Page 1 of Clock Strikes Paradise

Chapter One

Clay

Life wasn’t a fairy tale,but watching hard work pay off had to be one of its greatest rewards. I sat behind my desk and stared at the dark winter Manhattan skyline, lost in thought like usual. My office was empty and silent, the way I preferred it. But not for long—Elise would be here any minute. My assistant of three years, Elise, knew my habits and schedules by heart. She anticipated my every need before I voiced it, managing my life with ruthless efficiency.

My corner office was located on the top floor of a Manhattan skyscraper, offering me a stunning view of the city through the floor-to-ceiling windows. The decor was modern, bordering on harsh, with black leather couches, steel coffee tables, and abstract paintings adorning the walls. With two fingers, I smoothed my gray silk tie and ensured my navy-blue Armani suit was immaculate. It was.

Today was Christmas, though not a hint of the holiday was to be found, nothing to distract me from the task athand. I had been in the office all day, my only break a FaceTime with my parents and brother to celebrate the holiday. They were together in Connecticut, but I couldn’t spare the time to visit in person.

And my single-mindedness was about to pay off. Immensely.

A quick glance at my watch informed me it was nearly 5:00 p.m. I wasn’t a monster. I’d arranged the meeting for late in the day to allow the two employees involved most of the holiday off.

After two raps at the door followed by my disinterested “Enter,” one of the eight-foot double doors opened silently. Elise walked in, her light gray skirt suit and heels clicking on the marble floor. She set an agenda on the blotter before me and a freshly brewed espresso near my right hand.

“Good evening, Mr. Harmon.”

Her voice was crisp and professional. I glanced up, taking in her appearance. Late twenties, chestnut hair pulled into a sleek bun, minimal makeup, dark-blue eyes hiding behind glasses. All business and worth every penny I paid her. She stared at her tablet, her focus solely on her work. There was no need for tiresome, pointless conversation about how we each spent our Christmases. Elise was efficient enough to be invisible, which I appreciated.

Looking back at my triple monitor display, I asked, “Are the Q3 reports ready for review?”

“Yes, sir, along with all the finalized proposals received.”

I nodded and took a sip of espresso, the bitterness reviving my senses. “Send them to me.”

She tapped on her tablet and within seconds, the reports appeared on my screen. I scrolled through the data, the result of what my brother Nate and I had built from nothing. Our software, Podium, had become the leadingsports-betting app in the world. I was the brains of the operation and Nate was the face. Years of sacrifice and sleepless nights had paid off, except for the recent complication of my brother needing an emergency image rescue. Which he had been wildly successful with. Now it was time for both of us to reap the benefits.

I switched files, scrutinizing two competing offers for the company. I knew the proposals by heart, having spent several days poring over every detail. Just as my eyes began to lose focus, another knock sounded at my door. I didn’t look up from my screen as Elise marched across the room and opened the door. She ushered in Bart Mayhew, our CFO. Bart’s charcoal-gray suit showed some wrinkles and draped loosely on his ample frame. His wiry brown hair was slicked back in an attempt to appear polished, but it only made him look like an extra in aSopranosepisode.

“Merry Christmas,” Bart said to me with a casual grin, sauntering into the room.

I bit back a sigh. “Likewise.”

“Thanks for having this meeting.” He rubbed his hands together. “It got me out of Christmas dinner with my awful sister and brother-in-law. I’d rather work. I can always count on you, Clay.”

I’d had a momentary pang of conscience about calling the two of them in on Christmas Day, but time was running short, and I needed to ensure all was ready. “Let’s get started.”

I motioned them both to the black leather couches in my seating area and refused to show my irritation at his familiarity. Since Bart was a member of the executive team, I couldn’t take too much umbrage at him using my first name. And I didn’t need to like the man to work with him. Elise’s lips pressed into a thin line as she took a seat on thecouch opposite Bart. Collecting my tablet, I moved to a plush leather armchair and transferred the financials to a wall of monitors before us.

“All right,” I began, commanding their full attention. “Everything is in order for the upcoming sale. We’ve completed our due diligence, and now it’s time to finalize the transaction.”

Ambition sparked in Bart’s eyes, but he was more focused on his own personal gain rather than Podium’s success. Fortunately for him, they were one and the same. Elise, on the other hand, remained poised and attentive, ready to assist.

“Both top offers have been sent over,” I said, pulling up the information on the monitors. Bart and I spent the next hour analyzing the proposals, discussing pros and cons and debating our options. Elise quietly took notes as I sifted through the data.

I’d invited Nate to the meeting, but he’d only rolled his eyes and reminded me what day it was. I ignored the tightening in my stomach that I’d blown my family off. All three of them liked to point out that I worked too hard. But was it work when you enjoyed it? I had managed a video conference with Nate a week ago to narrow down the proposals to the final contenders.

“Keep a close eye on these two during the trip,” I instructed Bart. “We need to ensure we choose the right path forward for Podium.”

“Understood,” he replied, nodding. “Both have accepted our invitation and will arrive tomorrow just after we do. Laurent Dubois is flying from Paris and Celeste Rhodes from Santa Clara. And my bags are all packed. I can’t wait for some tropical sun.”

I nodded. “Very well. Elise, ensure all necessary documents are packed.”

“Of course, Mr. Harmon,” she responded with a quick glance at me through her tortoiseshell glasses.

“The sale of Podium is going to be the biggest deal of my career.” I sold my first tech company for two billion dollars at the age of twenty-six. Now, six years later, I expected Podium’s sale to dwarf that. “Podium represents part of my legacy, and I plan on getting top dollar for it.”

I stared at Elise and Bart in turn, gauging their reactions. Elise nodded briskly as she tapped on her tablet. Bart grinned and gave me a thumbs-up. I bit back the urge to snap at him. The man was a necessary evil.