New beginning: Billionaire love story

The night of the grand opening of the Harris Hotel in Las Vegas had finally arrived. Claire stood in front of the mirror in her hotel suite, adjusting the earrings she had purchased at the jewelry exhibition.

The diamonds caught the light, sparkling against the soft glow of the room. Her black dress draped elegantly over her frame, the slit on the right revealing a hint of her toned leg. She looked poised and sophisticated, every inch the powerful businesswoman she had built herself to be. Yet, despite her flawless appearance, there was a hollow feeling in her chest.

Matthew, Adrian, and Talia weren't with her. She had declined their offers to accompany her, not wanting to burden them, even though their presence would have made her feel more at ease. Instead, she had brought Sandra, her ever-reliable secretary, who was currently making last-minute preparations for the event.

Her phone vibrated on the dressing table. It was Matthew. A small smile tugged at her lips as she picked it up.

Matthew: How's everything going there?

Claire leaned back against the vanity, quickly typing a response.

Claire: Everything is fine. I'm managing well.

A second later, another message popped up.

Matthew: Are you sure you don't need help?

Claire rolled her eyes. It was typical of Matthew to worry over her like this. She smirked and sent her response.

Claire: If you ask me that again one more time, I'll block you from my contacts.

Seconds later, a sticker of a cartoon character pouting with the words "Sorry :(" appeared on her screen. Claire chuckled, shaking her head at his antics.

The makeup artist, who was cleaning up her brushes and palettes, caught Claire's small smile through the mirror.

"Texting your boyfriend?" the woman teased, winking at her.

Claire's expression immediately turned neutral as she shook her head. "No, just a friend." Then, after a beat, she added, "My boyfriend is busy."

As if on cue, her phone rang. Adrian.

A surprised expression flickered across her face before she quickly picked up. "Hey," she greeted softly, standing up from her chair and moving toward the window for more privacy.

"Hey, sweetheart," Adrian's voice was warm and sweet. "How's it going?"

Claire let out a small breath, her tension easing just a little at the sound of his voice. "It's going fine." "Is Alex treating you well?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "Why does everyone always ask that?"

"Because we know Alexander Harris," Adrian responded dryly. "And we also know how much of an ass he can be."

Claire smirked. "He's being his usual self, but surprisingly, more calm than usual. I think he's too focused on the opening to get on my nerves."

Adrian hummed. "That's a first."

There was a short pause before he asked, "Are you okay? Have you noticed anything strange?"

Claire knew what he meant. He was worried about Eligos. About Andre. About everything that had been happening around her. But she didn't want to let those concerns cloud tonight's event.

"I'm fine," she reassured him. "And no, nothing weird so far."

Adrian exhaled as if trying to believe her. "Alright. But if anything feels off, you call me. I mean it."

"I will."

Another knock on the door interrupted their conversation. Sandra's voice came from the other side. "Claire, it's time to change."

Claire sighed. "I have to go. It's almost time."

"Okay," Adrian said. "But before you go... I miss you."

Claire's lips curled slightly. "I miss you too."

"Be careful, alright?"

"I will. Talk to you later."

The call ended, and Claire let out a slow breath before putting her phone down. She turned back toward the black dress laid out on the bed. Time to get ready.

Meanwhile, downstairs, Alexander

was already making his way through the grand lobby, inspecting every detail of the event. The hotel was designed with modern

elegance-polished marble floors, grand chandeliers, sleek furniture, and an open bar serving the finest Wines. The event was exclusive, with high-profile guests from the business world and media present to witness the launch. Alexander adjusted his cufflinks as he scanned the room, his mind briefly wandering. He had been surprised when Claire didn't even ask about the name he had chosen for the hotel. It wasn't like her to overlook details. But then again, she had been preoccupied with ensuring that the Metacortex robots would function perfectly tonight.

"Mate," Christian, his right-hand man and also his best friend, approached him. "Everything is set. The guests have started arriving.'

Alexander nodded. "Good. Thanks for helping."

"Anytime, man." Christian hesitated for a moment before adding, "I assume Claire is coming soon?"

"Yes. She should be here any moment now."

"I'm surprised she even agreed to come," Christian commented with a smirk.

Alexander sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Yeah, well... so am I."noveldrama

Back in the suite, Claire finished slipping into her dress. The fabric hugged her frame perfectly, and the slit added just the right amount of boldness. She reached for the necklace that matched her earrings and fastened it around her neck.

Sandra, who had been waiting for her, observed with a smile. "You look stunning."

Claire smirked as she grabbed her clutch. "I always do."

Sandra chuckled. "That's true. Now, are you ready for tonight?"

Claire exhaled. "As ready as I'll ever be. Let's hope the guest will be satisfied with Harris idea."

She glanced at herself in the mirror one last time before turning toward the door. Tonight wasn't about her.

It was about the robots, and the success of the launch. Whatever came after... she would deal with it then.

With that thought in mind, she stepped out of the suite, Sandra following behind her.

As Claire entered the grand hall, all eyes subtly turned toward her. She was used to this kind of attention, but she didn't pay it any mind. Her eyes searched the room until they landed on Alexander, who was standing near the entrance to the main event hall. He spotted her almost instantly, his eyes flickering with something unreadable before he made his way over.

"You're late," Alexander commented, though there was no real bite to his words.

Claire raised a brow. "Fashionably late."

He let out a small scoff. "Typical."

Claire's gaze shifted around the grand room. "So? What's the name?"

Alexander smirked. "Quantum Haven."

She turned to look at him. "Quantum Haven?"

He nodded. "I wanted something different. Something that represented a place of comfort but also

introduced a technology and modern theme."

Claire tilted her head slightly, considering it. It wasn't a bad name. In fact, it was quite fitting for a modern and technological theme in Vegas.

"Not bad. I honestly think that you would have named it using your family name," she admitted.

Alexander chuckled. "The idea did cross my mind but I decided otherwise. Is that your way of saying you approve?"

"I don't hate it."

He shook his head, amused. "I'll take that."

Before they could continue, the event coordinator approached them, signaling that it was time to begin. The night was just getting started, and Claire knew she had to be on guard. Because in a city like Las Vegas, where illusions and distractions thrived, anything could happen.