Making her way upstairs, Claire marveled at the sheer elegance of the mansion. The second floor's lounge area was quieter, its ambiance more intimate with dim lighting and plush furniture. As she rounded the corner, she spotted Mr. Saint Laurent, Adrian's grandfather, standing at the center of a group of influential-looking businesspeople. Among them was someone Claire had hoped to avoid tonight-Alexander Harris. She inwardly groaned but kept her expression composed. No sense letting him know he annoyed her. As she approached, Mr. Saint Laurent spotted her and beamed.
"Claire!" he called out warmly, extending his hand. "What a pleasure to see you."
"Mr. Saint Laurent," Claire greeted, shaking his hand with a respectful smile. "I couldn't miss Adrian's birthday. And of course, it's always a pleasure to see you."
The older man's sharp eyes softened as he smiled. "Claire! You're a sight for sore eyes. Come, join us."
The group of businesspeople turned their attention to her, their expressions friendly and curious. All except Alexander, who barely glanced her way as he sipped his wine. Claire ignored him and focused on Mr. Saint Laurent and the others.
"Looks like you're having quite the discussion," Claire said lightly, seating herself gracefully on the edge of a leather armchair.
Mr. Saint Laurent nodded. "Alexander here was just intriguing us with his plans for the new hotel in Las Vegas. Sounds like quite the venture."
One of the women in the group chimed in, "It sounds incredible! Will there be a grand opening? I'd love to attend."
Alexander smiled smoothly. "Of course. Invitations will be sent out soon."
"I can't wait to see it live. I heard that it will be different than most of your hotels. Is that right Mr. Harris?"
Alexander nodded with a cool smile on his lips. "Yes, it is. You can say this project of mine will be one of my wildest dreams. After all, asking my father permission isn't easy. You know the old man."
The other laughed and Alex grinned.noveldrama
The group laughed appreciatively, and another guest turned to Claire. "Speaking of business, how's the collaboration between Harris Hotels and Metacortex coming along?"
Claire's smile didn't falter, but the question made her glance at Alexander briefly. "So far, so good," she replied vaguely.
Alexander arched a brow, his expression one of faint amusement.
"And the robots? How many will Metacortex provide for the new hotel?" another asked, clearly interested in the innovative aspect of the partnership.
"Three," Claire answered confidently.
"Only three?" one man asked curiously.
Alexander took that moment to interject, his voice smooth but edged with subtle challenge. "If the performance and customer response meet expectations, we'll consider adding more." Claire's gaze flicked to him, her smile still firmly in place though her jaw tightened slightly. "I'm confident the robots will exceed expectations," she said, her tone sweet but her words pointed. Alexander smirked faintly. "Let's hope so."
The group seemed oblivious to the undercurrent between them, laughing along at the exchange. But Claire wasn't about to let Alexander have the upper hand.
"I suppose innovation takes vision," Claire said, her voice light but with a deliberate edge. "And patience. After all, great things take time to perfect." Alexander raised his glass slightly, his smirk widening. "That they do. Of course, vision is only as good as the team executing it."
Claire's eyes narrowed just slightly, but her smile never wavered. "Fortunately, Metacortex has an exceptional team. One that's known for delivering results."
One of the businessmen chuckled, looking between the two. "You two make quite the team. It's like watching a chess match!"
Alexander leaned back in his chair, swirling his wine. "A team, indeed. Collaboration always brings... interesting dynamics."
Claire resisted the urge to roll her eyes. Instead, she turned her attention back to Mr. Saint Laurent, who seemed thoroughly entertained by the banter.
"It's always a pleasure working with innovative minds," Claire said, directing her words more to the group than Alexander.
"True innovation is rare," Alexander countered smoothly, raising his glass in a mock toast. "But when it's real, it's unmistakable."
Claire took a deliberate sip of her champagne, meeting his gaze over the rim of her glass. "Unmistakable. And, when executed properly, unforgettable."
The room filled with light laughter again, the tension between Claire and Alexander mostly lost on the others.
"Well," Mr. Saint Laurent said, clapping his hands together lightly, "it sounds like we have quite a show to look forward to from both of you."
"Absolutely," Claire said, her voice unwavering as she set her glasses down.
Alexander simply smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement.
The conversation eventually shifted to other topics, allowing Claire a moment to breathe. She couldn't help but feel a small sense of victory; while Alexander had his charms, she wasn't about to let him dominate the room.
As the group dispersed slightly, Alexander approached her, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "You're feisty tonight, Claire. I almost missed this side of you."
She turned to him, her smile tight. "Don't mistake my professionalism for passivity, Alexander."
"Of course not," he replied smoothly, tilting his head. "But do be careful, Claire. Ambition can be a double-edged sword."
"So can arrogance," she shot back before turning on her heel and heading back downstairs to find Adrian.
Claire is still annoyed at Alexander for dumping his work on her back in Vegas and what makes her more annoyed is the fact that Alexander was attempting to tell her that the news about Adrian is true, and that Claire have to believe his words. Alexander watched her go, his smirk fading as a contemplative expression crossed his face. Claire Peterson was not someone easily underestimated a fact he was reminded of every time their paths crossed.
As for Alexander he is a bit
displeased as he heard that Claire is
heading back to London not
because of him asking Claire to help him with his work but because of Adrian Alexander doesn't like the idea of it, but he really can't do much about it since Alex and Claire are merely business partners, nothing more.
Eligos reclined in his chair, a bowl of popcorn in hand, as the multiple screens before him displayed live
feeds from the Saint Laurent estate. Hacking into their surveillance system had been almost laughably easy-a fact he found endlessly amusing.
"How ironic," he muttered, popping another piece of popcorn into his mouth. "The CEO of Metacortex, the pinnacle of security and technology, and her boyfriend doesn't even use her software."
He chuckled, his sharp eyes
scanning the party guests as they mingled in the grand ballroom. The glittering lights, elegant gowns, and tailored suits made the celebration look like a scene from a movie. Adrian Saint Laurent, the birthday boy, was in the center of it all, exuding charm as he entertained his
elite quests.
Eligos leaned forward, his smile turning more devious as an idea crossed his mind. "What if I gave the golden boy a little surprise present?"
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "It has to be something he doesn't already have something unique. Let's make sure this is a birthday he'll never forget."
His fingers flew over the keyboard, issuing instructions to his men stationed near the estate. "Stand by and await further orders," he commanded through the mic. "I'll let you know when to act." The plan was forming in his mind, and the anticipation was delicious.