New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 325 Solstice Vineyard

The courtroom buzzed with a low murmur of voices as Claire stood by, arms crossed, her gaze fixed on the judge. She sighed, frustration building in her chest. The trial had dragged on longer than she anticipated, and the judge had just announced that she needed more time to review the evidence. "Why can't this just be over today?" Claire muttered under her breath. She was hoping to wrap things up, but it looked like the wheels of justice were moving slower than she expected. "I just want this nightmare to end."

Matthew, standing beside her, noticed her frustration and leaned in with a reassuring smile. "Hey, don't worry, Claire. The judge is just being thorough. It'll be over soon."

"Yeah, but not soon enough," Claire replied, glancing at the clock. She was hoping today would be the day she could finally press charges against Lisa and put it all behind her. But law wasn't as easy as signing a paper. It was a waiting game, and today, the game wasn't in her favor.

Meanwhile, Alexander Harris was not having the smoothest day either. He had tried to set up a meeting with Claudia Wright yesterday, but she'd flat-out rejected him, saying she didn't want to meet.

He found it strange since she had shown up at Claire's press release, looking as calm and confident as ever. Yet now, when he wanted to talk business, Claudia was playing hard to get.

Alexander was nothing if not persistent. When Claudia finally agreed to meet, she directed him to a small, almost obscure restaurant. He wasn't sure what to expect, but he wasn't going to turn down the chance to figure out what was going on in her head.

He pulled up to the restaurant and parked his car, glancing at the nearly empty lot. "This better be worth my time," he muttered before getting out and making his way inside. The restaurant was quiet, eerily so, and it didn't take him long to spot Claudia sitting alone at a table in the center of the room, calmly stirring her tea.

As Alexander approached, Claudia's lips curled into a small smile, and without even looking up, she spoke. "You came."

He stopped in front of her, irritation clear on his face. "You sound surprised," he said dryly.

Claudia finally looked up, her smile widening just a touch. "Not surprised, just amused."

Alexander narrowed his eyes. "Alright, Claudia. What do you want? I'm not here to play games."

She chuckled softly, still stirring her tea as if his presence hadn't shifted the air in the room. "Oh, Alexander. Always so direct. But business talk can wait. Why rush things when we can enjoy a nice meal first?"

he could protest, she clapped her hands, and as if on cue, a server appeared, placing plates of food

only hurt your legs if you stand

frustrated grunt, Alexander sat down, his eyes never leaving hers. "I'm

smile turning into a smirk.

what you've put in it,"

short laugh. "Smart man. But if I wanted to poison you, I'd pick

on his plate, and took a big bite. After chewing dramatically, she swallowed and grinned.

He folded his arms across his chest, looking unimpressed. "I'm not

"Suit yourself. If you're not going to eat, you'll just

forward, his voice sharp. "I don't have all day,

chewing slowly, her eyes never leaving his. "You seem

all about, Claudia? You rejected my call, refused to meet, and now I'm here in some quiet restaurant while you play games. If you want to talk,

that you found out my name. Thank you for investigating me." Claudia said

business partner's press release." He glared

a favor, so

of Alexander's lips curl up into a smirk. "Well too late, she is already my business partner. She gets to the point and tells me what

paused, setting her fork down. "Fine. If you're in such a hurry to get to the point." She leaned forward slightly, her playful expression shifting to something a bit more serious. "What do you want from me, Alexander?" He blinked, taken aback by the sudden shift in tone. "I want to know what you're up to. You show up at Claire's press release, then dodge me when I try to reach out. Now you're acting like you

70% of the profit

scoff was loud enough to fill the entire room. He stared at her like she had just grown a second head. "Seventy percent? Are you

an eyebrow, Claudia folded her arms. "What? You don't want to

shaking his head. "That's not a negotiation. That's you telling me to hand over everything. What

for years. That's what my father felt every day.

Alexander's laughter died quickly,