New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 241

Alexander was having one of those days where everything just seemed off. He stood in his walk-in closet, staring at the rows of meticulously tailored suits hanging in front of him.

He was already twenty minutes late for the annual Harris family charity banquet, and the main culprit was his so-called ‘short nap’ that had somehow turned into a two-hour snooze fest.

He pulled a tie from the rack, wrapping it around his neck with practiced ease, but his reflection in the mirror didn’t look impressed. He felt the same.

The suit, an Italian brand he wore often, fit him perfectly, but tonight, it felt more like a uniform than anything else. He let out a long sigh, running a hand through his hair to smooth it down. The thought of mingling at the banquet, pretending to be interested in endless small talk, wasn’t exactly thrilling.

“Great,” he muttered to himself, straightening his tie. “Just what I needed—a night full of forced smiles and long speeches.”

The memory of last year’s banquet didn’t help either. He had conveniently been "too busy" to attend, which had not gone over well with his mother. This year, she had made it clear that his presence was non-negotiable. He just hoped his father would do most of the talking so he could quietly blend into the background.

A buzz from his phone interrupted his thoughts. He walked out of the closet and grabbed it from the table, already knowing who it was. Sure enough, it was a text from his mother, eager to see him tonight.

Mum: Can’t wait to see you tonight, darling!

Alexander sighed, slipping the phone into his pocket. “Can’t wait,” he mumbled sarcastically before heading out of his room, not feeling at all excited about the evening ahead.

He downed the drink in one swoop as he lost count of how many drinks he had drank earlier.

Meanwhile, Claire was in the backseat of her car, staring out the window as they drove towards the Harris Hotel. She was less than thrilled about attending the banquet, and her expression was one of clear disinterest. Last year, she’d skip the banquet because she wasn't feeling well.

The next day, Joan Harris called to wish her a speedy recovery, which was a surprise to Claire because she hadn’t told anyone she was sick—only Alex knew. It turned out Alex had told his mother he was taking care of Claire while his Christian represented him at the banquet. Of course, Alex hadn’t been taking care of her at all; he’d been too busy with work meetings and deadlines.

“Typical,” Claire muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes at the memory.

Claire sighed, leaning back in her seat. She crossed her fingers, hoping Alex would skip the event this year. But knowing him, he’d probably show up, and she’d have to spend the entire evening avoiding him. She wasn’t in the mood to deal with his charm or his teasing.

“Just one night,” Claire murmured to herself. “Just get through one night without any drama.”

While Claire and Alexander is currently looking unhappy, Talia on the other hand is filled with happiness.

Talia was getting ready for what felt like the most important evening of her life—dinner with Christian. She couldn’t believe he had actually asked her out. Her heart fluttered just thinking about it, and a blush crept onto her cheeks. She applied another layer of lip gloss, then fixed her hair for what felt like the hundredth time.

Talia glanced at her wristwatch, the seconds ticking down to 7 PM. She had been ready for ages but was too nervous to sit still. She tried to take a deep breath to calm herself, but it didn’t help much. Just as she was about to check her reflection one more time, she heard a knock on her apartment door.

Her heart skipped a beat. It was time.

At first, neither of them noticed the other, each lost in their own thoughts. But as they drew closer, a sense of familiarity struck. They both looked up simultaneously, and their eyes met, locking in a moment of mutual surprise and resignation.

“Oh, great,” Claire thought, her heart sinking. “Just my luck.” She was really hoping to avoid this tonight.

Alexander’s thoughts mirrored hers. “Here we go,” he muttered under his breath, forcing a smile as he approached her. He couldn't help but wonder why she was there.

“Claire,” he greeted, his tone polite but with a hint of weariness.

“Alexander,” she replied, matching his tone perfectly. “Well, isn’t this a pleasant surprise,” Claire said while giving him a tight smile.

“I wasn't informed that you will be attending this banquet.” Alexander shoved both his hands in his pants pocket.

Claire raised her brows. “Really? I almost thought that you were stalking me.”

Alexander rolled his eyes and replied sarcastically. “Of course, cause that's the only thing that I am good at.”

They both knew the night had just become a lot more different.