tightly wound bun, her pride stinging from his assessment even though she intentionally dressed dowdy to avoid drawing any attention.  Gauge was a gorgeous man…no,
Walker! 
And as much as she wanted him to see her as a beautiful woman, she couldn’t risk Alysa over a crush on the boss.

He held the money out and she simply eyed it.  “Mr. Alexander, I don’t think my appearance holds any bearing on the work we perform, and I…”

“I’m not asking, Ella.”  He forced the money into her closed palm and turned to stalk back to his desk.  “When I see you in the morning, I want to see a professional and elegant business woman who doesn’t smell like all the world’s vanilla beans took a crap in her pocket.”

She watched in incredulity as he reclaimed his seat and brought his computer to life.  He began typing and
effectively dismissed her. 

Ella stomped out of his office and it took every ounce of her will to keep from slamming the door.  She jerked her purse from where it hung on the back of her chair and crammed the wad of money into it as she snatched up her cell phone and headed for the door, seething at
her boss’ demands.

The entire ride in the elevator down to the first floor, she fumed.  By the time the doors opened she was shaking with anger. 
She contemplated swinging by the school housed in the east wing of the first floor, but quickly changed her mind when she realized she was too upset.

Who in the hell did Gauge Alexander think he was to demand that she dress more…more…
What had he called it?  Oh yes, professional and elegant!  Should slap his ass with a sexual harassment lawsuit and see how that would suit him!
  He’d basically demanded that she wear tighter shirts, shorter skirts, and her hair down.  If that didn’t reek of harassment, she didn’t know what did. 

She was out the front doors of the estate and halfway to the parking garage when something hit her. 
‘I suggest you arrive at work tomorrow smelling like nothing but fresh laundry and woman.’  Oh shit!
  She stopped in her tracks and turned to race back to the manor.  She had to talk to Stoney.

Ella walked into the Estate’s infirmary and checked exam rooms as she passed, searching for Stoney.  She found the nurse in an empty exam room, restocking medical supplies.

“Hey, ElluvaTime, what’s up?”

Ella shut the door and whispered, “We have a problem.”

Stoney stopped her work and jerked her head up.  “What kind of problem?”

“Gauge demanded I stop wearing the perfume.”

“Shit!”  Stoney crammed the fist-full of gauze she held into the opened drawer she hovered over and stood.  She stared at Ella and lifted her head, sniffing the air.  Instantly, her hand went to her nose and her eyes watered.  “Good Lord, Ella!  When I told you to wear perfume, I didn’t mean the whole bottle at once.  It smells like…”

“Yeah, I know,” Ella huffed crossing her arms over her chest.  “I smell like all the world’s vanilla beans took a shit in my pocket!”

Stoney blanked and then erupted into laughter.  “He didn’t?”

“Oh, yes he did.”

“Well,” Stoney sobered, “he’s got a point.  It is pretty overpowering.”

Ella dropped her arms in exasperation.  “What am I gonna do Stoney.  He told me to come to work smelling like nothing but
fresh laundry and woman.”

Stoney’s smile vanished.  “Is that what he said?”

“Yes.”

“Exactly?   Is that
exactly
what he said?”

“YES!”

Stoney frowned, “Shhhh,” she looked at the door then focused back on Ella.  “This is bad.”  She looked at Ella’s attire, “You’ve been dressing down right?  Keeping your ears open and mouth shut?”

“Yes, but that’s a problem too.  He said I need to change my work attire.
”

“Oh man, that’s not good.”

“Why?”  Ella’s eyes rounded.  “Do you think he knows?”

Stoney was already shaking her head. “No.  I don’t think he knows, but…”

“But what?” Ella was practically in hysterics.

“But
why would he care what you’re wearing?”

“I don’t know,” Ella huffed in exasperation, “that’s what I’m here asking you.”

Stoney’s nose crinkled.  “Do you think he’s…
interested
?”

“Interested in what?” Ella was astounded, “I’ve been dressing like frumpy-dumpy and bathing in stale perfume.  What in the world is there to find appealing in that?”

Stoney crossed her arms.  “You’re beautiful, Ella.  You always have been.  Throwing ill-fitting clothes and ugly glasses on can disguise it, but not hide it.”

Ella’s mind was racing.  “You think I should change tactics?”  She lifted a thumb to bite on a nail, “
Maybe hiding under a dowdy façade was the wrong route.  Maybe I should sex-siren it up.  Ya’ know, harass him.  I could totally scare him off.”

“O
r find yourself proper fucked,” Stoney muttered with a smile.

“What?”

“Nothing!”

Ella glanced at her watch, “I’ve gotta get going. I wanna pick up Alysa before they put her down for her nap.”  She looked at Stoney, “If you think of a solution, call me.”

“I will,” Stoney smiled, “but don’t get yourself all hyped up.  I’m sure Gauge isn’t on to you.  Maybe he really does just hate your clothes,” her eyes shot to Ella’s head, “and hair.”  She looked at Ella’s chest and her smile widened, “And smell.”

“Oh shut up!” Ella slapped Stoney playfully in the arm.  She turned to the door, “Get back to work!”
   

Chapter
5

Ella entered the Estate’s day care center and cringed inwardly as the two females tending the children looked up and curled their noses.  She knew her pe
rfume was overpowering and that  Walkers didn’t like it, but that was the point. 

One of the women quickly composed herself and tapped the other woman on the arm.  The woman dropped her head and busied herself.  “Hi, Ms. Garrett.  You here to pick up Alysa?
  You’re early.”

“Yeah
, calling it an early day,” she lied, not wanting to explain that she was being sent home because of her appearance.  “Is she in the back?”

“She is,” the daycare worker led Ella into a back room where Alysa sat on a multi-colored carpet that resembled a tiny town with roadways for pushing toy cars. 

“How was she today?” Ella asked quietly. 

The worker slowed, “Better.  Kids are always a little traumatized by their first few days in a new environment, especially one that doesn’t include their momma.  But she did great today.  She interacts very well with the other kids.”

Ella’s tense shoulders dropped in relief.  It had been near impossible to walk away from Alysa on her first day of work.  She’d taken the child to the daycare, but Alysa had screamed and cried to remain with her mother.  It had been a heartbreaking ordeal that Ella hoped would get better.  Thankfully it had. 

Daycare was something new for Ella as well.  When she’d been on the run with Alysa, she’d refused to leave the child with anyone else.  Here at StoneCrow it was a different story.  Stoney had told her of the Skin Walkers’ fierce loyalty and allegiance.  They were also
extremely protective of women and children, even children that weren’t their own.  It was a blessing.  Ella knew she could leave Alysa with the Walker women and that she’d be well-protected.  It also helped that the entire Estate was fenced in with a manned gate and Sentries posted on guard.  Funny, here among these rare creatures that would terrify anyone else Ella felt safer than she had in years.  Her spirits lifted as Alysa turned and smiled up her.  Could it be?  Had she and Alysa finally found a home? 

“Hey baby, you ready to go?”  She bent and retrieved the child.

For the time being, Ella and Alysa were staying in a small dive in the nearest city, Great Falls.  She’d applied for housing at the Estate, but apparently there needed to be a background check before her application could be considered. It’d come up clean.  She’d changed her and Alysa’s names so many times that it’d be impossible to trace them.  Everything would come up looking clean.

As they stepped out into the front room, the other daycare worker began sneezing hysterically.  Ella didn’t miss the annoyed look the Walker beside her gave to her co-worker.  “You okay, Mel?”

Mel sneezed a few more times before stopping to dab at her nose.  “S’cuse me.”  She eyed Ella and Ella knew what was coming.  “I’m sorry to have to ask, Ms. Garret, but would you mind not wearing perfume?  I’m allergic and even the slightest whiff starts me in.”

“Sorry,” Ella winced.  “I’ll try to remember tomorrow.”  She wouldn’t try to remember. 
She had no choice now that Gauge had threatened her job. 

“Thank you!” 

When the Walker woman smiled at Ella, she felt a pang of guilt.  She wished she could befriend these people.  Tell them of her problem and see if they’d help, but she looked down at the child in her arms and knew she couldn’t risk it.  It was one thing to gamble with her own life, but she refused to do so with Alysa’s. 

“Thanks ladies, see you tomorrow.” 
She and Alysa exited the daycare center to make their way to the parking garage.  They were passing by the cafeteria when Alysa declared, “I’m hungry!”

All staff and residence were permitted to eat at the
Estate's cafeteria or two dining establishments free of charge.  Another blessing.  Just getting started with work meant that she was extremely low on cash, and what little she had was going to the crappy motel room she was renting and the gas needed to get her to work.

“Me too,” she beamed and steered t
oward the cafeteria.

Several minutes later, she was seated at an empty table, cutting up Alysa’s hot dog when she glanced up and saw Gauge enter the cafeteria.  She dropped her
eyes, pretending to not notice.

Alysa attacked her hot dog and Ella had just taken a bite of her hot ham and cheese when a towering shadow blocked out the light.  “Ms. Garret, may I join you.”

Looking up, she practically choked on the bite of food as Gauge claimed a seat across from her without waiting for a response.

“You must be Alysa?” He turned and beamed at the child who studied him curiously.  “My name is Gauge.  I work with your mom.”

Alysa looked up at Gauge with wide eyes and turned to her mother.  The child did a double-take, as if seeing her for the first time, and Ella knew she was in trouble.  It had happened often over the years as Ella was forced to change not only her own, but Alysa’s appearance to aid in their deception.

“Mom
ma,” Alysa cocked her head and crinkled one eye.  “You look funny wis’ glasses.”

Ella felt herself blanch.

Gauge stilled with his own sandwich halfway to his lips.  “Don’t you typically wear glasses?”

“No,” she felt her face flush as
color returned.  She thought of a lie that would make sense and prayed her perfume was still strong enough to cover it.  “I only need them for reading.”

“You’re not reading now,” he stared at her expectantly.

Unsure what else to do, she reached up and pulled the ridiculous looking glasses from her face and folded them before sliding them into her purse.  She had just lifted her head when Alysa yelled, “Hair too!”

Oh Christ!

Gauge looked at her in confusion.

“I don’t typically wear my hair up when I’m at home either.”

“Fix it, momma.  Fix it!” Alysa exclaimed excitedly wanting Ella to take her hair down.

“I’ll do it when we get home,” she admonished, “now eat.”

“Momma’s hair is pretty!” Alysa exclaimed excitedly, looking up at Gauge as if she’d just revealed some great secret.

“I’m sure it is,” he kept his eyes pinned on Ella.
  She blushed and he smiled.  “I’m looking forward to seeing it down tomorrow.”

Ella wanted to defy him with a snappy retort, but opted instead to concentrate on finishing her lunch.  It was difficult to do with the constant weight of his gaze on her.
  Looking up after a few minutes, she found Gauge still watching her.

“Mr. Alexander?”

“I apologize for my harsh remarks this afternoon.”

Unsure how to respond, Ella swallowed and offered, “
It’s fine.”

“I’m not a tyrant, but…” his eyes seemed to gleam.  “I want what I want.”

What in the hell is that supposed to mean?
  Ella ducked her head and finished her lunch without another word.