New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 252

As the doors of the robotic door swung open, Claire walked out, followed closely by Matthew and Stephen. The high-tech lab, full of whirring machines and blinking lights, had always felt like a second home to Claire. But now, as they stepped into the quiet corridor, her mind was still buzzing with thoughts of their latest project.

“So, what do you think?” Claire asked, glancing over at Stephen, who was still looking back at the robotic room with a thoughtful expression.

Stephen rubbed his chin, pausing for a moment before speaking. “There are a few things the team got wrong in building the robot,” he said, his tone analytical. “But nothing too critical. The sensors could be more responsive, and the joint movements need some tweaking, but overall, it’s solid.”

Claire nodded as she listened to Stephen list out the points. She appreciated his attention to detail—it was one of the reasons she valued his input so much. “Thank you for the feedback,” she said sincerely. “It’s always good to have a fresh pair of eyes on these things.”

Stephen smiled, clearly pleased. “No problem. I actually enjoyed it. Working with robots again, I didn’t realize how much I missed it.”

Claire turned to him with a curious look. “So, does this mean you’d be interested in joining the team?”

Stephen looked contemplative for a moment, weighing his options. Then he turned to Claire, a genuine smile spreading across his face. “Yes, I’d like to join the robotics team, if you’ll have me.”

A grin broke out on Claire’s lips, and she nodded enthusiastically. “Of course! We’d be lucky to have you. Thank you for considering it.”

Matthew, who had been walking beside them with his usual casual swagger, suddenly pulled Stephen into a bear hug. “Welcome aboard, buddy!” he said with a laugh. “Looks like we’ll be seeing a lot more of each other.”

Stephen chuckled, patting Matthew’s back. “We already see each other almost every day, Matthew.”

“Yeah, but now it’s gonna be 24/7!” Matthew joked, his eyes sparkling with amusement.

Claire watched the exchange with a smile, feeling a sense of satisfaction. It was good to see her team coming together, especially with someone as talented as Stephen joining them. “You can start tomorrow,” she said to Stephen. “I’ll have all your access sorted out, and we’ll set up your desk.”

“Great,” Stephen replied, genuinely happy. “Thanks, Ms. Peterson. I’m looking forward to it.” With that, he gave a small wave and headed towards the elevator, leaving Claire and Matthew standing in the hallway.

Matthew nudged Claire’s elbow playfully. “Well, that was a success,” he said, a hint of pride in his voice. “I’ve got a feeling this project will be done in record time. Maybe even before three months.”

Claire smiled at his optimism. “Let’s not jinx it. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

As they walked back to her office, the time ticked by. Claire’s phone buzzed with a new message. She pulled it out, expecting another work-related text. Her face immediately changed as she read the name on the screen—Robert.

Her gaze grew cold as she read the text. Matthew, who was busy closing his laptop, noticed the shift in her demeanor. “What’s up? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Claire sighed, showing him the phone screen. “I got a text from Robert.”

Matthew’s face turned serious, all traces of humor gone. “Robert? What does he want?”

Claire face turn serious as she read the message aloud. “He’s inviting me to dinner.”

Matthew shook his head, his expression darkening. “Claire, you can’t go. Who knows what he’s planning? He’s never up to any good.”