Chapter 106

I obediently stayed still, clinging to Hayden even tighter. Thump, thump… His strong heartbeat against my ear brought a sudden realization: I was practically glued to his chest. But fear overwhelmed me; I couldn't even register it. I clung to him as if my life depended on it, convincing myself that if I held on tight enough, I'd know the movement wasn't mine—just the swaying lift.

After what felt like an eternity, the shaking ceased, but I didn't release my grip until Hayden's voice broke through my fear. "Looks like you've got a new coworker."

I blinked, slowly pulling away, and looked down. Recognizing who it was, I froze. Shock morphed into anger as I slammed the button to lower the lift.

When the lift stopped, Tanya stood there, her usual fake innocent smile plastered on her face. "Ms. Kay."

I wasn't in the mood for her games. "What are you doing here?" I asked, my voice sharp. It wasn't about being rude; it was about the sheer inappropriateness. A pregnant woman, like her, had no business being here. The park wasn't even open, and safety checks were incomplete. If anything happened to her, the consequences would be catastrophic, especially since she was carrying a "one-of-a-kind" baby.

Her response stunned me. "I'm here to work."

I stared, certain I'd misheard. "Excuse me?"

"Mr. Johnston asked me to come. He said I should oversee the safety inspections," Tanya replied, and I nearly lost control.

"Is he out of his mind? You, overseeing safety inspections?" I retorted, completely losing my composure. Everyone—Tanya, the project manager, Demi, and Wayne—was staring, shocked.

"What do you mean?" Tanya asked, her voice dripping with feigned sadness.

"I mean it's completely inappropriate for a pregnant woman like you to be here," I said, already dialing Jace.

Of course, he didn't answer immediately. Only as the call neared its end did his voice cut through. "What's going on?"

"Why did you send Tanya here?" I asked, blunt as ever.

"I sent her to work. Didn't she tell you?" Jace responded casually.

I glanced at Tanya and pressed harder. "Do you seriously think it's a good idea for her to be working here? What if something happens? Who's responsible?"

"You are, obviously," Jace's answer deflated me. Before I could react, he continued, his tone still calm. "You're the project lead. Not only do you need to finish the amusement park, but you also have to ensure all staff are safe. That's your job, got it?"

Then it hit me—this was a setup. Wayne wasn't enough; now Tanya was added to the mix, just to torment me.

I tightened my grip on my phone, glaring at Tanya's feigned pitiful expression. "Well, if someone's got a death wish, that's not my problem."

Tanya's face darkened, and for the first time, Jace's voice held genuine anger. "How can you be so mean?"