New beginning: Billionaire love story

They were too busy with their own projects and could only offer the necessary tools, not the designers she needed.

Claire ended her phone call, feeling a mix of anticipation and uncertainty. She had just spoken with a robotics company from Japan, hoping they could provide both the tools and the designers for her latest project at Metacortex. But the response had been disappointing. As she turned off her phone, Sandra, her reliable assistant, walked into the office holding a stack of documents. "These need your signature," Sandra said, placing them on Claire's desk.

Claire picked up her pen, signing the documents with her usual precision. As she did so, a thought crossed her mind. She paused, looking up at Sandra. "Sandra, can I get your opinion on something?"

Sandra looked slightly surprised by the sudden question but nodded, ready to listen. "Of course, Ms. Peterson. What's on your mind?"

Claire set the pen down and leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. "Do you think it would be a good idea to hold a design competition? I was just on the phone with the robotics company from Japan. They're too busy to provide designers, but they can supply the tools we need. It got me thinking... maybe we should look elsewhere for creative input."

Sandra considered the idea, her brow furrowed in thought. "A design competition could be a great idea," she said after a moment. "It would allow Metacortex to explore a range of creative solutions and choose the best design. Plus, it could bring some fresh talent into the mix."

Claire nodded, appreciating the insight. "That's exactly what I was thinking. It would give us more options and might even spark some innovative ideas we hadn't considered. I like what you're thinking, Sandra."

With a satisfied smile, Claire handed the signed documents back to Sandra. "Could you arrange a meeting with Alexander Harris today? I need his approval before we move forward with this."

Sandra nodded, tucking the documents under her arm. "Of course, I'll contact him right away." She left the office, already dialing the number.

Meanwhile, Alexander Harris was enjoying a rare moment of leisure on the golf course. It was one of those precious times when he could step away from the constant demands of his business empire and indulge in something that relaxed him. He swung his club, watching the ball soar through the air with satisfaction.

Just as he was about to line up for his next shot, his phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out and saw that it was his secretary calling. Sighing, he answered the call. "Yes?"

"Mr. Harris, I hope I'm not interrupting," his secretary said politely, though she knew she was.

Alex kept his tone neutral. "What is it?"

"Metacortex has requested a meeting with you today," she informed him. "Ms. Claire Peterson wants to discuss something with you."

Alex raised an eyebrow, curious about the sudden request. "Did they mention what this meeting is about?"

"Ms. Peterson didn't go into details," the secretary replied. "She said she'd like to explain it to you in person."

Alex paused, considering his options. He had been looking forward to a quiet day, a chance to unwind. But the mention of Claire piqued his interest. Whatever it was, it must have been important if she wanted to meet so suddenly.

He sighed, realizing that his free time would have to wait. "Alright, arrange the meeting. I'll be there."

"Understood, I'll inform Metacortex immediately," the secretary said before ending the call.

Alex slipped the phone back into his pocket and finished his round of golf, though his thoughts were already turning to what Claire might want to discuss.

Sandra walked briskly back to Claire's office, her heels clicking against the polished floor. She knocked softly before stepping inside. "Ms. Peterson, Mr. Harris has agreed to the meeting," she informed Claire.

Claire raised an eyebrow in mild

surprise. Alexander Harris was

notorious for being a busy man, and

she hadn't expected him to agree a sudden meeting without a fight "Interesting," Claire murmured, her mind already turning over the implications. She glanced up at Sandra. "When Alexanderarrives,

direct him to my office immediately."

Sandra nodded and left the room, closing the door quietly behind her. Claire leaned back in her chair, a thoughtful expression on her face. She couldn't help but wonder what had prompted Alex to agree so easily. An hour passed, during which Claire busied herself with work, though her mind occasionally wandered to the upcoming meeting.

A knock on the door broke her

concentration "Come in," she called,

าวน ์

straightening up in her chair. The door opened to reveal Alex Harris, dressed a dark blue suit and pants noticeably absent from a tie. His frown deepened the moment their eyes met, and Claire could sense a tension in the air Alex stood there for a moment, just staring at her as if trying to decipher

something.

"Good to see you, Alex," Claire greeted him with a polite smile, motioning to the chair opposite her desk. "Please, have a seat."

Alex nodded curtly and took the offered seat. His gaze never left Claire, but she maintained her composure, slipping into her usual sharp tone. "I know you're a busy man, so I won't waste your time. Let's get straight to the point."

Alex gave a slight nod, indicating for her to continue.

"I've been in talks with a robotics company from Japan," Claire began, her voice steady. "They've expressed interest in providing the tools we need for the Harris hotel project. However, they've made it clear that their employees are too busy to handle the design aspect."

Alex listened intently, his expression

serious but unreadable. Claire continued, "Initially, I thought my team could handle the robot designs. But our expertise lies in software, not in creating the form. So, I came up with an

alternative plan-I'm proical

a

robot design competition. The ideal is to crowdsource innovative designs from talented individuals around the world. But before I move forward with this, I wanted your agreement and, of course, your opinion."

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly as he considered her words. He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees. "If you find a winner, who will be responsible for building the robot?"

Claire paused, thinking over her response carefully. While her company excelled in technology and software, they didn't have the resources or expertise to build a robot from scratch. The risk was too great. "The Japanese company will handle the construction," she finally answered. "They have the capabilities and the experience."

Alex nodded slowly, his face still serious. "I trust you," he said, but there was something in his tone that made Claire uneasy. It felt like there was another layer of meaning behind those words, something unspoken.

Claire shook off the feeling and gave a small nod in return. "That's all I needed to discuss," she said, keeping her tone professional.

Alex leaned back in his chair, a hint of disbelief crossing his features. He glanced at his watch, then back at Claire. "This didn't even take thirty minutes," he remarked. "You said it was urgent."

Claire raised her eyebrows slightly. "It is important," she replied, emphasizing her words. "Time is of the essence with this project, and I didn't want to delay."

Alex seemed to accept her answer, though he still looked slightly skeptical. A moment of silence stretched between them, filled with unspoken thoughts and tension. Then, out of nowhere, Alex broke the silence with a question that caught Claire off guard. "Why did you free Lisa?"