New beginning: Billionaire love story

Matthew let out a frustrated sigh, his finger hovering over the decline button on Claire's video call for what felt like the hundredth time. His phone buzzed insistently, but he refused to answer. Why? Because there was no way he could let Claire see the state of his face right now. The purple bruising around his left eye, the nasty gash near his temple, and the shallow cuts across his cheek were a disaster waiting to happen if she spotted them.

He could already hear her sharp questions: "What happened? Who did this? Why didn't you tell me?" Nope. He wasn't ready for that interrogation.

"Just heal already," he muttered, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He tilted his head, wincing as the movement tugged at the stitches he'd reluctantly gotten earlier that day. His hair-thankfully longer now-did an okay job covering the gash on his temple. But the black eye? Not so much.

He sighed again, running a hand through his messy hair. "Maybe if I wear sunglasses indoors," he joked to himself, though he knew Claire wouldn't buy it. His only saving grace was that she was still in Las Vegas. And if he was really lucky, Alexander-her insufferable admirer-would keep her busy there longer. For once, Matthew was rooting for the guy to be a persistent annoyance.

Meanwhile, back in Las Vegas, Claire was in no mood for games. She stared at her phone, annoyed. "Why does he keep declining my video calls but answers normal ones? Is he hiding something? Ugh, such a weirdo," she muttered, shaking her head. Matthew had always been a bit peculiar, but he was also the only one who truly got her, quirks and all. Still, his behavior was definitely odd lately. She shoved her phone into her bag, brushing off the nagging thought. She had bigger issues to deal with. For starters, Alexander.

Claire was getting ready for dinner, throwing on a simple yet elegant dress. Her stomach growled loudly, reminding her she hadn't eaten all day thanks to a mountain of work and Alexander's relentless attempts to coax her into dinner. She'd stood her ground, though, refusing him flat out. She could still picture the defeated look on his face as she walked away from him at the hotel entrance earlier. She smirked at the memory.

Arriving at the hotel restaurant, Claire let out a content sigh. It was bustling but not overly crowded. She chose a quiet corner table, took her seat, and glanced over the menu. Seafood pasta and a glass of white wine sounded perfect. As the waiter left with her order, she looked around the room.

Her gaze stopped at a nearby table where a family of four was celebrating a little girl's birthday. The sight warmed her heart and tugged at something deeper. She hadn't celebrated a proper birthday with her parents since she turned 21. Work had consumed her life since then. There were moments of regret, sure, but she couldn't deny the pride she felt for everything she'd accomplished. It was a bittersweet realization.

Her food arrived just as she was lost in thought, the aroma snapping her back to the present. Her stomach growled again, louder this time, and she grabbed her fork, ready to dig in.

"Eating alone? That's a surprise."

The familiar, smooth voice made her freeze mid-motion. Her jaw clenched as she forced a smile and looked up. "Alexander," she said flatly. "Why are you here?"

Alexander grinned, looking completely unbothered by her frosty tone. "Dinner, obviously. And since we're at the same hotel, why wouldn't I?"

She rolled her eyes, biting back a groan. "There are plenty of tables here. Go find one."

"Ah," he said, feigning disappointment. "But they're all full."

She narrowed her eyes suspiciously. "Are they now?"

"Yes. And since I already know you, it only makes sense to join you," he said.

She scoffed. "No."

"Do you hate me that much?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Claire sighed heavily. "I don't hate you. I just strongly dislike you. There's a difference."

"Ah, so there's hope for us yet." He grinned, pulling out a chair and sitting down across from her without waiting for an invitation.

"Excuse me?" she snapped, glaring at him. "Who said you could sit here?"

Alexander chuckled, completely unfazed. "Well, that's progress. Besides, you wouldn't cause a scene, would you? Imagine the headlines: 'Claire Peterson loses her cool in a crowded restaurant.' Not a good look."

She hated how right he was. Claire prided herself on maintaining her composure in public. The last thing she needed was to give the gossip columns something to chew on. Letting out a defeated sigh, she waved her hand dismissively. "Fine. Stay. But don't talk to me." "Sure," he said with a sly grin, signaling the waiter for his own menu. "But you know I'm terrible at following orders."

She rolled her eyes again, muttering under her breath, "Why am I even surprised?"

As Claire tried to enjoy her meal, Alexander, true to his word, ignored her demand for silence. He talked-about work, the city, even the weather-anything to get a reaction from her.

Claire stabbed her fork into her pasta with the precision of someone trying to tune out the world-or in this case Alexander. Sitting across the table, he was on a mission to fill the silence, his voice bouncing with the enthusiasm of a talk show host.

"You know, the city's been buzzing lately. New hotel openings, events... just a lot happening," Alexander said, his words spilling out like an overfilled coffee cup.

Claire munched on her pasta, barely glancing up. Maybe if I ignore him, he'll stop, she thought. But nope, he kept going.

"And the weather's been great, don't you think? Perfect for a stroll

through the park, maybe even one of those food festivals. Have you been to one of those?" he asked, leaning forward slightly, as if he actually expected an answer.

Claire sighed, finally lifting her gaze. "Is there a reason you're talking this much?" she asked, her voice tinged with irritation.

Alexander's grin widened as if her annoyance only fueled him. "I'm just in a good mood. You know, with the hotel opening soon, everything's coming together. Exciting times."

Claire arched a brow, twirling her fork in her pasta. "Exciting times," she repeated dryly. "Well, congratulations. Now, if you'll excuse me, I was hoping for a little peace and quiet while I eat."

He chuckled, completely unbothered. "Oh, come on. You're not really the quiet type, are you? You're always so sharp, so quick with a comeback. Don't hold back on my account."

She placed her fork down and

wine

sipped her wine, her patience

wearing thin. "Fine. You want me to talk? Let's talk. Why on earth are you sitting here? Aren't there a thousand

other people you could pestu

now?"

right

"Pester?" Alexander feigned offense, clutching his chest dramatically. "I prefer 'engage in pleasant conversation.' Besides, I'm not just sitting with anyone. I'm sitting with you. That makes it special." Claire rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. Save the charm for someone who'll fall for it."

A waiter approached, interrupting their exchange. "Have you decided on anything, sir?"

Alexander smiled, glancing at the menu. "I'll have the salmon, please. And another glass of wine. Same as hers."

Claire scowled as the waiter walked away. "You're actually ordering food? Are you planning to drag this out all night?"

"Why not?" he said with an infuriatingly calm demeanor. "Good company, good food-it's a win-win."noveldrama

She narrowed her eyes, leaning back in her chair. "Do you really think this is a good company? Because I'm about two seconds away from finding an empty table if I can."

"You won't," he replied smoothly.

"And why's that?"

"Because deep down, you're curious. About me, about why I'm here, about what I'll say next," he said with a knowing smile.

Claire laughed a sharp, sarcastic sound. "Curious? No. Mildly annoyed? Absolutely."

"That's something," he quipped. "Annoyance means you're at least paying attention."

Claire shook her head, returning her focus to her plate. She wasn't about to let him get under her skin, even if he was annoyingly good at it. "You're impossible, you know that?" "Thanks. I try."

The waiter returned with Alexander's wine, and he raised his glass in a mock toast. "To new beginnings."

Claire eyed him over the rim of her own glass. "To you leaving me alone," she muttered before taking a sip.

"Cheers," he said, clearly ignoring her jab.