New beginning: Billionaire love story

Claire and Adrian chose seats at the very end of the table, far from the gossiping women who filled the space with their relentless chatter. Adrian glanced at Claire, noting her choice. He assumed she wanted to distance herself from the gossip mill, and honestly, he couldn

blame her. They might be part of the London High Socialite (LHS), but when it came to gossip, everyone was the same, no matter their background.

Lunch proceeded smoothly, with Adrian sticking close to Claire's side. As the plates were cleared and members began to trickle out one by one, Adrianna, Adrian's mother, led the way out of the private room with Claire and Adrian following behind.

The three of them strolled out of the restaurant, where the midday sun greeted them warmly. Adrianna turned to Claire with a motherly smile that always seemed to put Claire at ease. "Take care of yourself, dear. You look like you've lost some weight," she said, her tone gentle but with a hint of concern.

Claire nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Thank you for inviting me to lunch, Adrianna," she replied politely.

Adrianna waved her hand dismissively as if brushing off the formalities. "Oh, nonsense! You're part of the LHS, Claire. You're expected at every event or meeting, so you might as well get used to it."

Claire chuckled softly, feeling a little more at ease. "Well, thank you for saving me earlier from April's question. I owe you one."

Adrianna laughed, a twinkle in her eye. "What are friends for, darling? If I can't rescue you from a nosy question, what good am I?"

Adrianna then turned to her son, her tone shifting into that of a mother issuing instructions. "I'll be waiting in the car, Adrian. Don't keep me waiting too long."

Adrian nodded, smiling at his mother before she made her way to the car waiting at the curb. As she walked away, Adrian turned his attention back to Claire. A playful grin spread across his face, and he let out an exaggerated sigh. "Sooo..." Claire couldn't help but mimic his tone, dragging out her own sigh. "Soo0..."

Adrian chuckled, clearly amused. "It's really nice to see you, Claire."

She smiled in return. "You too, Adrian."

"If you ever need anything, don't hesitate to call me," Adrian added, his tone sincere.

Claire nodded, though she knew deep down that she probably wouldn't reach out. She didn't want to drag Adrian into the whirlwind that was her life. Still, it was nice to know the offer was there.

Just then, a gust of wind picked up, and Adrian reached out, tucking a loose strand of Claire's hair behind her ear.

"Take care of yourself," he said softly, his hand lingering for a moment before he stepped back.

"You too," Claire replied, her voice just as soft.

With that, they bid each other goodbye, and Claire watched as Adrian headed toward his car. As his car pulled away from the curb, Claire's driver opened the door for her. Just as she was about to step in, something caught her eye.

Across the street, lurking in the shadows, was a paparazzo with a camera aimed right at her. Claire sighed, rolling her eyes. Seriously? She wasn't even a celebrity! Why on earth were they so interested in her?

Muttering under her breath about the lack of privacy, she climbed into the car, determined not to let it bother her.

Lisa trudged down the sidewalk, her hoodie pulled low over her face, head down as if the pavement held all the answers. The weight of her purpose hung heavy on her shoulders, and her heart pounded like a drum in her chest. She

had one

mission: get into Metacortex and confront Claire. But as she approached the sleek, glassy facade of the building, her plan started to feel like a joke.

The entrance was grand, with shiny marble floors that echoed every footstep. Lisa's eyes zeroed in on the lifts at the far end. She knew that without an ID, there was no way she'd get past those metal gates. And if she tried to brute-force her way in, the security team would be on her faster than she could say "corporate espionage."

"Damn Claire and her stupid ID scanners," Lisa muttered under her breath. Of all the things to

implement as CEO, Claire had to go with this tech nonsense. It was just another reason for Lisa to curse her former friend. But she wasn't about to let a little inconvenience stop her. With a deep breath, she straightened up and made her way to the

reception desk.

The receptionist's eyes flicked briefly to Lisa's hoodie-covered head, and though she raised an eyebrow slightly, she remained professional. After all, dealing with all sorts of people was part of the job. "Good morning," the receptionist greeted her, still smiling. "How may I help you today?"

"Uh, I need to see Claire... I mean, Ms. Peterson," Lisa said, her hands buried deep in her hoodie pockets, fiddling with the fabric nervously.

"Do you have an appointment with Ms. Peterson?" The receptionist's smile didn't waver, though her tone became slightly more formal.

Lisa shook her head but quickly added, "No, but I'm a friend of Claire's. She's expecting me."

The receptionist's smile remained fixed, but her eyes flickered with doubt. "I'm sorry, but we have a new protocol. Even friends of Ms. Peterson need an appointment to meet with her."

Lisa frowned, inwardly cursing Claire for being so dramatic. "Come on, I'm really close with Claire. She'd be upset if I didn't show up on time."

The receptionist, still smiling, replied, "In that case, could you please call Ms. Peterson? We can confirm directly with her."

Lisa's mind raced. Call Claire? She didn't even have her phone number, let alone the guts to explain this whole situation. Her voice edged with frustration as she said, "It's supposed to be a surprise. Just let me in, okay?"

The receptionist's smile faded slightly as she narrowed her eyes, suspicion creeping into her gaze. "I'm afraid I can't let anyone in without proper verification. It's for security reasons."

Lisa clenched her jaw, feeling the heat of irritation rise in her chest. "This is ridiculous! I just need to see her for five minutes!"

Before she could stop herself, she took a break for it, sprinting toward the lift. The receptionist's eyes widened, and she quickly alerted the nearby security guards. Lisa barely made it halfway before two guards blocked her path, grabbing her arms just as she reached the lift.

"Hey! Let go!" Lisa struggled against the guards, but they held her firmly.

At that moment, a commanding voice cut through the commotion. "What is going on here?"

The guards released their grip slightly as everyone turned to see Claire Peterson herself, standing tall and imposing in her tailored suit, her expression as strict and formal as her tone.

"Ms. Peterson," one of the guards started, "this woman tried to enter without an appointment and was acting suspiciously."

Claire's eyes, sharp and piercing, landed on Lisa. For a moment, the two women just stared at each other. Lisa tried to muster some confidence, but somehow, she failed to do so.

"Is that so?" Claire's voice was cool, but there's a hint of smirk playing on her lips. "Release her."