New beginning: Billionaire love story

"You..." her mother began, her voice trembling with rage.

Lisa's hand instinctively touched her cheek where the slap had landed, her eyes widening in shock. "What the heck was that for?" she demanded, her own anger rising to match her mother's. Her mother's expression hardened. "How could you end up in jail, Lisa?" she spat, the words laced with disgust.

Lisa frowned, trying to compose herself. "It was a misunderstanding," she said, the lie slipping out before she could stop it. She could see her mother wasn't buying it for a second.

Her mother scoffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "You're such a good liar," she said bitterly, her voice dripping with sarcasm.

The nervousness Lisa had felt earlier was quickly replaced by irritation. Crossing her arms over her own chest, she shot back, "Well, I learned from the best." Her eyes locked onto her mother's with a sharpness that made it clear she wasn't backing down. Her mother rolled her eyes, clearly unimpressed. "Why were you on top of that building, Lisa? The police inform me about your crazy doings! That was not part of the plan!" she snapped.

Lisa sighed harshly, her jaw clenching as she fought to keep her emotions in check. She didn't want to talk about it, especially not with her mother. Without saying another word, she turned and walked towards the house, but before she could step inside, her mother pushed her back, blocking her path.

"You've got to be kidding me," Lisa said in disbelief, her voice thick with sarcasm. "First, you don't want to bail your own daughter out of jail, and now you won't even let me into the house? What kind of mother are you?"

Her mother's eyes narrowed, a warning in her gaze. "Watch your tone, young lady."

Lisa narrowed her own eyes in response, refusing to be intimidated. "I'll watch my tone when you start acting like a mother who genuinely wants to help her daughter."

At Metacortex, the tension in the air was palpable as Claire sat at the head of the long, glass conference table, surrounded by her company's publicity team. The gravity of the situation was evident on her face as she addressed them with a calm yet stern tone. "We need to make a statement," Claire began, her voice steady. "The girl who attempted suicide is not a Metacortex employee. We're still investigating how she managed to access the company's premises."

The team members nodded in unison, quickly jotting down notes on their tablets and notepads. One of them, a young woman with glasses, hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "What if the media asks for an interview or a phone call? Should we prepare a spokesperson?"

Claire's eyes narrowed slightly as she responded with a serious expression, "No one talks to the media. Not even me. It's better for us to clarify everything in writing. Make sure the statement is clear and concise, and don't forget to post it online and on all social media platforms." The publicity team nodded again, understanding the weight of the directive. They knew how important it was to control the narrative in situations like this. Without wasting any time, they got up and headed back to their respective workspaces to execute Claire's orders. As Claire stood up to leave the room, Sandra, her efficient assistant, walked up beside her. "The poster for the competition is ready," Sandra said, handing Claire an iPad. 'The team is waiting for your approval before they post it."

Claire took the iPad from Sandra's hand, her eyes scanning the three variations of the poster displayed on the screen. She was silent for a moment, considering each design carefully. Finally, she pointed to the second one. "I prefer this one," she said, her voice thoughtful. "It's simpler and more concise."

Sandra nodded, a smile of satisfaction on her face. "I'll inform the team right away," she said, taking the iPad back from Claire.

As they approached her office, Claire reached out and pushed the door open, only to find Matthew sitting comfortably in her chair, a mischievous grin on his face. Amusement danced in Claire's eyes as she looked at him, her lips curving into a small smile. "Do you need help with something, Matthew?" Claire asked, her tone teasing.

Matthew grinned wider, leaning back in the chair. "Oh, no. I just didn't have any work to do, so I thought I'd come visit my lovely boss," he replied, his voice light and playful.

Claire rolled her eyes, but the amusement never left her face as she walked over and took a seat on the other side of her desk. "Well, I'm flattered you find my office more interesting than your own."

Matthew chuckled, leaning forward slightly. "So, when are you going to proceed with your plan to sue Lisa?" he asked, his tone shifting to one of genuine curiosity.

Claire fell silent for a moment, her thoughts turning over the matter. "Soon," she finally said, her voice firm. "I have all the evidence I need, but I'm waiting for the right timing."

Matthew nodded, his expression thoughtfully. "Don't forget about it. You never know what Lisa might do next."

Claire's eyes darkened slightly as she recalled the events of the past few days. "A few days ago, before Lisa decided to pull that stupid stunt, I sent her a document through my lawyer, she said, her voice low. "I think that's why she pulled her little drama. But I'm going to take my time. Let her think she's in the clear, then I'll strike again."

Matthew couldn't help but chuckle at her words. "You're enjoying pulling Lisa's strings, aren't you?"

A smirk slowly formed on Claire's lips. "Maybe a little," she admitted, her tone tinged with satisfaction.

Claire leaned back in her chair, a small smile playing on her lips. "Check the news," she said, a hint of anticipation in her voice. "By now, my publicity team should have taken care of everything." Matthew typed quickly, navigating to the news sites, and as his eyes scanned the headlines, he let out a burst of laughter. "Claire, you didn't just do that!" he exclaimed, unable to contain his amusement. Claire's smile widened as she watched his reaction. "What can I say? I like to be thorough."

Lisa lay on her bed, staring at the

ceiling for what felt like an eternity. Her mind was a blank slate, and she couldn't shake the feeling of emptiness that had settled in her chest. Finally, she sighed deeply and sat up, realizing she had responsibilities to take care of.

She needed to call her boss and let him know that she would be starting work next Monday. The reality of her situation hit her like a ton of bricks Now that she and Alex were no longer together, there would be no more credit cards, no more luxuries handed to her on a silver platter. If she wanted to buy the things she liked, she would have to work for them.

With a resigned sigh, Lisa pulled her phone from her pants pocket, her thumb hovering over the screen as she prepared to dial her boss's number. But before she could press the call button, a notification popped up. It was a message from Kayla, her best friend. Curious, Lisa opened the chat and saw that Kayla had sent her a link to an article. Without thinking, she tapped on the link, and her eyes quickly scanned the headline. Her heart sank as she read the words, and her pulse quickened as she continued down the page. Her hands clenched into fists, and a wave of anger surged through her. "What the fuck!" she shouted, her voice echoing through the empty room.