New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 432 Following Her

Claire stepped out of the airport terminal, a sharp breeze tugging at her coat as she approached the sleek black car waiting for her. The driver greeted her with a polite nod, opening the door for her. Without wasting time, she slid inside, the soft leather seats cushioning her

after the long flight.

"Head to Cryptonic, please," she said, fastening her seatbelt. "Not home."

The driver raised an eyebrow but didn't question her. With a subtle nod, he pulled away from the curb, merging into the bustling London traffic. Claire settled back, scrolling through emails on her phone, but her focus didn't last long. Something felt...off.

A faint, nagging sensation made her glance out the rear window. A black sedan was a few cars behind, its dark-tinted windows giving nothing away. At first, she dismissed it as coincidence, but when they turned onto a quieter street and the car made the same move, she frowned. Her eyes narrowed, and she leaned closer to get a better look at the license plate.

"Hmm," she murmured, her brow furrowing. The plate was oddly familiar, eerily similar to one she had seen when she was with Matthew. Could it be the same person? The thought sent a shiver down her spine. If it was, then whoever this was had escalated from toying with her to outright following her.

No one was supposed to know about Cryptonic-not its location, not its purpose. If someone was tailing her all the way there, things could get messy. She didn't have the luxury of taking chances.

"Step on it," Claire said sharply, her tone leaving no room for argument.

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror, a flicker of concern in his eyes. "Are you sure, ma'am?"

"Yes. Lose them. Now."

With a curt nod, he pressed down on the accelerator, and the car surged forward. Claire turned in her seat, watching as the black sedan picked up speed to keep up. This was no coincidence anymore. They were definitely following her.

"Lose them," she repeated. "Confuse them if you have to. Take a longer route, zigzag through side streets-whatever it takes."

"Yes, ma'am," the driver replied, his hands tightening on the wheel.

And just like that, the game of cat and mouse began. The cars weaved through London's streets, the chase becoming more intense with every turn. Claire gripped the door handle as the driver skillfully maneuvered through tight corners and narrow alleys. She had to give him credit he was good at this.

The black sedan stayed on their tail for a while, but the driver took an unexpected detour, darting into a maze of residential streets. It was the perfect move. By the time they emerged back onto the main road, the sedan was gone.

breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. "Good work," she said, her

smile through the mirror. "It's what I'm here for,

back in the black sedan, the atmosphere was tense. The two men

slamming a fist against

that?" the driver snapped his grip on the wheel tightening as he glared at the now-empty road

ran a hand through his hair, frustration

didn't take failure at all. Despite being younger than most of his subordinates, he had a presence that made grown men quake. The power he wielded was one thing, but the sheer intensity of his gaze? That

someone's gotta call him," the passenger said after a long

shot him a

driver. This is

who was supposed to keep an

on her if you are the one who is

supposed to be my navigator

seat rolled eyes. "Hey, I told you earlier I was hungry and that we should stop by and eat but you were so adamant that we should stand by for

en novelxo

the responsibility onto the other. Neither

moment, rubbing his

"Like men? What are

the driver said, holding

stared at him in

I'm serious. Unless you've

fist, and the two began their

passenger groaned as he threw scissors while the driver smugly revealed rock. "Looks like

it," the passenger muttered, pulling out his phone. His hand hovered

for?" the driver said, leaning

a second!" the passenger

as it started to ring. The line clicked, and a cold, measured voice came

at the driver, who gave him an unsympathetic shrug. "Uh...we lost her, boss. Claire Peterson got away." Silence. The kind that made

said finally,