New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 347 Payback

They spent the next stretch of the flight chatting about the timeline, laughing over some of the absurd twists and turns in the drama.

Claire filled Adrian in on the major events, from Alexander's public meltdown to the press releases that had sparked it all, and how Claudia had seen her chance to strike. Adrian listened intently, nodding along, occasionally throwing in a sarcastic remark that had Claire rolling her eyes.

The flight was short, and before they knew it, the pilot's voice crackled over the intercom, announcing their descent into Paris.

"Already?" Adrian asked, glancing at his watch.

"Time flies when you're plotting someone's downfall," Claire quipped, shutting her laptop and standing up. She straightened her jacket and made her way to the front of the plane. As she reached the door, she turned and smiled at the pilot. "Thanks for the smooth ride. Excellent service, as always."

The pilot smiled back, giving her a polite nod. "Our pleasure, Ms. Peterson."

Claire thanked the air stewardess too before stepping onto the stairway, the crisp Parisian air greeting her. Adrian followed close behind, pulling his jacket tighter around him.

"Always feels different landing here," Adrian commented as they descended the stairs.

"Yeah, it's got that charm," Claire agreed, spotting the sleek black car waiting for them at the bottom. The driver stood by the car, nodding at Claire as she approached. Without hesitation, they climbed into the backseat, the leather interior cool and smooth. Once inside, Claire took out her phone and dialed Matthew. He picked up almost immediately, his tone casual.

"What's up, Claire?"

"I need Claudia's location," Claire said, her tone brisk.

replied. She could hear the familiar sounds of him typing away,

or so, Matthew's voice returned. "Got her. She's at

address. "Nous allons à cette adresse, s'il vous plaît." (we are going to this address, please.) The

laughed, shaking her head. "Nope, not this time. This was pretty last-minute, actually. I mean, I had some ideas, but nothing solid. When you have someone

hand flying dramatically to her chest. "How

wild guess. I mean,

grinned, shrugging. "Can't argue with that. He's got a

growing more agitated by the minute. The room was sleek, with expensive modern art lining the walls, but

she wasn't there. Instead, he had been told to wait. One whole hour of sitting in that sterile, overly decorated space, his impatience growing by the second. And now that Claudia had finally arrived, she was acting like she had all the time in the

her desk. Alexander clenched his jaw, fists tightening at his sides. "Enough, Claudia. I've had it with your

eyebrow over the rim of her cup. "Oh? Which ones specifically, darling?" she asked with a slow,

could feel his

He stepped closer to

you limit the wine stock at my hotel-even after we had an agreement. Then, you demand raise your profit margins. And now, you leak a video of meating' an employee? That's

drop of tea spilling as she leaned back in her chair,

I was

of the entire staff?" she asked, her tone dripping

shot back. "It wasn't mistreatment. People make mistakes, and sometimes they need to be told off for it. That's

sure that's how it works in your

and I had an agreement, and now you're playing games with the

possible, only infuriated Alexander more. She tossed a document onto the coffee table between them, her voice sickeningly sweet. "You might want to take another look at the contract, Alex. I believe you missed