Page 27 of Clock Strikes Paradise (Island Escapes #4)

Nate nodded, his gaze steady. “I can tell you why. Because he’s a colossal asshole and nothing but trouble. Which begs the question—why the hell are we considering selling our company to him?”

My eyes locked together with Nate’s, and the moment stretched out. Communication passed between us silently, something we’d done since we were kids. Our thoughts synchronized, like two perfectly aligned gears in a well-oiled machine. At the same time, we broke into grim smiles.

“We on the same page, then?” I asked quietly.

Nate’s lips curled into a sly, satisfied grin. “Oh, hell yes!”

Camille leaned back in her chair, studying our expressions. Her intuition picked up on the shift in the atmosphere, and she laughed. “Looks like the decision has been made!”

I rose to my feet. “What are we waiting for? Let’s go deliver the news in person.”

Nate joined me. “Absolutely. I’m ready to crash that bastard against the boards.”

“Go get him, guys,” Camille added, sipping her coffee as Nate and I marched out of the restaurant.

As the two of us approached Laurent’s cottage, my blood thrummed through my body. Anger and determination strengthened every step I took. The lush greenery surrounding the bungalow did nothing to soften my resolve.

“I assume you want to take the lead on this?” Nate asked, his voice low but firm.

“Please. I can’t wait.”

After we climbed onto the front deck, I knocked on the door.

Moments later, it swung open to reveal Laurent, already dressed in a dark-gray suit.

As he showed us into his cottage, his expression was one of smug anticipation.

I frowned in distaste as his mistress Irina covered her naked body with a silk robe and disappeared into the bathroom .

“ Bonjour , gentlemen,” Laurent said with a smile as he gestured at a bottle of champagne sitting in an ice bucket. “Are you here to congratulate me on my newest acquisition?”

“No,” I said, striding forward to stop right in front of him. Blinking, he took a step back. “Podium will be sold to Celeste Rhodes and TechWeb. You’ve lost the bid and the company.” I couldn’t resist a cold smile as his arrogant smirk faded into disbelief.

“ Quoi ?” he spat out, his nostrils flaring. “I cannot possibly have been outbid.”

“Our decision has been made and is final.” I put every ounce of steel I owned into the sentence.

Laurent drew himself up tall. “You are making a grave mistake. Your little company will soon be forgotten in the hands of that... Californian woman.”

“It’ll be a cold day in hell before we sell Podium to you,” I said with ice-cold menace.

“And don’t underestimate Celeste,” Nate added. “We think she’ll do wonders with the company. Some things are more important than money—Clay and I both have plenty of that.” He joined my side, a nasty smile rising. “And best of all, you lost.”

The Frenchman lifted his head to stare down his nose at us. “I have lost nothing.”

“You can’t resist being the center of attention, can you?” I asked. “You have to get your two cents in, even in situations that don’t concern you. At all.”

Understanding flashed over his face. Laurent sneered, his eyes narrowing as he glanced between us. “Ah... I see what is going on here. This is about your assistant, isn’t it? You are a fool, Clay, letting your emotions dictate your decisions. ”

My jaw tightened, but I refused to let him bait me. “And what’s the alternative? To be an aloof asshole with zero emotional depth like you? No, thanks. And thank God I figured that out in time. Your presence here is no longer needed.”

As we turned to leave, Laurent shouted after us, his face red with rage. “As you wish! I’m calling my pilot and flying out of this... shithole immediately. I can assure you both you’re making a terrible error. One you will deeply regret.”

“Save your breath,” Nate called back dismissively. “You were so busy thinking we couldn’t turn down your offer that you never even considered that Clay and I could buy every company you own. Consider yourself lucky we’ve got better things to do.”

We walked away, leaving Laurent fuming inside.

Strolling down the path flanked by manicured croton plants, I let a sense of triumph and relief wash over me.

Nate stretched both hands over his head, grinning as we walked. “Man, that felt awesome. Great way to start the day.”

I let a humorless smile rise. “It was. And Podium is much better off now.”

But there was still one more person I needed to convince, and Camille’s words caromed off the inside of my head. “ Elise doesn’t need to reassure you of her sincerity. You need to reassure her. ”

My steps slowed.

Nate followed my silent train of thought and gripped my shoulder. “I’ll go talk to Celeste and tell her TechWeb is the new owner of Podium. You go straighten things out with Elise.”

I halted. “You sure? I should really be there. I don’t want Celeste to feel slighted that I didn’t show. ”

Nate affected an insulted look as he smacked me on the shoulder hard enough to make me stagger. “Have you forgotten? I’m the charming one! She won’t even realize you’re not there.”

Laughing, I conceded. “Go to it, then. And thanks.”

He gave me a wave as he turned away. “Good luck.”

I marched toward our cottage. Our. How easily that plural came to me.

Since returning to Calypso Key, something had been stretched within me.

And now it couldn’t go back to its former shape.

I smiled crookedly as I gave that something a name.

As corny as it sounded, Elise had changed the shape of my heart.

And it was time to convince her of that.