Skin Walkers: Gauge Read Online Free Page A

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