New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 426

Eligos sat in his dimly lit office, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth as he flipped a silver coin between his fingers. He wasn’t just playing with the coin; it was his thinking ritual, a rhythmic, almost hypnotic motion that helped him map out his schemes.

His sharp eyes gleamed with satisfaction as an idea crystallized in his mind. Time to get Cindy involved again.

He grabbed his sleek black phone from the desk and dialed Cindy's number. The call was answered on the second ring, Cindy’s bubbly voice coming through the line.

“Hello? Eligos?” Cindy sounded chipper, almost too chipper.

Eligos allowed a thin smile. “Cindy, darling. How’s the glamorous life treating you?”

She laughed softly, the sound tinged with a bit of nervousness. “Oh, it’s great, honestly. Never thought I’d be here. I have a photo shoot tomorrow if you can believe that.”

“Of course, I believe it,” Eligos said smoothly. “You’re talented, Cindy. You just needed the right hand guiding you.”

Cindy hesitated, then responded, “Thanks, Eligos. Really.”

“Good. Now, let’s get to business,” Eligos said, his voice taking on a more commanding tone. “I have another mission for you.”

The pause on Cindy’s end stretched longer this time. “A… mission? Again?”

“Yes,” he said, his smirk widening as he leaned back in his chair. “It’s time to repay my generosity. Don’t forget, Cindy, I made this life of yours possible.”

Cindy froze for a moment on the other end of the line. She had promised to help him when needed, but every time he called, it felt like a Faustian bargain. She sighed softly, clearly torn. “I haven’t forgotten. What do you need me to do?”

Eligos’s smile turned predatory. “You’re going to seduce Adrian Saint Laurent.”

There was a loud gasp at the other end. Finally, Cindy’s voice came back, higher-pitched than before. “Excuse me? What? Adrian Saint Laurent? n Adrian Saint Laurent? The tabloids say the Saint Laurent family is practically royalty in the business world! How is that even possible? And… why?”

“Simple,” Eligos said, twirling the coin again. “I’ll hire a fake photographer to capture compromising pictures of you and Adrian. Once the photos hit the internet, Claire Peterson will see them. That’s all I need—for Claire to spend every waking moment obsessing over it. Maybe it’ll even spark a nice, juicy argument between them.”

Cindy let out a disbelieving laugh. “Wow. That’s… sneaky. Smart, but sneaky.”

“Of course it is,” Eligos replied, his voice dripping with self-assurance. “I don’t make amateur moves, Cindy. But this requires finesse. Adrian isn’t the kind of man who can be easily swayed by just anyone.”

“No kidding,” Cindy muttered. “He looks like the type to see through everything. So, what’s the plan? How am I supposed to pull this off?”

Eligos’s smirk deepened. “I’m sending you a package. Inside, you’ll find exactly what you need to make this work.”

Cindy’s curiosity piqued, and her brows shot up. “A package? What kind of package? What’s in it?”

“Patience,” Eligos said, his tone firm. “You’ll see soon enough. Just know that it’s everything you’ll need to convince Adrian you’re someone… familiar.”

Cindy frowned, the suspicion clear in her voice. “Familiar? What do you mean?”

Eligos rolled his eyes, his patience wearing thin. “Dress to resemble Claire Peterson. Do your hair like hers. Channel her style. Adrian won’t be able to resist if he thinks you’re her.”