New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 483

Alexander sat in his sleek, modern office, the afternoon light filtering through the large windows, casting long shadows across the room. His desk was immaculate, a testament to his meticulous nature. As he leaned back in his chair, he picked up his phone, scrolling through his contacts until he found Claire's number. He hesitated for a moment, a small frown forming on his face, then tapped the call button.

The phone rang and rang again, and Alexander's brow furrowed deeper with each unanswered ring. Just as he was about to hang up, Claire answered, her tone sharp and businesslike.

“Alexander,” she said, her voice devoid of warmth. “What do you need?”

Alexander cleared his throat, masking the slight sting her tone inflicted. “I just wanted to remind you about the Harris Hotel opening in Las Vegas. It’s in two weeks, and we need to be there.”

There was a pause on the other end, followed by a soft sigh that Alexander barely caught but knew was there. It wasn’t just the sound; it was the weight behind it, the reluctance he could feel even through the phone.

“I remember,” Claire finally said, her tone flat. “Thanks for the reminder.”

Alexander nodded, though she couldn’t see it. “Good. I thought perhaps we could fly out together, use my private jet.”

Another pause. “I will make my own arrangements,” Claire replied curtly. “But thank you.”

“Of course,” Alexander said, keeping his voice even. “I appreciate your cooperation.”

“Is there anything else, Alexander?”

“No,” he replied quickly, sensing the edge in her tone. “That is all.”

The line went dead before he could say more. Alexander set the phone down and leaned back, staring up at the ceiling. He wondered, not for the first time if things between him and Claire would ever improve. There was a time when they were more than civil when the boundaries of business and personal blurred in a way that seemed promising.

But that was before the mistakes, before the regrets that now weighed heavily on him. He sighed, running a hand through his hair, the familiar pang of what-ifs gnawing at his thoughts.

Claire sat at her desk, the remnants of her conversation with Alexander still lingering in her mind. Her fingers tapped rhythmically against the surface as she tried to refocus on the documents in front of her. The reminder about the hotel opening wasn’t something she needed right now—not with everything else swirling around her. But it was Alexander’s call that left a bad taste in her mouth.

The sharp chime of a message broke through her thoughts. Claire reached for her phone, unlocking it to find a message from an acquaintance, someone she hadn’t heard from in a while. The message was an invitation to a jewelry exhibition happening this weekend.

Claire frowned, contemplating the request. Her schedule was tight, and the thought of attending an exhibition felt like an unnecessary distraction. She typed a quick reply, declining the invitation, citing her busy schedule. But the response was immediate and insistent, with her acquaintance practically pleading for her to attend. Claire sighed, rubbing her temples.

“When is it?” she typed back, half-expecting a date she could easily brush off.

“Saturday at 6 PM,” came the reply.