Elodie’s POV
I instinctively pull my tote bag a little tighter against my side. ‘Beckett,’ I say, keeping my voice guarded as I stop in my tracks. ‘I'm sorry, but I’m on my way up to the pool. Lena took the kids ahead.’
‘You can spare a few minutes,’ he says, stepping directly into my path to intercept me. His tone carries the unmistakable, commanding weight of a CEO who is used to dictating terms and controlling the room. The air between us instantly crackles with a sharp, magnetic tension as I glare up at him, my hackles rising at his arrogant authority.
He fixes me with a piercing gaze. ‘We need to talk about last night, Elodie. I’ve had twelve hours to process the fact that I have a daughter, and I’m not letting you brush me off this time.’
I shift my weight, my own stubbornness fl
