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.

familiar sounds

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

phone buzzed with the incoming message, and she glanced at the screen before looking up at the driver. Switching to flawless French, she gave him the address. "Nous allons à cette adresse, s'il vous plaît." (we are going to this address, please.) The driver nodded and the car smoothly pulled away from the tarmac. Adrian, amused, turned to her with a grin. "You really have thought of everything, haven't

I mean, I had some ideas, but nothing solid. When you have someone

hand flying

wild guess. I mean, the guy is

He's got a way of

Wright's office for hours, growing more agitated by the minute. The room was sleek, with expensive modern art lining the walls, but to Alexander, it felt like a cage. He had flown straight to France the moment his plane landed, his

when he got to her office, 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

him, sipping tea as if he weren't fuming on the other side of her desk. Alexander

of her cup. "Oh?

feel his

stepped closer to

agreement. Then, you demand raise your profit margins. And now, you leak a video of meating' an

tea spilling as she leaned back

I was just 'fixing' it by scolding

of the entire staff?" she

"It wasn't mistreatment. People make mistakes, and sometimes they need to be told

smile one that made Alexander's skin crawl. "Oh, I'm sure that's how it works in your world, Mr. Harris. But in

hard to suppress the rage bubbling inside him. "This is not how business works, Claudia! You and I had an agreement, and now you're playing games with the wine supply. There's nothing in the

might want to take another look at the contract, Alex. I believe you missed a little detail." Alexander snatched the contract