New beginning: Billionaire love story (Claire and Alex) novel Chapter 490

Eligos reclined in his plush first-class seat, savoring the tranquility of the flight. The hum of the engines was a soothing backdrop to his thoughts as he sipped on a glass of champagne. The air stewardess, dressed impeccably, approached with a tray of chocolate-covered strawberries. She leaned in, her smile warm and professional.

"Would you care for a strawberry, sir?" she offered, her voice soft and inviting.

Eligos nodded, plucking one from the tray. "Thank you," he murmured, his lips curling into a subtle smile as he bit into the strawberry. The rich chocolate paired with the juicy fruit was a decadent contrast he appreciated.

As the stewardess moved on to attend to other passengers, Eligos turned his attention to his phone. He tapped the screen, bringing up a text thread with Andre. His fingers danced over the keyboard as he composed a message.

Eligos: Remember, Andre. No shaking or quivering in front of Claire. She can read people like an open book. We need her to stay curious about how you managed to fly to Vegas. Don’t give her any clues.

He hit send and leaned back, eyes narrowing as he thought about the unfolding scheme. Andre was a critical piece in this game, and he had to play his part well. Eligos was still annoyed about Andre revealing snippets of his past to Claire, despite the promises to keep it under wraps. It was a breach of trust, and though Eligos was furious, he had decided to trust Andre, for now.

The phone buzzed in his hand, pulling him from his thoughts.

Andre: I understand. I’ll handle it. Claire won’t know a thing.

Eligos frowned, his jaw tightening. He wasn’t convinced. He typed back a curt response.

Eligos: See that you do. Any slip, and you know the consequences.

He placed the phone on the armrest and took another sip of his champagne. The grand opening of Harris Hotel was a pivotal moment. Everything had to go according to plan, without a hitch.

In a hotel room across town, André sat on the edge of his bed, his phone clutched tightly in his hand. Eligos's message glared back at him, the words sending a shiver down his spine. The weight of the task ahead pressed heavily on his shoulders. He exhaled slowly, trying to steady his nerves as he gazed out the window at the dazzling lights of Las Vegas.

"Can I do this?" André whispered to himself, doubt creeping into his mind. But he knew he had no choice. He was already here, and the stakes were too high. Failure wasn’t an option—not with Eligos watching his every move.

He took a deep breath, his reflection in the window looking back at him with determination. "You’ve got this," he muttered. "You have to."

As if on cue, his phone buzzed in his hand, jolting him from his thoughts. It was a call from his mother. He took another deep breath before answering, forcing a smile onto his face as he greeted her. "Mama."

Her voice, though weak, was a balm to his frayed nerves. “André, my sweet boy. How are you? Are you eating well?”

André’s heart ached at the sound of her frailty. “I’m fine, Mama. More importantly, how are you feeling?”

“I’m doing alright,” she replied, her voice soft but carrying a hint of false cheer. “The doctors are taking good care of me.”

André didn’t believe her entirely. He knew her condition was more serious than she let on. He had made arrangements with the hospital staff to keep him updated on any changes. “Mama, you know you can tell me if you’re not feeling well. I want to help in any way I can.”

“I know, André. But what I need most is to see you here, by my side,” she said, her voice tinged with longing.

André’s chest tightened. He longed to be there too, but his obligations—and Eligos’s grasp—kept him away. “Soon, Mama. I’ll come as soon as I can.”

Closing his phone, Eligos let out a contented sigh. Everything was falling into place. Now, it was just a matter of watching the pieces move, ensuring each one played its part to perfection.

He raised his glass slightly as if toasting the future. “To a flawless performance,” he murmured, before finishing the last of his champagne.

Meanwhile, André remained seated on the edge of his bed, staring at his phone. He replayed the conversation with his mother in his mind, her frail voice haunting him. His hands clenched into fists, nails digging into his palms as he resolved to keep his focus.

A knock at the door broke his reverie. He stood, walked over, and opened it to find a hotel staff member standing there.

“Mr. André, your dinner has been sent up,” the staff member announced with a polite smile.

André nodded, stepping aside to allow the cart to be wheeled in. “Thank you,” he said, his voice distant.

As the staff member left, André sat at the small dining table, staring at the meal before him without much appetite. He knew he needed to eat, to keep his strength up, but the pressure of the upcoming events weighed heavily on him.

He picked at the food, forcing himself to take a few bites. Every mouthful felt heavy, a reminder of the responsibilities he carried. His phone buzzed again, a notification from Eligos.

Eligos: Remember, everything rides on this. Stay focused.

André swallowed hard, his grip tightening around the fork. “I won’t fail,” he whispered to the empty room. He couldn’t—too many lives depended on it.