Page 18 of Clock Strikes Paradise

I drew my brows together. I’d worked as closely with Clay as Bart, and I’d never seen anything like him blowing a gasket. He was too icy, too controlled for that. At least in a business environment…

There I go again, thinking forbidden thoughts.

But the CFO was right. Clay was the one in charge, not either of us. And if the meeting was over, Bart had no reason to remain.

But before I could speak, he cocked his head. “I’m curious. What do you do for fun when you’re not working?”

My cheeks warmed up. Maybe a vague answer would send him on his way. “Uh, just the usual. I’m a pretty private person, Bart.” Then an idea occurred to me, and I attempted to put him on the spot by asking about his personal life. “So how’s your divorce going?” I figuredthat would make him uncomfortable and put a damper on his curiosity.

To my surprise, his eyes lit up. “Oh, it’s going great! Almost finalized!” A smirk spread across his face and a glimmer entered his eye.

Oh, great. Did he think I asked the question to see if he was available?

I wanted to give myself a facepalm.

As if sensing that he had an advantage, Bart slid closer to me on the couch. “In fact, I’m free as a bird now.” He leaned in slightly. “Elise, you’re a beautiful woman, and you deserve to be treated with a whole lot more respect than our illustrious boss shows. I’m not afraid to have fun once in a while. Would you like a glass of champagne?” He pointed with his chin at the unopened bottle still in its ice bucket that had been waiting when I’d checked in.

“Hell no!” I practically shouted as I vaulted to my feet. “We’re here on business, Bart, and you are way out of line.” My voice was firm and unwavering as I faced him down. I had been Clay’s assistant for three years, and I wasn’t about to let some self-absorbed man-child jeopardize my career or my dignity.

“Oh, come on,” Bart said, trying to cajole me as he rose to his feet. He glanced around the sunny cottage before settling his eyes on me again. “Loosen up a little. We’re in paradise. Might as well take advantage of it.” He reached out to touch my arm, but I quickly jerked away.

“Keep your hands off me,” I warned, my eyes narrowed.

My heart raced with a mixture of anger and fear. Fear that I’d lose control of the situation, and anger at myself for not throwing Bart out the second Clay left. Feeling cornered and increasingly nervous, I bolted out the front door and onto the covered deck. Bart chased after me,grabbing both of my arms and spinning me around to face him.

“Listen, sweetheart,” he snarled quietly, his face inches from mine. “If you say anything to Clay about this, I’ll make sure you get fired. I can make life easy for you or very, very difficult. It’s your choice. Let’s just go back inside and forget all about this little misunderstanding.”

I jerked both arms out of his grasp and stared at him, my entire body trembling with rage. “Get. Your. Hands. Off. Me.” I spat each word out deliberately, my voice shaking with fury. “Don’t you dare touch me again. Do you really think I’m scared of you?” My voice rose with each word.

Bart, taken aback by my sudden outburst, took a step back. I could see the shock in his eyes as he realized I wouldn’t be an easy target.

Good, let the son of a bitch understand I’m not going to back down.

“Elise, come on?—”

“No! You didn’t just cross the line. You goddamn pole-vaulted over it.” My voice echoed through the open space of the beach. Heat spread over my face, but I didn’t care. I needed to stand up for myself.

“Look, I didn’t mean anything by it,” he stammered, now backpedaling.

My hands balled into fists at my sides, my nails digging into my palms. “Mean anything by it? You’ve been touching me all morning, making me feel uncomfortable. Hell, you always do that. And then you chase me out here, threatening my job? That’s not a misunderstanding, Bart. It’s harassment.”

“Fine, I’m sorry,” he said, spitting the words out. But his apology rang hollow, a half-hearted attempt to save face.

“No. Sorry doesn’t cut it.” I fixed him with afierce gaze, refusing to let him off the hook. My voice rose, punctuating my words with finality. “You don’t treat people like this. You don’t make them feel threatened and vulnerable. You don’t use power as a weapon to manipulate them.”

“Elise—” he tried again, but I wasn’t having it.

“Enough!” I bellowed, my voice carrying through the resort like a storm. The last of my patience shattered, leaving me raw and exposed. “Goddammit, Bart, leave me alone!”

Chapter Ten

Clay

I saton a lounge chair near my pool, squinting at the glittering surface. As I held the phone to my ear, my free hand gestured in the air to emphasize my point. “I understand the opportunity perfectly well,” I said, my voice steely and focused. “The question is whether you and your colleagues do.”

The acquisition of an electric vehicle technology company had been ongoing, and I’d left the deal simmering to focus on Podium. Apparently, it had just started boiling. The thrill of exploring uncharted territory, and a new challenge, coursed through my veins. GreenDrive’s CEO was now calling about my offer, but he hedged his position with every sentence.

“I’ve done my research,” I continued. “And I’ve made a generous offer. I have the resources to make GreenDrive a giant in its field. You called me, so I suggest we move negotiations forward. My patience is not limitless.”