New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 418

As Claire finally entered her hotel room, she dropped her bag on the couch with a tired sigh and immediately dialed Matthew’s number. It was past 9 PM in London, and knowing him, he might’ve crashed on his couch in front of his laptop, entirely forgetting the concept of a bed.

But her call went unanswered. Claire raised an eyebrow, checking the time again. Was he actually asleep this early? Somehow, she doubted that.

A few hours earlier…

Matthew was squinting at his laptop screen, brow furrowed as he studied the bizarre code streaming across it. He’d been seeing these disturbances on his system for hours now. It was as if someone was trying to hack him—or maybe even taunt him.

And he had a strong hunch it was the same person who had led them on that ridiculous wild goose chase a few days ago with the car and all. The question was… why? This mysterious hacker had always seemed focused on irritating Claire, but now, suddenly, Matthew was in the crosshairs.

Curiosity got the best of him. Matthew knew it wasn’t wise to stay at Metacortex where anyone—especially a savvy hacker—could easily find him. So, he grabbed his laptop and headed straight up to the building’s helipad. He gave the pilot a quick nod. “We’re going to Cryptonic,” he said, settling into his seat. Cryptonic was Claire’s ultra-secure facility, and it wasn’t exactly common knowledge. It didn’t even show up on maps, so Matthew figured it was probably the safest place he could be.

The helicopter landed ten minutes later, and he bolted down to his office. He set up at his workstation with two monitors in front of him and opened his laptop to trace the intruder. It wasn’t easy. Whoever was on the other end was cloaked in layers of encryption. But Matthew wasn’t one to back down.

He sent a bold message through the chat portal: “Why don’t you show yourself and stop hiding in the dark?”

Seconds later, a message popped back onto his screen. “Oh, should I? Patience, Matthew.”

Matthew frowned, fingers flying across the keys. “What are you, a scaredy cat? All bark, no bite.”

Somewhere across town, Eligos stared at his screen, his expression turning into a sharp, amused smirk. “Oh, you wanna play, huh?” he muttered to himself, typing back. Instead of going after Metacortex or Cryptonic as he’d originally planned, he decided Matthew would be his primary target for the night. Toying with him sounded far more interesting.

He typed, “Alright, then. Since you’re so curious, let’s meet. I’ll even let you throw that punch, if you dare.”

Matthew shot back immediately, “Tell me where. I’ll be there. Can’t wait to see you eat your words, loser.”

Eligos rolled his eyes but couldn’t deny that he was a little amused. Matthew had spirit, he’d give him that. He sent the location—an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of the city—and noted the time: 8 PM. A little cliché, sure, but he was hardly aiming for creativity tonight.

“See you then. Bring your best,” he added for good measure.

Eligos grinned, a scheme brewing in his mind. His plan was simple: he’d arrive with backup hiding in the shadows, ready to intervene if necessary. The idea of possibly kidnapping Matthew crossed his mind as well. He’d always been good at improvising, and who knew? A change of plans could come in handy.

Calling one of his men, he instructed, “I’ll need you and a few others stationed at the warehouse, but stay out of sight. I don’t want our guest of honor getting suspicious.”

“Yes, sir,” the man replied, heading off to brief the others.

Eligos walked over to a hidden shelf in his office, revealing a sleek pistol. He ran his fingers over it thoughtfully, debating whether to bring it along. “No,” he decided with a smirk, “that’s for another time.” He returned it to its spot, feeling the weight of anticipation build as he prepared for the evening’s entertainment.

Back in the Present...

Matthew was checking his watch as he paced around in the old, dimly lit warehouse. 7:59 PM. The place was empty, save for a few crates scattered around and a heavy, eerie silence that felt just a little too intentional. He crossed his arms, glancing around with suspicion.