Page 16 of Clock Strikes Paradise

He cast me a sidelong glance, as if daring me to question him. His demeanor hinted at a ruthlessness that would make dealing with him a challenge. But with Laurent currently having the higher offer, I wouldn’t let my personal feelings get in the way of business.

I took a sip of my Bordeaux. Laurent had chosen it, and as expected, it was excellent. “I have no doubt you would usher Podium into a new era seamlessly,” I said noncommittally. He met my gaze squarely, neither of us looking away.

Celeste broke the stalemate gracefully. “Too bad France is so far away from Podium headquarters.” I turned to see a warm smile on her face. “My father formed TechWeb thirty years ago in Silicon Valley, and I helped bring it into the modern age. Podium would fit beautifully into our business model.”

“Your company has a notable history,” Bart said, engaging Celeste in conversation. In keeping with his turnaround this afternoon, he acted professionally and showed a rare ability to keep the conversation flowing, which impressed me. He’d proven to be a real asset over dinner, keeping both bidders on point without letting either of them gain the upper hand.

“Thank you, Bart,” Celeste replied, her eyes lighting up. “We’ve worked hard to stay at the forefront of innovation.”

“Of course, we have many aspects of the sale to takeinto consideration,” Bart added with a look at Laurent. “You both present competitive offers.”

When there was a lull in the conversation, I cleared my throat. “Though we are all here on business, the night is far too beautiful for nothing but shop talk. Let us enjoy this magnificent setting.”

“It is a lovely evening,” Elise added as she gazed out at the ocean. A tablet sat on the table next to her, and she’d referenced it several times, looking up items or taking notes. Otherwise, she’d kept her additions to the conversation casual, engaging Laurent and Celeste in non-business topics. In other words, she was doing exactly what I’d asked her to.

Her wardrobe choices for the trip kept me surprised—that swimsuit this morning, then all business this afternoon. Tonight, she wore a shimmering soft-blue evening gown that was sexier than hell without being too provocative. In her evening gown, she was beautiful, a goddess rising from the sea. I grabbed my wineglass and took a healthy sip, displeased at my inability to focus.

Elise turned to the Frenchman. “Laurent, what is your favorite city in France?”

He sent her a smile that made me grip my wineglass. “Any that you might grace with your beautiful presence,cherie.”

My assistant navigated this and a couple more of Laurent’s flirtations with poise, deflecting him and keeping the conversation on track. I admired her grace under pressure, though my desire to throttle the Frenchman steadily increased.

She’d shown some business acumen I’d never glimpsed during our prep meeting, but diving with her this morning had revealed an entirely new side of her. Despite beingunsure at first, she’d jumped into the unknown anyway. Diving with her had brought out a protective side to me, making me want to be near her to help with any difficulties—despite having April with us, who was obviously capable of handling any number of problems or emergencies. Though I still wasn’t happy about this new reaction I had to her.

But for myself, being underwater again had been revelatory. Like coming across a favorite book one hadn’t read in a long time. Other than my recent pool refresher, I hadn’t been in the water in years. I loved every second of it, the feel of the water surrounding me, the bright colors, the inquisitive fish. Being weightless andfree—the total opposite of my normal life. I couldn’t wait to dive again.

But business first.

As dinner continued, the personalities of Laurent and Celeste became even more evident. Laurent’s insistence on control made him difficult to navigate, while Celeste’s charm and genuine interest in the people around her made her easy to converse with.

“Tell me,” Elise said, addressing Laurent and Celeste, “what would you like to do while you’re at Calypso Key?”

“Ah, well,” Laurent replied with a Gallic shrug. “Tomorrow, I’m flying Irina to Miami for shopping. She is pleasant company for me so I enjoy spoiling her.”

I stifled the urge to roll my eyes at the undeclared confirmation that Irina was his mistress. I felt the need to wipe my hands on my pants but refrained.

After a tight-lipped look at Laurent, Celeste let a smile rise as she turned to Elise. “I’ve always wanted to tour Old Town Key West. I hear it’s quite charming.”

Elise’s eyes widened and she nodded enthusiastically. “That’s a wonderful idea. Why don’t I set up a private tour for you?”

“Oh! A tour would be lovely,” Celeste said. “That’s very thoughtful of you.”

It was on the tip of my tongue to compliment Elise’s organizing skills, but I held back, worried I might be going overboard. Irritation at myself washed over me like a burn. I’d barely noticed the woman for three years, and now I wanted to be her champion?

She’s myassistant!This is her job, dammit.

We had a pleasant and productive dinner. I now had a clearer picture of our two top bidders, and the three of us worked well as a team. Elise was charming and professional, and her auburn hair had a beautiful golden tint that made me want to stroke it. Even Bart, who I had never considered particularly engaging, kept things professional and interesting. I found myself reevaluating my opinion of him. He was a good CFO, and maybe this trip would result in an improvement of his attitude.

But despite my best efforts, I couldn’t shake my growing attraction toward Elise. Her beauty was undeniable, but it was her poise and the way she made everything run smoothly that impressed me. My life, both professionally and personally, had been much more manageable since her arrival as my assistant. I tried to keep telling myself that she wasn’t anything more, but then the strap of her dress would shift, revealing a delicate collarbone.

After a couple glasses of wine, Laurent became more subdued, and I couldn’t deny that Podium would be a very appropriate addition to his empire. Celeste continued to charm the table, making a genuine effort to connect with each of us. I remained polite, yet aloof, maintaining my professional demeanor throughout the night.

As the dinner came to a close, my eyes returned yet again to Elise in that gorgeous dress. Wondering what she had on under it, I took a moment to appreciate the elegant line of her neck, unable to block the thought of running a trail of kisses down it. Pursuing anything with her would cross a line I had no intention of breaching, but subtle glances never hurt anyone.

After Laurent and Celeste left, I ordered a bottle of Cabernet for the three of us. We raised our glasses in a toast to our successful trip thus far. We discussed the sale and the two bidders, as well as tomorrow—which would start with another meeting.

“Here’s to a successful trip,” Bart toasted.