New beginning: Billionaire love story

Matthew glanced up at Claire, eyebrows raised. "What's the plan after this? Just leak it all?"

Claire didn't answer right away. Instead, she leaned back in her chair, tapping her fingers on the desk, deep in thought. Then, with a sudden decision, she buzzed her intercom. "Sandra, get me the jet ready. I'm heading to France." Sandra's voice crackled through the speaker, steady as ever. "On it, Ms. Peterson."

Matthew's eyes went wide. "Wait, wait, wait-France? You're going to France? Like, right now?"

Claire smirked. "What better way to deal with Claudia than face-to-face? I'm not going to sit back and play digital chess. I want her to see me coming."

Matthew crossed his arms, eyebrows knitting together. "But, Claire, come on! You can't just—”

Claire held up a hand to stop him. "I can and I will. Besides, I prefer confronting her directly rather than dealing with this mess from a distance. She's not going to get away with this."

Matthew sat up straight, shaking his head. "Then let me come with you. I'll be there to back you up! You know, in case things get... messy."

Claire rolled her eyes, already anticipating his argument. "Matthew, I need you here in London. You're better off at the office, tracking Claudia's movements. If she's pulling strings, I want to know about it, and you're the best at sniffing out her next moves." Matthew slumped in his seat, looking like a disappointed kid who'd just been told he couldn't go to Disneyland. "But... France! Come on, Claire! I wanna help!"

She chuckled softly, used to his whining by now. "I'll bring you back a souvenir," she teased, unable to resist.noveldrama

Instantly, Matthew's face lit up, his childish grin spreading ear to ear. "Deal! But it better be a cool souvenir. None of that cheesy Eiffel Tower keychain stuff."

Claire shook her head, smiling despite herself. She had no idea how someone so calculating and brilliant could also be such a complete child sometimes. Standing up, she slung her bag over her shoulder and started for the door.

Just as she reached the threshold, Matthew called after her. "Claire."

She turned, eyebrows raised in question. His expression had shifted, the playfulness replaced by something serious. "Be careful, okay?"

For a brief moment, Claire softened. She gave him a small, appreciative smile and nodded. "Always."

Leaving her office, Claire strolled down the hallway to where Sandra was waiting at her desk. "Have my car ready in the lobby," Claire instructed, and without missing a beat, Sandra got to work on her phone. Claire made a quick call, her mind already focused on the confrontation ahead as she stepped into the elevator.

By the time she reached the lobby, the reporters camped outside had thinned out. Maybe they'd grown tired of waiting for hours with no response. Claire didn't so much as glance in their direction as she exited the building, her focus unwavering. She ignored the rapid-fire questions hurled her way, slipping into the backseat of her waiting car.

The drive to the airport dragged on longer than she'd hoped. After an hour of sitting in traffic, Claire huffed in frustration, muttering under her breath. "Should've taken the helicopter."

The car finally pulled up at a quieter entrance, one designed for private use. Claire wasted no time, hopping out of the car the second it stopped. The air stewardess and pilot were already there, greeting her as she hurried up the stairs into the jet.

But the moment she stepped inside, she froze. There, sitting casually in one of the plush seats, was Adrian, looking like he was exactly where he was supposed to be.

Claire stammered, completely caught off guard. "Adrian? What are you doing here?"

He smiled in that easygoing way of his. "Heard you were headed to France. Figured I could keep you company."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Claire gave him a knowing look. "Let me guess-Matthew Finnegan gave you a call?"

Adrian chuckled, holding his hands up in surrender. "Guilty. He thought you might need a partner in crime."

Claire rolled her eyes, amused despite the surprise. "That little sneak," she muttered, before dropping into the seat across from Adrian. "You didn't have to come, you know. I can handle this."

Adrian leaned back, stretching out in the seat, clearly unbothered. "I've got plenty of time, and besides, what better way to be productive than to hang out with you?"

Claire narrowed her eyes at him, her lips twitching upward in a smirk. 'Productive, huh? You just want a front-row seat to the chaos."

"Maybe a little," Adrian admitted, a playful glint in his eye. "But also, this is important. I read what happened online and I don't know what are you planning but I want to be there for you." Claire sighed, running a hand through her hair. "That's thoughtful of you, Adrian. Thank you."

The jet started to hum as the

engines roared to life. Claire leaned

back in her seat, glancing out the window as the plane taxied down the runway. Adrian, though usually lighthearted, seemed more focused than usual. She knew he wasn't just there for entertainment. He was the kind of guy who had her back, no matter how messy things got.

As the jet lifted into the air, Adrian broke the silence. "So, what's the game plan once we land? And who are we facing?"

"Claudia Wright." Claire says her name with coldness in her tone.

"Walk up to Claudia's doorstep and say 'surprise'?"

Claire laughed, shaking her head. "Definitely not that. But I haven't really thought about it. However, since I want to get this done fast, head over to her office, vineyard whatever place she might be at."

Claire was in her element, flipping open her laptop with a flourish and glancing at Adrian. "Alright, ready for a little show-and-tell?" she teased.

Adrian raised an eyebrow, leaning in. "Do I have a choice?"

"Nope," Claire replied with a smirk, hitting play on the video Matthew had uncovered. On the screen, Claudia Wright appeared wineglass in hand, tipping it over the waitress without a second thought. Adrian let out a low whistle. "Wow, that's cold. And she's the one trying to look like a saint?"

"Exactly." Claire's tone was sharp, but there was a glint of satisfaction in her eyes. "This all started with Alexander, of course. He's the one who dragged me into this whole mess." "Alexander?" Adrian tilted his head, already sensing there was more to the story.

Claire leaned back, crossing her legs as she explained. "Yeah, it started with that press release when things started spiraling out of control. Claudia saw an opening to get involved, and since then, it's been one disaster after another. The whole scandal, the

accusations-everything. She's been pulling the strings from behind the

scenes."

Adrian nodded his face a mix of curiosity and amusement. "So, she's been trying to tear Alexander down, and she's doing all this while acting squeaky clean in the public eye?"

"Pretty much." Claire sighed, shaking her head. "Honestly, I think she thought she was invincible."

Adrian chuckled, looking out the window as the landscape below sped by. "She probably will be shocked seeing her past video when you show it to her."

Claire grinned. "That's the point of it. It's always the people you don't see coming who turn the tide."