Page 44 of Clock Strikes Paradise

“That’s not it,” she tried to explain, her eyes pleading with me to understand. “It’s not about you being shallow, it’s about... the power dynamics, the expectations, everything that comes with being involved with someone like you. The sneers that you’d be with me when you could have anyone.”

But now I was too hurt and pissed off to trulyhear her. Basically, right back to where I was last night. Her words felt like a knife twisting in my chest, and I couldn’t shake it. “I promise you, I am not that guy,” I said firmly. “I care about you, and what we’ve started here is real. But if you can’t see that—if you’d rather believe that French prick’s opinion, then...” I trailed off, not able to finish the thought.

She opened her mouth, but I checked my watch and stood, cutting her off. Things felt worse between us, not better. And I had business to attend to. “I’ve got to meet Nate about the Podium sale. We’re making the final decision.” I paused to gather my thoughts. This meeting was something Elise would normally be right next to me at. But not now. “Stay here and work on the gala arrangements.”

I stalked from the cottage toward Dorado, an imaginary black cloud looming over my head. Nate and Camille sat at an isolated table. Irritation flashed through me at her presence, along with a hot, sharp pang of jealousy at their closeness. Then I reminded myself that Camille wasn’t just Nate’s girlfriend, she was his business partner now. She had a right to be here. As I sat down, the weight of Elise’s words still felt like an iron anvil in my chest.

Nate noticed immediately that something was wrong. “Hey, what’s up with you? You look like shit. That’s not the happyI didn’t get any sleeplook I was expecting.”

“It’s not. Last night didn’t go as I expected at all.” My words came out clipped and cool, as if I was leading a meeting. And that realization made all the starch dissolve from my spine. I sighed and told them about Elise’s change of heart. “She thinks I’m shallow, and that I could never be interested in someone like her. I can’t believe I was so wrong about her.”

Camille looked thoughtful, then raised her eyes to me. “Don’t kill me for what I’m about to say, okay? I think youmight be misunderstanding her point of view here. Did she call you shallow?”

“No, but what else would you call it?”

She just stared at me. “Can you really blame her for feeling that way?”

“Blame her?” I snapped, incredulous. “Why should she get to decide who I am? To choose whether I’m capable of caring about someone?”

“She doesn’t,” Camille said gently. “Look, I ran into her yesterday evening after Laurent said some harsh things to her. I don’t think it’s about deciding who you are. I don’t know Elise well, but she seems very hard-working and independent. She cares about her career and doesn’t want to appear like she’s after your money. Or your power and influence. She’s not one of your arm-candy girls looking for a free ride. Being with you is a huge risk for her, and she’s scared of losing everything she’s worked so hard for if things don’t work out between you two.”

I stared right back at Camille, willing that icy rage to rise again. To tell her how wrong she was and that I was the aggrieved party here. Instead, I thumped back in the booth, as numbness washed over me. Because her words struck a chord in me. That was precisely what Elise had said, but I hadn’t thought about it from that perspective. I’d been so focused on how hurt I was that I hadn’t considered the very real fear Elise must be feeling.

“Shit, I’ve been an asshole again.” I rubbed my eyes, then sat up straight and faced the duo across the table. “I couldn’t care less that she’s my assistant, or that she doesn’t have money like I do. You and I didn’t grow up rich, Nate. You know what those relationships with models and actresses got me? Nothing. I felt alone. But the last few days... I’ve hadfunwith Elise. We’ve laughed together. Doyou have any idea how long it’s been since a woman made me laugh?”

Nate stared at me, all traces of his usual humor gone. “Yeah. I do, Clay.”

Camille leaned forward, tapping the table to emphasize her point. “What I’m trying to say is thatyou’re missing the point. Elise doesn’t need to reassure you of her sincerity. You need to reassure her.”

I thought back to our two recent painful conversations. I’d said nothing to comfort her. I’d just assumed she wanted to be with me and then got pissed off when she said otherwise. I groaned and wanted to fling my hands in the air. “Look, I’m hell on wheels in the boardroom, but this relationship crap isn’t exactly my strong suit. Where do I even begin?”

Camille laughed and shook her head. “By telling her how she makes you feel, you big lug. What you just said about her making you laugh would be a very good start.”

“Did her interaction with Laurent last night cause all this?” Nate asked, one hand curled around his coffee mug.

“Yes,” I snarled, clenching my fists under the table. “He convinced her that she was nothing but a meaningless fling for me.”

Camille frowned, her delicate eyebrows knitting together. “And you didn’t make it loud and clear that that wasn’t true?”

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. “I tried, but I screwed it up. Laurent apparently just reinforced her own fears. I have no idea why he stuck his ugly nose into our private business.”

Nate nodded, his gaze steady. “I can tell you why. Because he’s a colossal asshole and nothing but trouble.Which begs the question—why the hell are we considering selling our company to him?”

My eyes locked together with Nate’s, and the moment stretched out. Communication passed between us silently, something we’d done since we were kids. Our thoughts synchronized, like two perfectly aligned gears in a well-oiled machine. At the same time, we broke into grim smiles.

“We on the same page, then?” I asked quietly.

Nate’s lips curled into a sly, satisfied grin. “Oh, hell yes!”

Camille leaned back in her chair, studying our expressions. Her intuition picked up on the shift in the atmosphere, and she laughed. “Looks like the decision has been made!”

I rose to my feet. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go deliver the news in person.”

Nate joined me. “Absolutely. I’m ready to crash that bastard against the boards.”

“Go get him, guys,” Camille added, sipping her coffee as Nate and I marched out of the restaurant.

As the two of us approached Laurent’s cottage, my blood thrummed through my body. Anger and determination strengthened every step I took. The lush greenery surrounding the bungalow did nothing to soften my resolve.