New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 382

The morning sun streamed through the wide windows of the studio, casting a warm, golden glow across the polished floors.

Cindy sat in a chair in the makeup room, surrounded by a flurry of makeup artists and stylists. Brushes swept across her face, fingers fluffed and teased her hair, and there was a constant buzz of chatter all around. Cindy, despite herself, couldn't help but feel a growing excitement bubbling up in her chest. She hadn't been in a situation like this in ages—a real, high-end photoshoot with an actual luxury brand. It almost felt unreal.

She stared at herself in the mirror, blinking at her reflection, slightly stunned.

So, this is really happening?

Truth be told, she hadn't believed that mysterious guy, the one she’d met yesterday, would actually pull this off. He had been so vague, so distant—he hadn’t even told her his name, let alone given her any sort of assurance.

She didn’t even know what his face looked like, much less what kind of expressions he might’ve had. She had assumed he was just some shady nobody trying to play a big game. But here she was, glammed up and ready for the spotlight.

“Five minutes, Cindy!” one of the team members called out, a clipboard in hand. “We’ll be starting the shoot soon. Get ready!”

Cindy’s heart skipped a beat. The thrill of being back in the game—the cameras, the lights, the glamour—it was intoxicating. She hadn’t realized just how much she missed it until this moment. She gave herself one last look in the mirror, a smirk playing at the edges of her lips.

Maybe this whole deal wasn’t so bad after all.

Sure, that guy—whoever he was—had been mysterious, but maybe he really did have the connections. Maybe all he wanted was someone to work with, and if this was all she had to do, well, Cindy wasn’t going to complain. She could have her life back, her fame, her glamour, just like old times.

And all she had to do was keep doing what he told her. Simple enough, right?

The photoshoot began, and as soon as the cameras started flashing, Cindy slipped right back into her old self. The poses came naturally—head tilts, sultry glances, confident stances. She did not need any direction; it was like riding a bike. Her body just knew what to do. As she moved gracefully under the bright studio lights.

She thought to herself, Maybe this guy isn’t so bad. Maybe working with him could bring me back to the top.

Meanwhile, across town, in a darkened room, Eligos sat at his computer, his fingers lightly tapping the desk as he watched the screen. He wasn’t really interested in the task at hand—monitoring his computer. It was Claire he was keeping tabs on.

Suddenly, his phone buzzed on the desk beside him. Eligos glanced at the screen before answering. “Yeah?”

“Boss, she’s taken the bait,” the voice on the other end reported. “Claire found the body. She’s at the station now with her little right-hand man. They’re being questioned as we speak.”

A slow, smug smile crept across Eligos’ face. “Is that so? Well, well… I guess she’s smarter than I thought. Figured she’d find it eventually.”

The voice on the phone continued, “Yeah, she’s playing right into it. Everything’s going according to plan.”

“Good,” Eligos replied, leaning back in his chair. “And what about Cindy? What’s the word on her?”