New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex)

The warmth and glow of the Christmas party were palpable.

Soft music flowed through the air, mingling with the gentle clink of crystal glasses and the murmur of elegant conversation.

The hotel ballroom was bathed in golden light, and every corner reflected Claire's meticulous attention to detail - from the grand, towering Christmas tree adorned with sparkling ornaments to the garlands wrapped around the sweeping staircase.

Guests were in awe of the festive atmosphere.

Claire, poised and radiant in her midnight-blue gown, stood near the entrance beside Adrian. Their presence together sent ripples through the crowd. Whispers drifted around them-surprised murmurs about the powerful heirs making such a public appearance as a couple.

"She really pulled this off beautifully," one guest whispered.

"Look at them - Claire Peterson and Adrian Saint Laurent. Who would've thought?" another replied. Claire maintained her serene smile, a practiced mask she wore for such occasions. Her fingers toyed subtly with the diamond bracelet on her wrist, a quiet outlet for the tension she refused to show. Adrian leaned in close, his hand gently resting on her waist. His touch grounded her, a reminder that she wasn't facing this alone.

"You're doing amazing," he whispered softly, his breath warm against her ear.

"Thanks to you," she replied, her voice low, a hint of vulnerability slipping through her composed exterior. Just then, Mr. Saint Laurent, Adrian's grandfather, approached with a broad smile. His presence commanded the room; conversations momentarily quieted as he reached them. He wrapped Claire in a warm hug, a rare gesture of affection that spoke volumes.

"You've outdone yourself, Claire," he said, his voice rich with pride. "This is more than I could've hoped for."

Claire smiled genuinely, a flicker of relief breaking through her mask. "Thank you, Mr. Saint Laurent. I'm glad you trusted me with this, even if I wasn't sure I could pull it off."

He chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "I knew you had it in you. Sometimes, we just need a push to remember what we're capable of."

Claire's chest tightened. His words resonated more deeply than she let on. "I appreciate your faith in me." As Mr. Saint Laurent turned to greet another guest, Adrian squeezed her hand. "See? You were always the right person for this."

Claire smiled, feeling a touch of warmth seep into her guarded heart. Maybe, just maybe, she was finding her way back to the woman she once was.

Meanwhile, across the city, Eligos sat in the dimly lit confines of a private office, his eyes cold and calculating. His fingers tapped rhythmically against the surface of his desk, a sinister melody accompanying his thoughts.

The intelligence he'd gathered had paid off. Claire Peterson, the ever-composed and confident businesswoman, was hosting the Christmas party - the perfect stage for his next move. He'd spent too long in the shadows, watching, waiting. Now, it was time to remind her who held the strings.

He picked up his phone and dialed a number. The line clicked after three rings.

Andre's hesitant voice came through. "I'm here."

Eligos leaned back, his voice calm but menacing. "You know what to do?"

Andre took a breath, his nerves barely concealed. "Yes. I've got it."

"Good." Eligos's eyes narrowed. "Remember, no mistakes. Follow the plan exactly, or you'll regret it." Andre swallowed hard. "I understand."

There was a pause, the weight of the unspoken threat hanging heavy in the air.

"Don't disappoint me," Eligos said softly before ending the call.

He leaned forward, the glint of satisfaction in his eyes chilling. Tonight would be a turning point.

Eligos stepped out of his car as he fix his cuff link. He approach the security and nodded at him. The security stop him and scroll on the tablet to check on every guest list.

Lucky for Eligos, he managed to hack into the devices and place his face and fake name along side Andre so they both can have access inside the party.

"Good evening sir, can you please tell us your name?" The security said while scrolling down the tablet. Eligos smile since he knows his name will be there.

"Aaron Smith."

The security nodded and begin to find his name but weirdly enough, it took a long time.

"Apologize sir but your name isn't in the list."

A frown appear on his face in an instant as he did not expect something like this about to happen.

"Could check one more time cause

kone

I'm pretty sure my name is on that list." The security nodded and Eligos take that time to scroll on his phone and check seeing his name is still 99% on the process of hacking.

He cursed under his breath as he did not see this coming.

Damn technology at times.

"Apologies sir, seems like I missed out your name. Please come in."

Eligos nodded as he give the security a tight smile before entering the ballroom.

Back at the party, Claire's intuition prickled. Something felt off, a shift in the air she couldn't quite place. Her smile faltered for just a second before she pushed it back into place.

Adrian noticed immediately. "Are you okay?"

She hesitated, her gaze sweeping the room. "I'm not sure. I just... have a feeling."

"Claire," Adrian said softly, his fingers tightening around hers. "If something's wrong, we'll handle it. You're not alone in this."

She nodded, drawing strength from his presence. "I know. But I can't shake the feeling that something's going to happen."

Sandra approached them, her usual efficiency tempered by concern. "Everything's running smoothly so far, but the security team mentioned a few unfamiliar faces. I've got them watching closely." Claire's jaw clenched. "Stay vigilant. If anything feels even slightly off, I want to know immediately." Sandra nodded. "Understood."

In a shadowed corner near the

entrance, Andre adjusted the cuff of his jacket, his palms slick with sweat. He scanned the room, his

eyes landing on Claire. She was

laughing softly at something Adrian

said, her composure unbreakable.

A pang of regret shot through him. He didn't want to do this- but he had no choice. Eligos's threats

weren't empty, and his mother's safety hung in the balance.

Andre took a deep breath and

reminded himself of the plan. All he had to do was plant the device

Eligos had given him, something el

small enough to go unnoticed but destructive enough to cause chaos. He wiped his hands on his jacket and moved forward.

Claire turned around as she greet the guest but her eyes caught at the familiar and yet familiar face.

For Claire it seems that she have seen him before but she couldn't place a finger where.

"Are you okay, Claire?" Adrian ask Claire as he is standing right beside her.

Claire eyes still trained on that man who is making his way towards the buffer table.

"Yeah, I'm okay. It's just that...that man, I've seen him before but I don't where. His face look familiar."

Adrian follow her gaze and couldn't help but frowned. "Claire, you have met a lot of people. I'm sure he is one of your client or maybe your employee."

Claire thought for a while, she thought to herself. It is possible though but there's this nagging feeling in her chest that she couldn't quite place it.

"Yeah, maybe you are right."