New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 255

Alex reached for his glass of water, taking a big gulp, and then, just as Christian mentioned Talia’s name, Alex choked. Water sprayed everywhere, and Alex spluttered, trying to catch his breath. Christian, with a concerned look, jumped up from his seat and patted Alex on the back.

“Are you okay?” Christian asked, his voice filled with genuine concern.

Alex continued coughing, waving a hand at Christian to show he was alright. “Yeah, yeah,” he managed to get out between coughs, his face red. “You just caught me off guard with that... revelation.”

Christian smirked as he watched Alex’s reaction. “It’s not that shocking, is it?”

Alex finally stopped coughing, turning to Christian with wide eyes, looking almost like a deer caught in headlights. “Are you crazy?” he blurted out, still half in disbelief. “Talia? Of all people?”

Christian sighed heavily, walking back to his seat. He plopped down, looking at Alex with a slightly annoyed expression. “This is why I didn’t want to tell you, Alex. I knew you’d be judgmental about it.”

Alex let out a deep sigh, running a hand through his hair. “I’m not judging, alright? It’s just... Talia? She’s Claire’s best friend! Does Claire even know about this?”

Christian shrugged, looking a bit nonchalant. “Maybe yes, maybe no,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “But given how close they are, Claire’s gonna find out sooner or later. There’s no hiding anything from her.”

Alex shook his head, still trying to wrap his mind around the idea. “You’re seriously going out on a date with Talia? Are you out of your mind?”

Christian raised an eyebrow, a small smile tugging at the corner of his lips. “Why? What’s wrong with Talia?”

Alex scoffed, folding his arms across his chest. “Nothing’s wrong with her,” he admitted. “It’s just... she's Claire's best friend which makes everything complicated."

Christian chuckled, seeing Alex’s obvious discomfort. “You’re overthinking this,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “It’s just a date. No big deal. And whatever bad relationship you and Claire share it won't affect us if you are wondering.”

Alex sighed. “I suppose you are right. But I still couldn't grasp that you are going out with Talia out of all people.”

Talia was focused, her brow furrowed in concentration as she bent over a delicate piece of fabric. The upcoming fashion show had everyone on edge, but Talia thrived under pressure. She and the other designers were deep into the final stages, making sure every stitch was perfect, every hem aligned. The room buzzed with energy as sewing machines whirred and designers chattered, exchanging ideas and offering feedback. Talia stood out among them, her hands moving deftly, her mind racing with last-minute adjustments.

“Pass me the gold thread,” Talia called out, her voice a mix of excitement and authority. One of the junior designers quickly handed it to her, and she got back to work, her fingers weaving the thread through the fabric with precision. The design was coming together beautifully, a vision of elegance that was sure to wow the audience.

A few days passed in a blur of fabric, needles, and caffeine-fueled nights. Finally, Talia stepped back, taking a long look at her finished dress. She let out a satisfied sigh. “Done,” she declared, turning to Claire, who had been observing quietly.

Claire, who had been leaning against the wall, arms crossed, gave a nod of approval. “Looks like you’ve got everything under control,” she said with a small smile. “Are you ready to head over to Adrian’s mansion?”