Page 36 of Clock Strikes Paradise

Laurent stared between us, his teeth grinding. “Yes, I can see how busy you all are. Most unprofessional, and I am not accustomed to being treated like this. Perhaps I will just withdraw my offer altogether.” He turned away from us, stalking off toward his own accommodations.

“Go ahead without me,” Clay said, touching my arm gently. His voice still had that edge to it, but now that we were alone, he let his irritation show through. “I’ll smooth things over with Laurent and join you shortly.”

“All right. Good luck.”

I gave him a sympathetic look before entering the cottage alone. The tension in my body started to dissipate as I stepped into the shower, letting the warm water washaway the stress of dealing with Laurent. It was a stark reminder that Clay and I weren’t on a lover’s tryst.

As I stood there, the steady stream of water cascading down my skin, I went over the plans for the gala in my head, mentally ticking off all the last-minute details that needed to be handled. After my shower, I wrapped myself in a plush towel and stepped out into my bedroom. Just as I finished dressing, I heard the front door open and Clay’s footsteps. I entered the living room to find him standing with his arms crossed, his eyes betraying a lingering frustration.

He dropped onto a couch and scrubbed a hand through his hair. Tufts of it stuck up. “Asshole. I’m paying for everything, and all that man ever does is bitch.”

“Come here,” I said, moving to sit beside him on the couch. “Let me help you relax.” Leaning into me, Clay allowed me to rub his rock-hard shoulders. “Did you calm him down?”

He groaned as I rubbed a tight knot, then nodded. “Yeah. He’s a prick, but he wants Podium. He knew he pushed me as far as I’ll go and backed down, apologizing.”

His muscles gradually loosened under my touch, and warmth spread between us. Clay turned his head to look at me, and our eyes locked. Slowly, our lips met.

All three times we’d made love had been different. The first time had been raw power and passion. The second he’d been tender and caring, making sure he was gentle. And the third time had been absolutely perfect—the result of a man who understood what I liked and wanted to give it to me. This kiss was an echo.

Now I knew what he needed. To feel powerful. I closed my fist in his hair, pulling him in as I parted his lips with my tongue. I bit down gently on his lip, making him groan against my mouth. For a long, breathless moment, all thecomplications and distractions of our world disappeared, leaving only us.

When we finally broke apart, he closed his eyes and rested his forehead against mine. “Thank you,” he whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. “I needed that.”

I decided to inject a little humor into the situation. “Consider it a perk of the job. Though I don't remember seeing it in my contract.”

As I’d hoped, his face lit up in a smile as he leaned back. “I’m sure neither of us expected this to happen, but right now, you’re exactly what I need.”

And hearing that made my heart feel like it was too big for my chest. We were such different people living such different lives. But for the first time, a glimmer of hope alighted within me. Maybe we could make this work.

Chapter Eighteen

Clay

I leanedback against the couch, a contented sigh escaping my lips. Elise sat beside me, her presence a warmth that lingered even though her fingers had stopped their soothing massage. But her warm side touching mine was a vivid reminder of the kiss we had just shared. The frustration of dealing with Laurent had faded, replaced by a sense of relaxed contentment I hadn’t anticipated.

My gaze drifted toward the turquoise ocean shimmering in the distance beyond my pool. The late afternoon sun turned the water into a canvas of shimmering gold and aqua, a breathtaking contrast to the sleek steel and glass of my normal Manhattan world. A warm, inviting world I wanted to immerse myself in.

“Do you want to go for a walk?” I asked, the words escaping before I could stop them. I wasn’t one for casual strolls, especially not when a crucial business deal hung in the balance. But the idea of spending time with Elise, awayfrom the confines of work and negotiations, was unexpectedly appealing.

Elise’s smile widened. “I’d love to,” she replied, her voice light and happy.

We stepped out of the cottage and onto the beach, the air soft and fragrant with the scent of salt and seagrass. I slipped off my loafers, feeling the fine, white sand between my toes, a novel sensation for a man accustomed to Italian leather and polished marble floors.

“You mentioned wanting to explore new opportunities within the company,” I said, my gaze on the endless stretch of turquoise water before us. “What type of position are you interested in?”

Elise was quiet for a moment, her dark blue eyes thoughtful. “To be honest, I’m intrigued by GreenDrive. The electric vehicle industry is fascinating, and I’d love to be involved somehow.”

“It’s definitely a game-changer,” I agreed, my mind already racing with the possibilities my new venture might bring. “We’re still in the early stages of the buyout, so there’s plenty of time to explore different options.”

“Good, I wouldn’t want to rush into anything.” She laughed and the sound was like honey dripping from a spoon, sweet and rich. “Besides, I’ve got a feeling you’re not exactly eager to find a new assistant.”

“You’re damn right about that. You’re too good at what you do. No one’s ever lasted this long.”

“That’s because you terrorized all the others into quitting,” she teased, her smile lighting up her face.

I stopped walking and turned to face her, taking her hand in mine. “No,” I said, my voice softening as our fingers intertwined. “That’s because you have steelinside you, Elise. You’ve done excellent work the past three years and I’m sorry I haven’t told you that more often.”

“It’s all right,” she said as we began strolling again, heading toward the waterline. “It’s not your nature. You expressed your appreciation in more… subtle ways.”