New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 67

Chapter 67 What's Metacortes?

The dining room fell into a momentary hush as the guest's entrance drew everyone's attention

"Am interupting something?" she asked with achamming smile, her eyes scanning the room

Alex's eyes widened in surprise, a shiver running down Lisa's spine as they both recognized the guest. Lisa's grip tightened on the fork in her hand, her unease

palpable

Joan's expression miriored the shockin alex's eyes, while Michael remained impassive, having been the one to invite Claire to join them. Rising from his seat with polite composure, Michael greted Claire warmly. "Not at all, Claire We were just starting. Please, have a seat next to joan."

brought you your favorite chocolate. Thope you don't mind." Clalar said as she handed joan about ciocolate.

joan accepted it with grisine surprise and gratitude, placing it delicately on the rahle beside her.

"Oh, dear, you shouldn't. Is this imported straight from Switzerland?" Joan asked as she stared at the box of chocolate on the table.

Claire nodded with a smile. "Indeed, it is I know you don't eat random chocolate."

"Thank you my dear, have a seat please."

Taking the offered seat next to Joan and across from Lisa, Claire maintained her pleasant demeanor, feigning innocence as she addressed Lisa, "oh, who's this?" she asked, her tone laced with faux surprise.

Alex, however, couldn't contain his anger, standing pabruptly, he turned to his father, his voice edged with frustration. "What's the meaning of this, Dad?" Michael's tone remained cool as he reprimanded his son "Sit down, Alex Don't embarass yourself in front of our guest".

Lisa tugged at Alex's sleeve, silently urging him to calm down and old escalating the situation. With a resized sigh, Alex complied, taking his seat but his expression rained stem.

lighten the atmosphere. "Clain, this is Lisa, Alex's fiancée," she introduced, trying to bridge the awkward

Dwo women

making her feel easy, Joan then gestured to the butler to contine serving the meal to Claire,

are you doing dear?" Joan

with anaplin, Claire replied smoothly, "I've been doing well, thank you, I have been busy, and I

reassuring smile. "Oh, don't worry about that, Claire. I understand it must have been a challenging time

she added, "Indeed, it wasn't the easiest," There was a mischievous glint in her eyes that didn't go unnoticed by Alex, who scaled lightly as he took a

who broke the silence with a curious inquiry directed at isa. "So, Lisa, where did you go to college? Michael's tone was friendly, seeking to leam more about Lou's background. Lasa, slightly caught off

mother." the

nodded understandingly, "I see. And what line of work did you pursue after

her throat, her fingers fidgeting slightly under the table. "I've been working at a café

her cheeks flushing

working together at the same café flashed through bermind Lisa had a sneaky idea brewing in her mind, she didn't want to be the only one whose past

directing her words towards Michael, "chaice worked at the same cate with

took hovering over the plate. Her expression remained composed, but there was a thicker of surprise in her

placed the utensils down slowly, meeting Lisa's gaze with a knowing look "Yes, I did

mother, furrowed her brows incontain "Why didn't you ever mention this, late? We thought you were working at Harris Company befo marrying

nodded, her demeanor composed. "That was before grandfather offered

curious, interjected witha question that made Alextense in his seat. "How

Claire. But the question till lingers in his mind,

if Christian was the snitch, but he knows his best friend that

a knowing smile. "I'm glad you asked, Mr. Hasting very well," she replied cryptically. Lisa, still trying topice things

H

quickly intervened, a hint of waming in his tone as he addressed his father.

a sip of his wine, his eyes flickering between Claire and Alex. "Metacontes is one of the biggest technology and software companies in the world,"