New beginning: Billionaire love story

Claire and Sandra boarded the sleek private jet, the hum of its engines a constant reminder of the journey ahead. Sandra, excited yet trying to appear composed, looked around, marveling at the luxurious interior. Claire, on the other hand, was deep in thought, her mind occupied with strategies and the upcoming meeting in Las Vegas. She had decided to bring Sandra along, entrusting Matthew with keeping an eye on both Metacortex and Cryptonic. The hope was that Eligos would stay under the radar, at least for a few days.

Once settled in her seat, Claire's phone buzzed, interrupting her thoughts. Claire, on the other hand, seemed distracted. Her phone buzzed on the armrest, pulling her attention away from the documents she was skimming through.

She checked the caller ID and rolled her eyes. It was Matthew Finnegan. Despite the slight annoyance, a small smile tugged at her lips. She was relieved he was still looking out for her, even if it bordered on overprotectiveness.

Answering the call, Claire's tone was deliberately bored. "Matthew, what is it now?"

"Claire, just checking in," Matthew's voice was cheerful, but there was an undertone of worry. "Are you sure you don't want another person to accompany you? Just in case?"

Her eyebrows raised at the mention of "accompany". "Hmm...who is this person you are referring to that will accompany me?"

"I don't know but maybe for an instance, me? I mean I have quite a lot of free time though and I bet I will be very useful to you."

Claire sighed, leaning back in her seat. "For the last time, Matthew, I'll be fine. Sandra's with me, and I don't need a babysitter."

Matthew, undeterred, continued, "I know you can handle yourself, but... humor me. I just want to make sure you're safe."

Claire couldn't help but smile slightly. Despite his annoying persistence, she appreciated his protective nature. "Look, I'm not going to do anything reckless unless I have no other choice. You need to focus on recovering and keeping things under control on your end. Remember Metacortex and Cryptonic will be in your hand."

"I know, I know," Matthew said, his tone softening. "I just feel guilty, you know, leaving you to deal with all this, especially with Andre showing up out of the blue."

"Don't," Claire replied firmly. "We're a team, Matthew. You're doing what you can, and so am I. We'll get through this."

"Okay," Matthew finally relented. "Just... stay safe, alright? And let me know if you need anything." "Will do," Claire said, her voice gentler now. "Take care of yourself, Matthew. I'll see you soon."

As the call ended, Claire exhaled deeply, closing her eyes for a moment to gather her thoughts. Sandra, sitting across from her, noticed Claire's subtle change in demeanor.

"Matthew again?" Sandra asked a hint of amusement in her voice.

Claire opened her eyes and nodded. "Yeah, he's just being his usual overprotective self."

Sandra smiled. "It's nice to have someone who cares that much. Not everyone is so lucky."

Claire gave a small smile, appreciating Sandra's perspective. "True. But sometimes, I wish he'd back off just a little."noveldrama

The two women shared a brief laugh before settling into a comfortable silence, each lost in her own thoughts as the jet prepared for take off.

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, Alexander was already on the ground, his plane having landed smoothly just an hour ago. As he looked out the car window, watching the bright lights of the city flash by, his mind was elsewhere. The conversation he had with Claire earlier in the week played back in his head. He knew she would refuse his offer to fly together, but he asked anyway, a part of him hoping for a different answer. "Thinking about Claire again?" Christian's voice broke through his thoughts. Alexander's right-hand man had a knack for reading him, much to Alexander's chagrin.

"Maybe yes or maybe not," Alexander admitted, his tone nonchalant.

Christian gave him a knowing look. "You still holding onto that hope that things might change between you two?"

Alexander shrugged, leaning his head back against the seat. "I'm not sure anymore. It just seems like no matter what I do, she'll always see me as the enemy."

Christian nodded. "It's tough, Alex. But you've made strides. Maybe it just takes more time."

"Maybe," Alexander murmured, though he wasn't entirely convinced.

The car pulled up to the newly constructed Harris Hotel, an imposing structure of glass and steel that gleamed under the Vegas sun. The driver quickly exited to open the door for Alexander, who stepped out, taking in the view.

Christian followed, glancing at Alexander. "Nervous?"

"Not about the opening," Alexander replied. "I just want everything to go perfectly. We've got a lot of eyes on us."

Christian grinned. "And they will. You've built something incredible here."

Alexander gave a small nod, appreciating the encouragement. "I know and in just a few days, that word will come out of their mouth."

As they entered the hotel, the grandeur of the lobby greeted them, a testament to the hard work that had gone into making this dream a reality.

"Let's go check out the final preparations," Alexander said, his mind shifting back to work. "I want every detail perfect before Claire arrives. God knows what remarks she will make if she sees things don't go her way."

Christian held back a smirk and patted Alex's shoulder. "I don't know if you are aware but you do realize that this hotel belongs to you right? Meaning you own this hotel. And why are you worried about what Claire thinks?"

Alexander thought for a moment

and his best friend's word sinks in. He thought to himself why is he so worried about what Claire thinks? Christian is right, this is his hotel and Alex can do whatever he wants to with his hotel why does he seek Claire's validation?

Back on the plane, Claire and Sandra were going over the itinerary for the weekend. Claire was meticulous, wanting to ensure everything was accounted for, especially given the high-profile nature of the event.

"We've got the press conference, the ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the gala dinner," Sandra listed,

checking off items on her tablet. "And then the private meetings with the investors.

Claire nodded. "Let's make sure we have everything lined up. The fewer surprises, the better."

Sandra smiled. "With you in charge, surprises are unlikely."

Claire laughed softly. "I hope you're right."

As they continued planning, Claire's

thoughts drifted momentarily to Alexander Despite their strained relationship, she knew he was competent, and she couldn't deny the part of her that wished things had turned out differently between them.

The jet began its descent, the lights of Las Vegas coming into view. Claire straightened up, preparing herself mentally for the days ahead. It was going to be a whirlwind, but Claire was ready. With Sandra by her side and Matthew keeping things steady back home, she felt as

prepared as she could be.

As the wheels touched down, Claire took a deep breath. "Let's do this," she said, more to herself than anyone else.

Sandra smiled, closing her tablet. "Ready when you are, Claire."

With that, they disembarked, the bustling energy of Las Vegas already palpable. The next few days would

be crucial, and Claire was determined to make the most of them.