New beginning: Billionaire love story

She scanned the crowd, picking someone at random. "Yes, you in the blue jacket," she called.

The journalist stood up, holding a microphone. "Ms. Peterson, how do you respond to concerns that robots like these might take jobs away from human workers?"noveldrama

Claire's smile didn't falter, though she had been expecting this question. "That's a great question," she said. "Our goal at Metacortex is not to replace human workers but to enhance their abilities. These robots are designed to assist, not take over. They'll handle tasks that are repetitive or time-consuming, allowing our staff to focus on providing even better personal service."

The journalist in front of her nodded, looking satisfied with her previous answer. He sat down, and another hand shot up in the air, eager for the next round. Claire gestured toward the man in the middle row, giving him the go-ahead. "Yes, you with the navy tie."

The man stood up, cleared his throat, and asked, "Why is Metacortex willing to take the risk of building a robot? I mean, it's a pretty big leap considering you've only been a software company."

Claire nodded thoughtfully. It was a fair question. In fact, it was the kind of question she expected.

She gave a small smile and replied, "Honestly, building a robot was never in my wildest dreams. I mean, I never imagined I'd be standing here today talking about this. The thought of building a robot didn't even cross my mind... until it had to."

She shrugged, adding a little dramatic pause. "The reason I did it? Well, none of the companies I contacted could deliver in the limited time we had. So, I decided, 'Why not take matters into my own hands?' Metacortex has always been about innovation, and this just felt like the next step."

The journalist nodded, seemingly satisfied with the response. Claire glanced around and spotted a woman in a bright pink blazer. She pointed in her direction. "You next."

The woman in pink stood up, holding a notepad. "Claire, how did you manage to keep this project a secret for so long? Months went by, and nobody knew."

Claire chuckled and leaned in slightly as if she were about to share a secret. "Easy-have a trusted employee. Oh, and keep them very well-fed and happy." The crowd burst into laughter at her joke, and Claire felt a little of the tension in her shoulders ease. She was starting to get into the flow of things.

Another hand went up, and Claire pointed at the next reporter. "Go ahead."

The man stood up and wasted no time with pleasantries. "Venus is currently Metacortex's biggest rival in the software and technology world. Do you think they'll see this as a trap? A move to make them stumble?"

Claire's smile widened as she scanned the room. As her gaze shifted, she spotted two familiar faces: Frank Potter and Robert Robertson, both heavy hitters in the tech world, sitting quietly among the crowded audience. Why were they here? She made a mental note to follow up later.

Returning her focus to the reporter, Claire gave a casual shrug. "It depends on how Venus decides to see it, really. If they think this is a trap, that's on them. But if they're smart and I know they are they'll probably build something similar to what we've created here. But hey, it's not my job to judge. That's up to the people."

The reporter nodded, seeming satisfied for now. Claire glanced at her watch, deciding it was about time to wrap things up. Just as she was about to end the Q&A session, the sharp sound of heels clicking on the floor echoed through the room.

All heads turned as a woman stepped forward, her face partially hidden behind oversized sunglasses and a black fascinator. She was dressed head-to-toe in black, her heels clicking with authority as she made her way to the center of the room. Without a word, she snatched the mic from a nearby journalist and faced Claire.

Claire frowned, unsure of who this woman was or why she had just taken over the press conference. "Excuse me, who are you?" she asked her tone firm but curious.

The woman didn't answer immediately. Instead, she adjusted her sunglasses and, with a cold smirk, addressed Claire directly. "Claire Peterson, do you really want to continue working with Alexander Harris?"

A hush fell over the room. Claire glanced to her side where Alexander stood, watching the scene unfold. He looked as confused as she was.

"Because, if you must know," the woman continued, "Alexander Harris is a cruel man in the business world. Ruthless. He doesn't care about anyone but himself."

The room buzzed with murmurs. Journalists scribbled furiously, and cameras flashed, trying to capture every second of this unexpected drama.

The woman pressed on, her voice

dripping with bitterness. "My father

worked with Harris for years, and you know what he got for his trouble? A measly 30% profit share. After all that time, Harris kept 70% for himself. And when my father fell ill Harris didn't even send a single message. No 'get well soon,' not even a 'hello.' Nothing."

Claire turned to Alexander, whispering urgently, "Do you know who she is?" Alexander shook his head, his face set in a grim line. "Not a clue."

The woman took a step forward, her voice low but commanding. "Think twice before you sign any deals with Harris, Claire. He'll chew you up and spit you out like he's done to

everyone else." With

a dramael.

flick

of her hand, she dropped the mic

and turned on her heels, heading

straight for the exit.

The room erupted into chaos. Journalists shouted questions, cameras flashed non-stop, and some reporters even tried to push past security to get closer to the stage. Claire felt the pressure build around her, the noise, the lights-it was all a bit too much. Luckily, security stepped in, quickly forming a barrier between the stage and the press, allowing Claire and Alexander to make a hasty retreat backstage.

Once they were behind the curtain, Claire spun around, her eyes blazing with anger. "What the hell was that, Alex?"

Alexander threw his hands up in defense, backing away slightly. "I have no idea who that woman was, Claire. I swear. This wasn't some kind of setup."

Claire's eyes narrowed, her anger

boiling just beneath the surface. She was about to explode right then and there, but something stopped her She took a deep breath, realizing the last place she needed to lose her cool was backstage, with the press still lurking around.

"Meet me at my office," she hissed at Alexander, her voice low but dangerous.

Without waiting for his reply, Claire turned on her heel and stormed off. As she hurried down the hallway, Matthew appeared at her side, his expression a mix of confusion and concern.

"Where are you going?" Matthew asked, keeping up with her quick pace.

"That woman," Claire muttered through gritted teeth, "she ruined the whole press release." She stopped in her tracks, feeling the weight of everything crash down on her. "Ugh." She sighed deeply, rubbing her temples.

At that moment, Sandra appeared from behind, looking just as puzzled. "Do you know who that woman was?" she asked, frowning.

Claire shook her head. "No idea. Never seen her before in my life."

Sandra glanced around nervously. "Well, the VIP guests are still waiting in the buffet room."

Claire took a deep breath, her shoulders stiffening as she prepared herself. "Alright. I'll go thank them for showing up, but I'm not sticking around long. Matthew, I need you to take over. I have to get back to Metacortex and deal with Alexander." Matthew raised an eyebrow. "You're leaving already?"

"Yes, I need to have a little chat with Mr. Harris," Claire replied, a hint of irritation creeping into her voice. "Sandra, you stay here with Matthew and make sure everything goes smoothly." Sandra nodded quickly. "Got it, boss."