Page 26 of Clock Strikes Paradise (Island Escapes #4)

Chapter Twenty-One

Clay

I blinked my eyes open to dim light coming into my bedroom.

After rubbing the sleep from them, I tried to shake off the lingering remnants of dreams. All night, I’d been consumed with thoughts of Elise, her guarded face from last night etched into my memory.

Overnight, my anger had dulled to a quiet, hollow despondency.

I wanted to go to her but held back. This self-doubt was unfamiliar territory for me.

And I didn’t like it one damn bit.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed, running a hand over the stubble on my jaw.

A quick glance at the clock told me it was almost seven.

I changed into slacks and a polo shirt and shaved, but my eyes were still bloodshot.

With a sigh, I made my way into the living room and dialed room service, ordering a continental breakfast and fresh coffee.

Enough for two. Even though I had a breakfast meeting with Nate soon, eating now might help settle my stomach as well as my mind .

As I waited, I tried to focus on the reports on my laptop screen. Except the words blurred together, meaningless. Instead, my thoughts drifted back to Elise and how different she’d been last night.

Why?

What had caused that sudden change?

A young man from room service arrived quickly, setting up breakfast on the cottage’s dining table before bowing out.

I poured a cup of coffee, the rich scent not soothing me as I sat down.

My restless, confused night had convinced me of one thing—Elise’s attitude shift hadn’t happened in a vacuum.

Something had caused it. I was hurt and pissed off last night, not able to think clearly.

And I’d lashed out at her because of it.

But I wasn’t going to let things drop between us.

We were too good together, dammit.

The sound of a door creaking open pulled me from my musings. I glanced up as Elise shuffled out of her room, her hair disheveled and dark circles under her eyes. She looked haggard, like she hadn’t slept at all.

“Morning,” I said softly, my stomach twisting. “I ordered some breakfast. And coffee.”

“Thanks,” she murmured, offering me a shaky smile.

Taking the hint, I poured her a cup of coffee and gestured to the seat opposite me. “Please, sit down,” I urged, trying to keep my voice gentle.

She hesitated, then sank into the chair next to me, wrapping her hands around the warm mug.

I inhaled, steeling myself. “I want to apologize for yelling last night. You caught me really off guard, and I didn’t handle it well. I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” she murmured back, her eyes flicking briefly to meet mine before darting away again .

“Can I ask you something?” I ventured cautiously. “ Why did you change your mind? Did something specific happen?”

At first, Elise didn’t respond, taking a slow sip of her coffee as if gathering her thoughts. Finally, she looked up at me, her gaze filled with uncertainty and vulnerability. I held my breath, waiting for her answer.

“Clay, I... Ever since sparks started to fly between us, I’ve had doubts. A billionaire falling for his assistant? It just seems so... unrealistic. A childish dream, and I told you I don’t believe in those. You’ve dated supermodels and movie stars, for God’s sake!”

Anger flared in me at that, but I remained quiet, letting her talk.

She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing.

“Last night at the bar, I ran into Laurent. He basically said the same thing, that it was stupid to think someone like you could be serious about me. And it got me thinking... maybe he’s right. ”

Hearing that Laurent was the cause of all this made my blood boil, but I forced myself to stay calm. He wasn’t the problem here. I clenched my jaw and focused on what she was saying.

“So I could never fall for a woman who isn’t a model?” I asked, the hurt roaring back that she didn’t see me as a person capable of genuine feelings. “Do you really think I’m that shallow? That I can’t see past someone’s surface?”

“That’s not it,” she tried to explain, her eyes pleading with me to understand. “It’s not about you being shallow, it’s about... the power dynamics, the expectations, everything that comes with being involved with someone like you. The sneers that you’d be with me when you could have anyone.”

But now I was too hurt and pissed off to truly hear her.

Basically, right back to where I was last night.

Her words felt like a knife twisting in my chest, and I couldn’t shake it.

“I promise you, I am not that guy,” I said firmly.

“I care about you, and what we’ve started here is real.

But if you can’t see that—if you’d rather believe that French prick’s opinion, then.

..” I trailed off, not able to finish the thought.

She opened her mouth, but I checked my watch and stood, cutting her off.

Things felt worse between us, not better.

And I had business to attend to. “I’ve got to meet Nate about the Podium sale.

We’re making the final decision.” I paused to gather my thoughts.

This meeting was something Elise would normally be right next to me at.

But not now. “Stay here and work on the gala arrangements.”

I stalked from the cottage toward Dorado, an imaginary black cloud looming over my head.

Nate and Camille sat at an isolated table.

Irritation flashed through me at her presence, along with a hot, sharp pang of jealousy at their closeness.

Then I reminded myself that Camille wasn’t just Nate’s girlfriend, she was his business partner now.

She had a right to be here. As I sat down, the weight of Elise’s words still felt like an iron anvil in my chest.

Nate noticed immediately that something was wrong. “Hey, what’s up with you? You look like shit. That’s not the happy I didn’t get any sleep look I was expecting.”

“It’s not. Last night didn’t go as I expected at all.

” My words came out clipped and cool, as if I was leading a meeting.

And that realization made all the starch dissolve from my spine.

I sighed and told them about Elise’s change of heart.

“She thinks I’m shallow, and that I could never be interested in someone like her.

I can’t believe I was so wrong about her. ”

Camille looked thoughtful, then raised her eyes to me. “Don’t kill me for what I’m about to say, okay? I think you might be misunderstanding her point of view here. Did she call you shallow?”

“No, but what else would you call it?”

She just stared at me. “Can you really blame her for feeling that way?”

“Blame her?” I snapped, incredulous. “Why should she get to decide who I am? To choose whether I’m capable of caring about someone?”

“She doesn’t,” Camille said gently. “Look, I ran into her yesterday evening after Laurent said some harsh things to her. I don’t think it’s about deciding who you are.

I don’t know Elise well, but she seems very hard-working and independent.

She cares about her career and doesn’t want to appear like she’s after your money.

Or your power and influence. She’s not one of your arm-candy girls looking for a free ride.

Being with you is a huge risk for her, and she’s scared of losing everything she’s worked so hard for if things don’t work out between you two. ”

I stared right back at Camille, willing that icy rage to rise again.

To tell her how wrong she was and that I was the aggrieved party here.

Instead, I thumped back in the booth, as numbness washed over me.

Because her words struck a chord in me. That was precisely what Elise had said, but I hadn’t thought about it from that perspective.

I’d been so focused on how hurt I was that I hadn’t considered the very real fear Elise must be feeling.

“Shit, I’ve been an asshole again.” I rubbed my eyes, then sat up straight and faced the duo across the table.

“I couldn’t care less that she’s my assistant, or that she doesn’t have money like I do.

You and I didn’t grow up rich, Nate. You know what those relationships with models and actresses got me?

Nothing. I felt alone. But the last few days.

.. I’ve had fun with Elise. We’ve laughed together.

Do you have any idea how long it’s been since a woman made me laugh? ”

Nate stared at me, all traces of his usual humor gone. “Yeah. I do, Clay.”

Camille leaned forward, tapping the table to emphasize her point. “What I’m trying to say is that you’re missing the point . Elise doesn’t need to reassure you of her sincerity. You need to reassure her.”

I thought back to our two recent painful conversations.

I’d said nothing to comfort her. I’d just assumed she wanted to be with me and then got pissed off when she said otherwise.

I groaned and wanted to fling my hands in the air.

“Look, I’m hell on wheels in the boardroom, but this relationship crap isn’t exactly my strong suit. Where do I even begin?”

Camille laughed and shook her head. “By telling her how she makes you feel, you big lug. What you just said about her making you laugh would be a very good start.”

“Did her interaction with Laurent last night cause all this?” Nate asked, one hand curled around his coffee mug.

“Yes,” I snarled, clenching my fists under the table. “He convinced her that she was nothing but a meaningless fling for me.”

Camille frowned, her delicate eyebrows knitting together. “And you didn’t make it loud and clear that that wasn’t true?”

I sighed, feeling a mix of frustration and embarrassment. “I tried, but I screwed it up. Laurent apparently just reinforced her own fears. I have no idea why he stuck his ugly nose into our private business.”