In other words, no. Clay had no intention of apologizing. Undoubtedly, he’d believed her quest to learn about the casino business would end when he kicked her out. Now he’d discovered her involvement with Jack and didn’t like it. Well, too dashed bad. She’d found someone else to help her. She didn’t need Clayton Madden any longer. “You may send him away. I have nothing to say to him.”

Maeve patted her arm, a sign of female solidarity that Florence appreciated.

“Listen,” Mulligan said and held up his hands. “If you don’t see him now, he’ll only keep coming back, bothering me, until you do.”

“You don’t have to be alone with him,” Katie told Florence. “I’ll come with you, if you want.”

“Thank you,” Florence said, genuinely touched by the offer. She’d met these women only recently. “But that’s not necessary. I don’t plan on speaking to him ever again.”

“Be reasonable, Florence,” Mulligan said. “I can’t have Madden darkening my doorstep. Please, for me? Hear him out and then get rid of him.”

Guilt twisted Florence’s stomach. Mulligan had been very kind to her. She could do this one small thing, couldn’t she? She’d spend a few minutes with Clay then get rid of him.

But was she ready? Clay had caught her by surprise, coming down here and demanding to see her. Why must she jump to his tune? The great Clayton Madden asked and the world rushed to do his bidding. Well, not Florence. Not anymore.

She’d learned her lesson. She was a distraction to him. A bother. A nuisance. He could wait, as far as she was concerned. Perhaps that would teach him a lesson about how to treat people.

In fact, maybe that lesson needed to include showing him that she no longer cared what he thought. That she was happy, thriving here in Mulligan’s care.

And maybe Clay needed to see what he was missing. Namely, her.

Her gaze landed on the colorful skirts hanging on the metal bar. Indeed, all those lessons were definitely in order. “Fine, I’ll see him,” she told Mulligan. “Tell him that I’ll speak to him after the performance.”

Maeve asked, “Are you saying . . . ?”

“Yes. Do you have an extra costume for me?”

Katie hooted and Maeve laughed. “Let’s get her ready, girls!”

Chapter Fifteen

“She needs a moment.”

Clay stopped pacing to glare at Mulligan, who’d just come through the door. “What does that mean?”

Mulligan stepped inside the office and thrust his hands deep in his pockets. “She’s busy right now. When she’s free, you may speak with her.”

“Busy doing what?”

“It won’t take long. Come with me.” Mulligan appeared on the verge of laughing, his mouth twitching, lips pressed together tightly.

Irritation prickled over Clay’s skin, tiny bursts of annoyance. “Do I have a choice?”