New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 236

“Lisa,” The room seemed to shrink in size as she entered, her presence like a sudden chill in the air.

Lisa’s nerves were doing backflips. “What are you doing here?” she asked, her voice laced with a touch of nervousness that she hoped Claire wouldn’t notice.

Claire raised an eyebrow, her expression cold, both hands shoved casually inside her coat pockets. She walked slowly, her heels clicking against the tiles with each step, a sound that echoed ominously in the room. “I was just wondering if you’re okay,” Claire said in a tone that was far from comforting.

Lisa wasn’t fooled. Claire wasn’t here for small talk or to check on her well-being. There was something else behind those words, something much sharper. Lisa could feel her heart racing, but she forced herself to stay steady. “What do you really want, Claire?” she asked, her voice firmer this time, even though she was practically vibrating with anxiety.

Claire’s lips curled into a smile, but it wasn’t the warm kind. It was a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, cold and almost mocking. “I just wanted to say,” Claire began, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “that your little stunt a few days ago was…impressive. I couldn’t be more thankful for you saving me.”

Lisa clenched her jaw, recognizing the mockery in Claire’s voice. She swallowed hard, trying to keep her cool. “I was just doing what I thought was right,” she said, her voice steady but her mind racing. She knew she couldn’t afford to slip up, especially with Claire standing this close. If she so much as hinted at the fire or anything related to Gretta, she’d be in big trouble.

Claire stepped closer, narrowing the already slim space between them. Lisa could feel her pulse quicken as Claire’s cold eyes locked onto hers. “It seems,” Claire continued, her voice low and edged with something almost dangerous, “that your heroic actions have caught Alex’s attention.”

Lisa’s brow furrowed, her annoyance slipping through. “Alex has always been in love with me,” she shot back, though there was a slight waver in her voice, like she was trying to convince herself as much as Claire.

Claire chuckled softly, clearly unconcerned with the truth of Lisa’s statement. “Sure,” she said, dismissing it with a wave of her hand. “But that’s not why I’m here.”

Lisa’s heart skipped a beat. “Then why are you here?”

Claire’s eyes flicked to the television playing in the background, the flickering light casting odd shadows on the walls. “Why were you there?” she asked, her tone curious but with an edge that suggested she already knew the answer.

Lisa’s gaze followed Claire’s to the television, and she quickly scrambled for a calm response. “I got an invitation from my company to attend the fashion show,” she answered, hoping it sounded believable.

Claire raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. She tilted her head slightly, as if weighing Lisa’s words in her mind. “Is that so?” she mused, her voice thoughtful, but her eyes still cold and calculating.

Lisa felt a trickle of sweat run down her back, but she kept her expression neutral. “Yes, that’s all there is to it,” she said, trying to sound as casual as possible.

Claire didn’t respond immediately, her mind drifting back to a recent conversation with Kayla. Kayla had been so adamant about making Lisa pay for something, though Claire hadn’t given it much thought at the time. Now, she made a mental note to follow up with Kayla and see if there was more to this story than Lisa was letting on.

Then, with a sudden sharpness, Claire’s gaze snapped back to Lisa. “I know you had something to do with the fire,” she said, her voice dropping to a cold whisper.

Lisa tensed up, the accusation hitting her like a punch to the gut. She struggled to keep her face calm, quickly grabbing another piece of food to occupy her hands and distract herself from the rising panic. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she said, her voice a little too quick, a little too defensive.

Claire’s eyes narrowed, sensing the unease in Lisa’s response. “Don’t play dumb with me, Lisa,” she said, her tone hardening. “I’m not here to play games. I know you were involved.”