New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 246

“What the hell are you doing?”

Alexander tilted his head to look at her, a lazy smile spreading across his face. “Contemplating life,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “What does it look like?”

Claire crossed her arms, giving him a withering look. “It looks like you’re being an idiot, as usual. Why are you on the floor?”

He shrugged, still not bothering to get up. “It’s more comfortable down here. And it’s quiet. No one to bother me. Well, except you, obviously.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Get up, Alexander.”

Alexander just grinned lazily, unrepentant, and refused to budge from where he was sprawled out on the floor of the lift. With his casual attitude even when half-drunk, it was maddening. Claire folded her arms and tapped her foot as she muttered under her breath.

“What am I going to do with you?” she sighed. The doors had closed behind, leaving them in this box, with Claire glaring down at Alex who had obviously no plans of moving soon.

She looked down at the panel of floor buttons, undecided. Taking him back to his place was not an option. Truly the last thing she needed was some roaming paparazzi capturing a shot of her dragging a tipsy Alexander Harris out of a hotel. Another headline with their names sharing the same black ink was not on the agenda.

After an instant's hesitation, Claire ducked and grabbed his arm, yanking him upright with more strength than her delicate appearance would have suggested. “Come on, up you go,” she growled, striving to support him against the elevator wall.

As she approached the lift and was about to press any floor number, the lift doors opened, and a hotel employee came into it, surprised to see the two of them inside.

Suddenly, an idea came to Claire's mind. In the fraction of a second, she threw a smile at the hotel employee. “I need your help,” she started off, her voice taking on that sweet, sweet tone she reserved only for getting what she wanted. “Well, actually, it is your boss here who needs help,” she added, nodding toward Alexander.

In his eyes, the employee glanced from Claire to Alexander, his eyes widening in recognition of the man. “Oh! Mr. Harris! Is he all right? What can I do to help?” he asked, showing significant enthusiasm to help or please them.

Claire motioned to Alexander, who was leaning heavily against her. “He's unwell and needs a place to rest,” she said, coming across as every inch the worried partner. “Could you arrange a room for him?”

The hotel worker didn't miss a beat, just nodded and pressed the button for the top floor. “Of course, Miss. The penthouse should be available.”

Claire breathed out a relieved smile as things finally seemed to go their way. Going up, she glanced at Alex. Incapacitated at the moment, he somehow still managed to look handsome and infuriating all at once.

As the elevator doors opened at the top floor, they were led down a plush hallway and the door to one of the luxurious suites was unlocked. With a lot of struggling, they managed to drag Alexander to the nearest bed and drop him onto it. Claire straightened and brushed a stray lock of hair off her face before she turned to the staff member.

“Thank you,” she said, this time with genuine thanks.