New beginning: Billionaire love story

Chapter 482 Keep Eyes & Ears Open Eligos reclined in the leather chair of his dimly lit study, his fingers tapping rhythmically against the armrest as his phone buzzed on the desk. The name flashing on the screen brought a thin smirk to his lips. Andre. He swiped to answer and brought the phone to his ear, his voice cool and composed. "I trust you have news for me," Eligos said, his words deliberate and measured.

Andre hesitated on the other end of the line, the static of his unease palpable even through the phone. "She came to my apartment."

Eligos's brow furrowed slightly, though his smirk didn't fade. "Claire?" he asked, feigning mild surprise. "Yes," Andre confirmed. "She showed up unannounced. Started asking questions.

Eligos leaned forward, resting his elbows on the desk. His expression hardened, his thoughts racing. It was no surprise that Claire would eventually approach Andre-her curiosity and tenacity were predictable. But this quickly? That, he hadn't fully anticipated.

"She's not wasting any time, is she?" Eligos mused, his tone a mix of admiration and irritation. "Tell me, Andre, what did you say to her?"

Andre recounted the encounter in halting sentences, his nervousness evident. Eligos listened in silence, his fingers drumming on the polished wood of his desk. When Andre finished, Eligos let out a low chuckle, though there was no humor in it.

"She's serious," Eligos murmured, almost to himself. "No games, no hesitation. She's moving fast, which means she's committed to finding out the truth."

Andre frowned on the other end of the line, confused by Eligos's cryptic words. "What does that mean? Shouldn't we just... deal with her now? Whatever plan you have, why not strike now instead of playing these games?"

Eligos rolled his eyes, though his tone remained calm. "Oh, Andre. You've spent too little time in my world to understand how this works. Striking now? That's far too simple, too crude. Where's the elegance in that?" He leaned back in his chair, a trace of amusement returning to his voice. "This is chess, not checkers. Claire isn't just some pawn; she's the queen. If we move too quickly, we risk missing the bigger picture."

Andre didn't dare press further, though the cryptic explanation left him uneasy. "So... what do you want me to do?" he asked reluctantly.

this, Andre: do not crack under her gaze. If you slip up, if you tell her everything..." His voice darkened, cold and unyielding. "It will be the

again light and conversational. "I'll be in touch." Without waiting for a response, he

her determination-they were admirable, almost exhilarating. The game was intensifying, and Eligos relished the challenge. Soon,

the door swinging open with a sharp creak. Startled, Matthew looked up from the magazine he was half-heartedly flipping through, his brows raising in surprise. "Well, that's dramatic," he remarked

and forth at the foot of his bed. Her face was a mixture of frustration and thoughtfulness, her hands moving as she gestured to

back against his pillows, crossing his arms over his chest. "What happened? Did you find

to his flat. It's... nicer than

his head,

her hands, "the conversation didn't go as I expected. He was evasive, and sarcastic and kept deflecting my questions. When I pressed him, he finally told me his story-about our father, about his mother, about how

pacing, her arms falling to her sides. "I don't know," she admitted, her voice quieter now. "Part of me does. He seemed genuine, angry but genuine. But another part of me..." She trailed off, shaking her

part of you thinks

for her. He sat up a little straighter, his tone more serious now. "Claire, you're a good judge of character, but even the best of us can be fooled. People like Andre? They're survivors. And survivors learn how to

frowned, crossing her arms. "You think he's

replied carefully. "Maybe there's truth in it, but maybe he's leaving

a hand through her hair. "It's just... frustrating. I

Matthew asks as he straightens up.

want to be honest about it. And whenever I ask him about it,