New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 421

Claire was buzzing around Las Vegas like a one-woman tornado. She dashed from her hotel room to various meeting spots, scribbling notes on her tablet and taking calls at every step.

The job wasn’t technically hers—Alexander was the mastermind here, but he'd left her in charge of overseeing the installation and setup of his flashy, futuristic concept. And if Claire was honest, she wasn’t thrilled about playing his deputy. But since they were business partners, she had little choice. At least Vegas had some perks.

She had been meeting with Alexander's interior team all morning, fielding questions about the setup for what Alexander was calling his “Matrix-inspired masterpiece.” Claire wasn’t quite sure what he was aiming for with the whole matrix theme, but she nodded along, mentally rolling her eyes every time someone said “edgy” or “avant-garde.”

“Alright, so here’s the plan,” Claire said, pointing at the blueprints laid out across the conference table. “We’ll have three robots stationed strategically—the first one in the lobby, another near the restaurant entrance, and one on the rooftop.”

“Will we add more later?” asked a young interior designer, furrowing his brow.

Claire shrugged, "Not unless Alexander decides he wants an army of these things. For now, we’re focusing on the main points where guests might actually get lost or need help.”

The designer nodded, looking a bit nervous as he scribbled notes. Claire couldn’t blame him; Alexander’s projects were known for their absurdly high standards and razor-thin deadlines.

Upstairs, downstairs, all around the hotel—Claire practically wore out her shoes going back and forth. She paused for a second to catch her breath near the elevators, contemplating sending a quick text to Matthew for updates back at headquarters. Just as she was reaching for her phone, a water bottle appeared right in front of her.

She looked up to see Alexander himself grinning down at her, extending the bottle like it was a peace offering. His usual polished, charming smile was plastered on his face, though Claire could detect a hint of mischief.

“Here. You look like you could use it,” he said, his voice annoyingly smug.

She frowned, pushing the bottle back toward him. “I’m fine. Not thirsty,” she replied, though her throat felt as dry as the Vegas desert outside. She knew better than to let him think she needed anything from him.

“Oh, come on,” Alexander chuckled, waving the bottle in front of her face. “You’ve been running around like a headless chicken. Just drink the water, Claire. You’ll feel better.”

Claire rolled her eyes. “Since when do you care if I feel better?” She narrowed her gaze, studying him. “Shouldn’t you be off charming some investor? I thought you’d leave the actual work to the rest of us.”

Alexander smirked, crossing his arms and holding the water bottle against his chest. “I can do both, you know. Multitasking is a skill.” He uncrossed his arms and tried once more, practically shoving the bottle into her hand. “Come on. Take it. I don’t want you passing out on my project.”

She huffed, grabbing the bottle reluctantly. “Fine, but don’t act like this makes us best friends or something. I’m just doing my job.”

Alexander laughed, a low, casual sound that she suspected he had practiced. “Is it really a job if you’re having so much fun?” he teased, watching her take a grudging sip of water.

“Fun?” Claire sputtered, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. “This is hardly my definition of fun, Alexander. Besides, I’m basically doing your job at this point.”

“Oh, I knew you’d say that,” he said with a dramatic sigh. “You know, you could stand to loosen up a little. Embrace the chaos. Look around you—this place is buzzing, and it’s partly thanks to you.”

Claire glanced around at the bustling hotel lobby, where workers were setting up installations and decor to match Alexander’s vision. She had to admit, that seeing it all come together was a little satisfying, even if she hated to give him credit for anything.