New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 428

Cindy swirled the champagne in her glass, the bubbling liquid catching the dim lights of the banquet hall. She had been keeping her eyes locked on Adrian for the better part of the evening, tracking his every move from across the room. He was charming as usual, a natural at drawing people in with his smooth talk and magnetic presence.

She glanced at her watch. Ten minutes had passed since her last check. Her lips curled into a sly smile. Showtime, she thought.

Taking a deep breath, Cindy adjusted her dress, making sure every detail was flawless, from her perfectly styled hair to her calculated smile. She swayed her hips deliberately as she made her way toward Adrian, who was deep in conversation with a group of well-dressed socialites.

As she approached, she turned on the charm, her smile warm and inviting. “Good evening, everyone,” she said, her voice smooth as silk. Her gaze flicked to Adrian, who noticed her immediately. His expression changed, his usual composure faltering ever so slightly.

“Claire?” he asked softly, his tone tinged with surprise.

Cindy’s smirk widened. She had nailed it—the look, the demeanor, even the faint trace of mystery that Claire seemed to carry naturally.

“Adrian,” she said sweetly, tilting her head slightly, her voice dropping just enough to mimic Claire’s tone. “Would you mind if we talked privately? It’s important.”

Adrian nodded, his brow furrowing. “Of course. Excuse me,” he said to the group, offering a polite smile before following Cindy.

She led him down a hallway into a small, dimly lit lounge that was mostly unused for the evening. The faint hum of the banquet's activity drifted in from the distance, but the space felt isolated enough for her plan.

The moment they were alone, Adrian turned to her, a look of concern on his face. “Claire, where have you been? You’ve been so distant,” he said, stepping closer.

Cindy smirked inwardly. Oh, this is going to be easier than I thought.

“I’ve been… busy,” she said, letting her words hang, drawing him in. She tilted her head, her eyes looking onto his with an intensity that could almost convince even herself.

“Too busy to even text me back?” Adrian asked his tone a mix of frustration and vulnerability.

Cindy stepped closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor. She reached out, her long, manicured nails lightly tracing his cheek. His breath hitched, and she almost laughed at how effortlessly he was falling for it.

“Let’s not talk about that,” she murmured, her voice low and inviting. “Kiss me.”

Adrian hesitated for a split second, but the moment their lips met, it was like a dam breaking. The kiss started soft, tentative but quickly deepened into something passionate. Cindy found herself caught off guard—Adrian was… good at this. She hadn’t expected to enjoy it, but there was something intoxicating about the way he kissed her.

Focus, Cindy, she reminded herself. This wasn’t real—it was just another job.

And then, right when she was getting lost in the moment, her phone vibrated against her wrist. The insistent buzz pulled her back to reality, breaking the kiss abruptly.

Adrian looked confused, his breathing heavy as he blinked at her. "Claire?"

“Hold on,” Cindy muttered, pulling her phone out of her clutch. The screen lit up with a message from Eligos.

Eligos: Photos are captured. You can leave now.