Page 19 of Clock Strikes Paradise

As engrossed as I was in the conversation, it took amoment for the raised voices nearby to register in my mind. When they did, I recognized Elise’s raised, strained tone and bolted to my feet.

“Mr. Harmon,” the Japanese CEO said in his excellent English. “This is a delicate matter, and requires a thorough…”

I quit listening when Elise shouted something else. I couldn’t make out exactly what she was saying, but her tone came through loud and clear.

“I have to go. We’ll talk later,” I said abruptly, hanging up without waiting for a response.

My heart hammered in my chest as I rushed toward Elise’s cottage, and I tried to figure out what would cause my calm, unflappable assistant to raise her voice. When I rounded the corner, I found Elise and Bart on her front deck. They faced each other and both Elise’s fists were clenched—her teeth were practically bared. She stood tall, asserting herself despite the fear lingering in her eyes.

“Goddammit, Bart, leave me alone!” she screamed, her voice filled with anger and desperation.

That was all I needed to hear. A red curtain descended over my eyes and I started running. Bart’s eyes widened as he caught sight of me, and he blanched. I didn’t hesitate, racing up the steps and onto the porch.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, though I had a pretty good idea just from what I’d seen and heard so far.

Bart scrambled for words, trying to regain some semblance of control over the situation. “It was a... misunderstanding, Mr. Harmon,” he said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat. “Elise just, um, misconstrued my actions.”

My jaw clenched, and I shot Bart a withering glare.You’re back to addressing me formally, huh?I was already itching to throw a punch. This wasn’t just some petty squabble or misunderstanding. Raw emotion was written all over Elise’s face.

“Like hell I did, you asshole,” Elise spat, her voice tight and shaking. Then she jerked her head to stare wide-eyed at me, as if she just realized she’d sworn in front of her boss.

But I didn’t get a chance to reassure her that I thought a few cuss words were entirely appropriate.

When I saw the red handprint on Elise’s arm, the rest of the world disappeared. My pulse roared in my ears. The very thought of Bart laying hands on her sent a surge of rage through me. I stormed up to him, pointing at the mark on her arm.

“Did you do this?” I demanded, my voice low and dangerous.

Bart opened and closed his mouth like a fish out of water, but no words came out. It was all the confirmation I needed.

“You’re fired,” I snarled.

Elise stared at me with her mouth hinged open, but that only fueled my resolve further.

Bart blinked a few times before his face contorted into a sneer. “I’m the CFO! You need me for the Podium sale. You can’t fire me.”

“Oh, yes, I can. I am.”

“I have rights! There’s a process for this.”

My right hand curled into a fist. “So sue me. In fact, I dare you to.” I stepped forward until we were inches apart, towering over him. “Do you really think there is any portion of my business that I don’t know backward and forward? You are nothing more than a regulatory requirement. I can replace you at will. You have half an hour tomake flight arrangements and get out of here. On your own dime.”

Bart staggered back, shocked. “How am I supposed to do that?”

I arched a brow, still pissed enough to wrestle a lion. “That is not even remotely my concern. Or Elise’s. Leave here now or I’m calling security. Assuming I don’t beat the living shit out of you right now.”

Bart’s face went white, and his eyes darted between Elise and me. “All right. I’m leaving.”

“Thirty minutes, Bart,” I said with frozen rage.

Without another word, he slinked away from us, scurrying across the sand toward his cottage.

Elise stared at me like I was a stranger, shocked at the intensity of my anger. I was surprised by it myself. It wasn’t like me to get so worked up, but that handprint on Elise’s arm made me want to pummel Bart into the ground.

“Are you all right?” I asked, softening my voice.

At my words, relief washed over her face. “I’m fine, thanks. And thank you.”

Blood still sang through my body. I felt like a goddamn caveman, ready to knock someone over the head with my club. Yet her simple gratitude made me tongue-tied and flustered. “Is there anything... I can do to help?” I asked, stumbling over my words.