New beginning: Billionaire love story

Claire barely had time to catch her breath. The buzz of the event hummed around her like an annoying mosquito she couldn't swat away. She was pretending to admire a fancy display of jewelry-though in truth, she was more focused on counting down the minutes until she could leave-when she felt a tap on her shoulder.

Startled, she spun around, nearly colliding with the familiar face of Mr. Novak's assistant.

"Oh! Hello," Claire said, plastering on her polite smile. It wasn't a particularly enthusiastic smile, but hey, it was professional. The assistant, a young man with slightly crooked glasses and a nervous energy, grinned back.

"Good evening, Ms. Peterson. How are you?" he asked, his voice a little too cheerful.

"I'm doing fine, thank you," Claire replied, keeping her tone neutral but friendly. "And you?"

"Oh, I'm good, just running around like crazy tonight. You know how these events go!" He chuckled awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. Then he straightened up, as if remembering something important. "Uh, Mr. Novak wanted to see you. He asked me to come and get you."

Claire nodded, her curiosity piqued. "Lead the way."

The assistant led her down a sleek, modern staircase to the first floor of the event venue. It was a lavish space-shiny marble floors, walls lined with abstract art, and waiters floating around with trays of champagne. At the far end of the room, she spotted Mr. Novak, a tall, confident man in his mid-fifties, deep in conversation with someone who looked just as important.

As they approached, Novak glanced up and spotted Claire. His face lit up, and he immediately excused himself from his guest, making his way toward her with the enthusiasm of someone greeting an old friend. "Claire!" he boomed, extending a hand. "I'm so glad you could make it tonight."

Claire shook his hand firmly, her polite smile still in place. "Of course, Mr. Novak. It's part of the job." "Nonsense," Novak said, waving her comment away like an annoying fly. "It's more than that. I've been looking forward to thanking you in person. The work you and your team at Metacortex did? Phenomenal. Absolutely phenomenal."

"Thank you," Claire said, feeling a small swell of pride despite herself. "We're glad we could meet your expectations."

"Expectations? You exceeded them!" Novak exclaimed, his booming laugh echoing through the room. "I'm more than satisfied with the software. It's streamlined everything we do.'

Claire tilted her head, her curiosity getting the better of her. "That's great to hear. But I have to ask, does the recent... scandal around Metacortex affect how you see the company?"

Novak let out a hearty laugh, the kind that made heads turn. He waved his hand dismissively. "Scandals? Bah! They're just noise. People love drama, don't they? As far as I'm concerned, as long as Metacortex keeps up the good work, I don't care what the tabloids say. Results are what matter."

Claire nodded, filing his response away. She wasn't sure if she admired his pragmatism or found it slightly reckless. "Well, I'm glad to hear that. We're committed to delivering results.

"And that's why I trust you," Novak said with a wink.

The evening dragged on in a whirl of small talk, fancy hors d'oeuvres, and just enough fake laughter to make Claire's cheeks hurt. She checked her watch for what felt like the hundredth time when Novak's voice boomed through the room again.

"Ladies and gentlemen! It's time to officially open the store!"

The crowd clapped politely, and Novak beckoned Claire to join him at the ribbon-cutting station. A massive red ribbon stretched across the entrance to his shiny new pop-up store, glimmering under the lights. "Claire, I'd be honored if you'd cut the ribbon with me," Novak said, handing her an oversized pair of scissors that could've been a prop in a sitcom.

Claire smiled her "camera smile" as the photographers swarmed like hungry bees. She stood beside Novak, scissors poised and snipped the ribbon with practiced grace. Cameras clicked furiously, capturing every second. Novak beamed and clapped her on the back, almost knocking the scissors out of her hands.

As the store opened to cheers and applause, Claire quietly stepped back, her smile fading the second she was out of the photographers' view. She found herself retreating to a quiet corner, sipping a glass of sparkling water she didn't even want.

The truth was, she was bored out of her mind. outside, but in reality, they were all the same headache from trying to stay polite for hours. "Why did I even agree to this?" she muttered under her breath. She glanced at her watch again, calculating how much longer she'd have to endure. Then a thought crossed her mind, lighting up her mood instantly.

Fancy events like this always looked glamorous from the awkward small talk, endless schmoozing, and a persistent

What if I just... left?

The idea was tempting. No one would notice if she slipped out quietly, right? Novak was busy basking in the glory of his new store, and the rest of the crowd didn't even know her name. It wasn't like she was obligated to stay until the bitter end.

Claire grinned mischievously to herself. Decision made. She grabbed her coat from the rack near the entrance, blending into the background like a pro. Before she knew it, she was out the door and into the crisp night air.

Outside, London was alive with its

usual energy. The streets buzzed with activity-cars honking, people laughing and the occasional street performer adding to the chaos Claire pulled her coat tighter around herself and took a deep breath, savoring the fresh air.

“Much better,” she said to no one in particular.

Her stomach growled, and she realized she hadn't eaten much. Those tiny appetizers didn't count as food. She spotted a late-night food truck parked across the street, the smell of grilled cheese and fries wafting over to her. Withounoveldrama

hesitation, she crossed the street and got in line.

A few minutes later, she was sitting on a bench, a gooey grilled cheese sandwich in hand. It wasn't glamorous, but it was exactly what she needed. She let out a satisfied sigh, her boredom from earlier completely forgotten.

Her phone buzzed in her pocket, and she reluctantly pulled it out, half-expecting some work-related notification. Instead, it was a text from Adrian.

Adrian: Surviving the party? Or have you run off yet?

Claire chuckled, quickly typing back.

Claire: Guess.

The reply came almost instantly.

Adrian: You ran, didn't you?

Claire: Yup. Currently eating a grilled cheese on a park bench. Fancy, huh?

Adrian: Very classy. Wish I could accompany you there.

A smile crept up her face and she couldn't help grinning ear to ear responding to Adrian's text. Claire: I'm fine here don't worry about me. Just focus on yourself and work. We'll see each other soon. Claire sighed as she placed her phone inside her clutch and walked along the park. However, despite the calm sound in the park, her mind keeps drifting to the thought of Matthew who is lying on the hospital bed unconscious.

Just thinking about that makes Claire's blood boil. She still feels anger and sadness at the thought of someone hurting the person she loved and cared about. She can only hope that she can find that person.