New beginning: Billionaire love story

Alexander was having one of those days where everything just seemed off. He stood in his walk-in closet, staring at the rows of meticulously tailored suits hanging in front of him. He was already twenty minutes late for the annual Harris family charity banquet, and the main culprit was his so-called 'short nap' that had somehow turned into a two-hour snooze fest.This content belongs to Nô/velDra/ma.Org .

He pulled a tie from the rack, wrapping it around his neck with practiced ease, but his reflection in the mirror didn't look impressed. He felt the same.

The suit, an Italian brand he wore often, fit him perfectly, but tonight, it felt more like a uniform than anything else. He let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair to smooth it down. The thought of mingling at the banquet, pretending to be interested in endless small talk, wasn't exactly thrilling.

"Great," he muttered to himself, straightening his tie. "Just what I needed a night full of forced smiles and long speeches."

The memory of last year's banquet didn't help either. He had conveniently been "too busy" to attend, which had not gone over well with his mother. This year, she had made it clear that his presence was non-negotiable. He just hoped his father would do most of the talking so he could quietly blend into the background.

A buzz from his phone interrupted his thoughts. He walked out of the closet and grabbed it from the table, already knowing who it was. Sure enough, it was a text from his mother, eager to see him tonight.

Mum: Can't wait to see you tonight, darling!

Alexander sighed, slipping the phone into his pocket. "Can't wait," he mumbled sarcastically before heading out of his room, not feeling at all excited about the evening ahead.

He downed the drink in one swoop as he lost count of how many drinks he had drank earlier.

Meanwhile, Claire was in the backseat of her car, staring out the window as they drove towards the Harris Hotel. She was less than thrilled about attending the banquet, and her expression was one of clear disinterest. Last year, she'd skip the banquet because she wasn't feeling well.

The next day, Joan Harris called to wish her a speedy recovery, which was a surprise to Claire because she hadn't told anyone she was sick-only Alex knew. It turned out Alex had told his mother he was taking care of Claire while his Christian represented him at the banquet. Of course, Alex hadn't been taking care of her at all; he'd been too busy with work meetings and deadlines.

"Typical," Claire muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at the memory.

Claire sighed, leaning back in her seat. She crossed her fingers, hoping Alex would skip the event this year. But knowing him, he'd probably show up, and she'd have to spend the entire evening avoiding him. She wasn't in the mood to deal with his charm or his teasing. "Just one night," Claire murmured to herself. "Just get through one night without any drama."

While Claire and Alexander is currently looking unhappy, Talia on the other hand is filled with happiness.

Talia was getting ready for what felt like the most important evening of her life-dinner with Christian. She couldn't believe he had actually asked her out. Her heart fluttered just thinking about it, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. She applied another layer of lip gloss, then fixed her hair for what felt like the hundredth time.

Talia glanced at her wristwatch, the seconds ticking down to 7 PM. She had been ready for ages but was too nervous to sit still. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself, but it didn't help much. Just as she was about to check her reflection one more time, she heard a knock on her apartment door.

Her heart skipped a beat. It was time.

She checked herself in the mirror

once more, making sure everything was perfect Satisfied, she grabbed her purse and walked out of her bedroom, pausing briefly in front of the door. She took a deep breath, then opened it to reveal Christian, looking impossibly handsome in his suit and holding a bouquet of roses.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Christian's mouth gaped open as he took in the sight of Talia. "Wow," he finally managed, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "You look... gorgeous."

Talia felt her cheeks heat up, but she couldn't help but smile. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice a little shaky from nerves. "You look pretty dapper yourself."

Christian grinned, clearly pleased by the compliment. He held out the bouquet to her. "These are for you."

Talia's smile widened as she took the roses from him. "They're beautiful. Thank you, Christian." She inhaled their sweet scent before looking back at him. "I'll just put these in some water, and then we can go."

Christian nodded, watching as she walked back into her apartment to find a vase. He couldn't stop smiling, still slightly in awe of how stunning she looked. Talia quickly arranged the flowers, trying to calm the butterflies in her stomach.

When she returned, Christian offered his arm, and Talia took it, feeling a bit like she was in a dream. They stepped out into the hallway, heading toward what she hoped would be a perfect evening.

Back at the Harris Hotel, Alexander had finally arrived, fashionably late as usual. He wasn't exactly thrilled about attending the annual charity banquet, but appearances had to be kept up. As he stepped out of his sleek black car, he tossed hiskeys to the valet, plastering on a polite smile as he made his way through the grand entrance.

Claire's car pulled up to the hotel entrance, and she took a deep breath, steeling herself for the evening ahead. She didn't particularly enjoy these events either but they were part of the job.

As the car door swung

stepped out gracefully, her

she

expression neutral, the picture of

calm confidence.

Unfortunately for both of them, fate had other plans. Claire and Alexander ended up walking towards the entrance at exactly the same time, their paths converging in the hotel's ornate lobby.

At first, neither of them noticed the other, each lost in their own thoughts. But as they drew closer, a sense of familiarity struck. They both looked up simultaneously, and their eyes met, locking in a moment of mutual surprise and resignation.

"Oh, great," Claire thought, her heart sinking. "Just my luck." She was really hoping to avoid this tonight.

Alexander's thoughts mirrored hers. "Here we go," he muttered under his breath, forcing a smile as he approached her. He couldn't help but wonder why she was there.

"Claire," he greeted, his tone polite but with a hint of weariness.

"Alexander," she replied, matching his tone perfectly. "Well, isn't this a pleasant surprise," Claire said while giving him a tight smile.

"I wasn't informed that you will be attending this banquet." Alexander shoved both his hands in his pants pocket.

Claire raised her brows. "Really? I almost thought that you were stalking me."

Alexander rolled his eyes and replied sarcastically. "Of course, cause that's the only thing that I am good at."

They both knew the night had just become a lot more different.