New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 209 Wrong Target

"Excuse me," Claire said, her voice icy. "What did you just call me?"

The woman, who had crossed her arms over her chest in a way that screamed arrogance, met Claire's gaze without flinching. "You heard me," she retorted, her tone dripping with disdain.

Claire felt a headache forming. Of all the ways her morning could go wrong, this wasn't even on the list. She stared back at the woman, her eyes narrowing. "And what exactly is the reason you felt the need to call me that?" Claire asked, her patience wearing thin. The woman rolled her eyes and huffed as if she couldn't believe she had to explain herself. "You stole my best friend's boyfriend," she snapped her expression a mixture of irritation and accusation.

For a moment, Claire was too shocked to respond. Stolen a boyfriend? Who even says that?

"What?" Claire finally managed to say. "I didn't steal anything, let alone someone's boyfriend. You must have me confused with someone else."

The woman frowned, her eyes narrowing as she scrutinized Claire more closely. "Aren't you Claire Peterson?" she asked, a hint of suspicion in her voice.

Claire nodded slowly, still trying to wrap her head around the accusation. "Yes, I am, but-"

"Then I'm not wrong," the woman cut her off, her tone resolute.

Claire was still utterly puzzled by the whole situation. "Look," she said, raising a hand in a plea for clarity, "why don't you start from the beginning and explain this to me?"

The woman sighed heavily, as if this was all a great inconvenience to her, and then began, "You stole Lisa's boyfriend, Alex. That's why I called you a bitch."

That was the last thing Claire had expected to hear, and she couldn't help it-she burst out laughing. The sheer absurdity of the accusation was too much.

The woman's face flushed with anger. "What's so funny?" she demanded, looking as if she might throw something at Claire next

Claire took a moment to catch her breath and then gave the woman a good, long look. That's when it clicked. She remembered the woman's face from that one time she had accidentally bumped into Lisa at a cafe. This must be one of Lisa's friends, though Claire couldn't recall her name.

"Wait a second," Claire said, crossing her arms over her chest in a mirror image of the woman's stance. "You're one of Lisa's friends, aren't you?"

woman nodded, though her expression was

the bakery staff, she offered a quick apology. "Sorry

member just nodded, offering a

to downright icy. "I don't

feeling like this encounter had already taken up too much of her time. But before she could take more than a few steps, the woman grabbed her wrist. Claire immediately yanked her arm back, her glare intense enough to freeze lava. "Don't touch me," she warned, her voice

did you steal Alex from Lisa?" she pressed, clearly not

sigh. "I didn't steal anyone," she repeated, more firmly this time. "Lisa is lying to you. What's your name again?" "Kayla," the woman said, frowning. "We met

fully remembering the encounter. "Well, Kayla," she

dead serious. "How do I know you're not the one lying?" Kayla challenged, though there was

eyes, clearly done with the conversation. "Frankly, I don't care what you think,"

leave once more, but Kayla stepped in front of her, blocking her path. "Wait," Kayla

smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth. "You really want to know

nodded. "Yes,

in slightly, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Just don't

.....

months of being away. As she sat on the crowded bus, she couldn't believe she was actually on her way to work. Her once-comfortable life had taken a turn, and she knew exactly who to blame-Claire. If it weren't for Claire, she wouldn't be squished between a sweaty guy with

so hard her knuckles turned white. "This is all her fault."

she approached her office building, she passed on what she hoped was a

into

for her

as if she had done something scandalous, like, say, sleeping with the CEO. People whispered behind their hands, their eyes darting away whenever she

teeth? She hurried to her desk, fumbling for her compact mirror. She inspected her

to stew in her paranoia before Kayla appeared at her desk, eyebrows raised in that trademark judgmental way. "Well, well, well, look who decided to

looked natural. "Yeah, I'm back. Anyway, what's with

leaned against Lisa's desk. "Everyone's just surprised, that's all. Don't

way to put it," she thought. Out loud, she asked, "Are you sure there isn't

her hand dismissively. "You're fine. They're probably just curious about where you've been. Let's grab lunch later,