New beginning: Billionaire love story

Alex lounged in his plush penthouse; his sharp eyes glued to the large screen in front of him. The fashion show streaming online was supposed to be a relaxing distraction, but tonight, it was anything but. His face was set in a scowl as he replayed a particular scene for the

umpteenth

time.

It was the moment when Adrian had leaned in and placed a kiss on Claire's cheek.

He slammed the remote onto the couch armrest, the soft thud echoing through the room. "Seriously? A kiss on the cheek?" Alex muttered, his voice dripping with frustration. "What the hell does Adrian have that I don't?"

He leaned closer to the screen, squinting as if he could somehow alter the outcome with sheer willpower. As he watched the replay, he noticed something he'd missed before. Claire had actually blushed-a soft, delicate pink on her cheeks. Blush. Claire never blushed. Alex's jaw tightened as he replayed the scene again, watching Claire's reaction with a mix of anger and disbelief. Back when they were married and she had amnesia, she had blushed around him a lot, but he'd never paid any mind. Now, seeing her blush for Adrian made him wish he'd noticed those little moments back then. "Damn it," he growled to himself. "Why didn't I see it before?"

He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost missed the sound of his phone ringing. He grabbed it off the coffee table and saw it was a text from Christian.

Christian: Are you still brooding over the fashion show? Claire's not worth it, you know.

Alex gritted his teeth. He hit reply with a quick message.

Alex: She's always been difficult. But it's not just about her. It's about Adrian too. Why is everything so easy for him?

He tossed the phone back onto the table and took a long swig from his glass of alcohol, the strong drink burning down his throat. "Why the hell is she so damn difficult?" he muttered, his frustration boiling over. "And why the hell does Adrian get to be the one she's warm with? I'm her business partner, and I'm stuck dealing with her cold attitude."

The bitterness in his voice was palpable. Alex couldn't shake the image of Claire's smile at the fashion show, a smile that was reserved only for Adrian. It gnawed at him, a constant reminder of the emotional distance between him and Claire. He tossed the remote aside, slouching deeper into the couch as he continued to stew over his thoughts.

Back at the after-party, the atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, and Christian was sitting comfortably on a plush sofa, scrolling through his phone. A mischievous grin spread across his face as he read a new text message from Alex. He chuckled softly, his eyes sparkling with amusement.novelbin

Just then, Talia reappeared after her chat with Armetta and Claire. She had a wide smile on her face, and it seemed like she was still floating on air from the excitement of the evening. She noticed Christian laughing and came over, curious. "What's so funny?" Talia asked, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Christian looked up, still grinning. "It's Alex. He's texting me and asking about the fashion show. Apparently, he's been watching the show."

Talia raised her brows curiously. "Is he watching because of the collection or because Claire is here."

Christian smirked and shrugged. "Who knows might be both. So, how did you feel about the fashion show? You looked incredible up there."

Talia's smile stayed put, her excitement bubbling over. "I felt amazing! It was such a rush. I didn't expect to feel so alive out there. Everything went perfectly!" Christian's eyes sparkled with genuine admiration. "You did fantastic, Talia. I was there from the beginning to the end, and I have to say, you really stole the show." Talia's cheeks turned a deeper shade of pink. She looked away shyly, her heart racing a little from the praise. "Oh, stop it. You're making me blush." Christian reached out and gently grabbed her chin, tilting her head so she had to look at him. "I mean it. All your hard work paid off. I'm really proud of you." Talia's face turned an even brighter shade of red. She tried to gently push him away, her shyness getting the better of her. "Okay, okay. You're embarrassing me now. Christian chuckled softly, holding onto her hand as she tried to pull away. "Come on, don't be like that. How about we celebrate your success? Would you like to dance?" Talia's eyes sparkled with amusement, her initial embarrassment melting away. She chuckled and nodded, her smile returning. "Alright, let's dance."

Christian stood up, offering his hand

with a charming smile. Talia took it, and he led her towards the dance floor. The music was lively and upbeat, and the crowd was moving rhythmically to the beat. As they stepped onto the floor, Christian pulled Talia gently into his arms, guiding her with ease.

Talia laughed as they started to dance, her earlier nervousness forgotten in the excitement of the moment. "This is actually kind of perfect," she said, looking up at him with a grin.

Christian nodded, his expression one of pure enjoyment. "I'm glad you think so. You deserve a night to remember, after all. And you definitely deserve to be celebrated."

Talia twirled gracefully in his arms, feeling the music and the moment wash over her. She looked around at the lively crowd, her happiness radiating. "I can't believe how great this night has turned out. It's been one of the best nights of my life." Christian laughed, giving her a playful spin. "Well, let's make sure it stays that way. We've still got a lot of night left to enjoy."

Claire sipped her champagne, the

bubbles tickling her nose as she watched Talia and Christian twirl across the dance floor. A few days ago, Talia had mentioned going out on a date with Christian. Claire had raised an eyebrow at the time, halfexpecting a few sparks to fly. It looked like her instincts were right, seeing how cozy they looked now.

Talia was glowing, and Christian seemed to be the perfect gentleman, leading her gracefully across the floor. Claire wasn't sure if they were officially a couple yet or just

enjoying each other's compelle

but

seeing Talia so happy was enough téoput a smile on Claire's face.

Lost in her thoughts, she barely noticed the approaching footsteps until a familiar voice called her name. "Claire!"

She turned to find Adrian Saint Laurent, his elegant charm radiating through the room. His perfectly tailored suit and charismatic smile made him stand out amidst the crowd.

"Adrian!" Claire greeted, her smile widening. She took another sip of her champagne, trying to look nonchalant even though she was secretly thrilled to see him. Adrian took a step closer, his eyes sparkling with mischief. "How are you feeling tonight?"

Claire considered his question for a moment, swirling her champagne in her glass. "Well, I have mixed emotions," she said with a chuckle. "Especially after that fashion show."

They both laughed, and Adrian's gaze lingered on her, clearly enjoying the moment. "You look amazing tonight, Claire," he said, his tone sincere. "I'm sorry about the kiss on the cheek earlier. I didn't mean to make things awkward. Claire waved off his apology with a graceful gesture. "Oh, it's fine. Don't worry about it. Just don't make a rumor of it or people might start thinking we're dating."

Adrian laughed. His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Speaking of trying something new, would you do me the honor of a dance? The song just turned slow, and I'm a terrible dancer without a partner." Claire shook her head, her lips curving into a teasing smile. "I don't dance, Adrian. I've got two left feet."

Adrian didn't let her refusal deter him. He gently took her arm, his touch light but firm. "Oh, come on. Just one dance. It'll be fun. I promise."

Claire tried to resist, but his persistent charm made it difficult. She sighed dramatically, putting on a show of reluctance. "Fine, fine. But don't blame me if we both end up stepping on each other's toes." Adrian's grin widened as he led her onto the dance floor. "Deal."