New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 235

Claire texted Talia, suggesting they meet up for dinner. It wasn’t unusual for them to catch up over a meal, but tonight felt a little different. When Talia arrived at the restaurant, she immediately spotted Claire sitting in her usual spot in the corner, a glass of wine in hand, looking deep in thought.

“Hey, Claire,” Talia greeted as she slid into the seat across from her. “What’s up with the sudden dinner invite? Not that I’m complaining, of course.” She flashed a smile, but there was curiosity in her eyes.

Claire returned the smile, setting her glass down. “I’ve got something to tell you, and I thought it’d be better to do it over a good meal.”

Talia raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Oh? What’s the news?”

“Well,” Claire began, leaning in slightly, “Adrian and I were talking, and we were thinking...how would you feel about redoing your fashion show?”

Talia blinked, taken aback. “Redoing the fashion show? You mean, the one that…?” Her voice trailed off as the memory of the disastrous fire came flooding back.

Claire nodded. “Yes, that one. We want to give you another shot.”

Talia looked down, fiddling with her fingers. “But why, Claire? Why go through all that trouble again?”

“Because I saw how much it meant to you,” Claire said gently. “It was your first big debut in the fashion industry, and you worked so hard to make it happen. It was heartbreaking to see it all go up in flames, literally. I want to help you get that moment back.”

Talia bit her lip, her fingers still playing with the edge of the napkin. “I don’t know, Claire. After the fire, I had to talk to Mrs. Armetta, and she was just as shocked as I was. I don’t even know if she’d agree to do it again.”

Claire waved a hand dismissively. “Don’t worry about Mrs. Armetta. I’ll handle her. Right now, what matters is if you want to do this. Do you?”

Talia looked up at Claire, searching her face for answers. “But why, Claire? Why are you doing this for me?”

Claire reached across the table and took Talia’s hand in hers. “Because you deserve it, Talia. You’ve got so much talent, and it’s a waste to let it go unnoticed. And let’s be honest, with the fire, I doubt anyone even remembers what the collection looked like.”

Talia sighed, nodding slightly. “You’re right. Every time I check the news, all they talk about is the fire. Even VOGUE called it Armetta’s first disaster fashion show. They didn’t even mention the collection.”

“And that’s exactly why we need to do this,” Claire said, her voice firm. “People need to see your work for what it is, not just the disaster that happened. You deserve to have your moment, Talia.”

Talia hesitated for a moment longer, then a look of determination crossed her face. “Okay, let’s do it. Let’s have another fashion show.”

Claire beamed, clearly pleased with the answer. “That’s what I wanted to hear! And I think you’ll love Adrian’s idea for the show. He’s got something unique in mind, but it’s totally up to you if you want to go with it.”

“Adrian has a plan?” Talia asked, her curiosity piqued. “What is it?”

Claire chuckled. “It’s a bit out there, but that’s Adrian for you. He was thinking of incorporating some unexpected elements—something that’ll make your show stand out even more. I’ll let him explain it to you in detail, but I think you’ll like it.”

Talia’s eyes sparkled with excitement, the fear and uncertainty melting away. “I’m starting to get excited about this. It’s like a second chance, you know?”