New beginning: Billionaire love story

As the sun dipped lower in the horizon, she found herself outside a high-end restaurant. Deciding she needed a distraction, she stepped inside and requested a table for one.

She ordered a steak and a glass of wine, hoping the meal would help ground her, but before she could even take a bite, a voice from behind sent a chill down her spine.

"How was last night's performance?"

Claire's fork froze mid-air.

The voice was low, smooth, and eerily amused. And though she hadn't turned around, she already knew who it belonged to.

Eligos.

The hunger she had moments ago vanished instantly.

She remained still, her mind racing. She could feel the presence behind her, but before she could turn around, the voice continued, lower this time.

"Don't move," he warned, a dark chuckle escaping him. "Unless, of course, you'd like me to take over Metacortex. Or maybe Cryptonic. That would be fun, wouldn't it?"

Claire's grip on her utensils tightened.

This wasn't just about the hotel disaster. He wanted something.

"Eligos," she said evenly, placing her knife and fork down. "What do you want?"

He hummed, as if pondering. "I want the truth."

Claire's brows furrowed. "Truth about what?"

Eligos let out a small, amused sigh. "Come now, Claire. Don't play dumb."

"I genuinely don't know what you're talking about."

There was a long silence before Eligos finally answered.

"Allan."

Claire's breath hitched slightly.

Eligos leaned in slightly, though they still weren't facing each other. "You have one week, Claire. One week to come to me and admit all your wrongdoings. Tell me the truth about Allan."

Claire turned sharply, but-

He was gone.

Her heart pounded as she looked around. No sign of him. No trace. Just the normal hum of restaurant patrons enjoying their evening.

Then, she spotted something on the table where he had been sitting moments before.

A small, neatly folded piece of paper.

With a name.

Allan Smith. One week.

The streets of Las Vegas blurred past as Claire sat in the backseat of the car, her fingers lightly tapping against her knee. The encounter with Eligos still played in her mind, each word a lingering echo she couldn't shake off. The piece of paper he left behind felt heavier than it should, as though it carried more than just ink-it carried a threat.

Allan Smith. One week.

A shiver ran down her spine. The name wasn't unfamiliar. Years ago, she had already looked into Allan Smith, trying to untangle the truth behind his life and his supposed death. But with everything that had happened Robert, Gretta, Lisa, Alex, Frank-her search had faded into the background. Now, Eligos had thrust it back to the forefront.

Why was he so fixated on Allan Smith?

That is the question that she needs to find the answer.

The next morning, Alexander sat at his desk, flipping through a stack of reports when Claire walked in. His sharp gaze lifted, briefly scanning her face. She looked the same as always poised, unreadable, and determined. But there was something else, something beneath the surface that made him frown.

"You're heading back already?" he asked, setting the papers aside.

Claire nodded. "My work here is done. I have other things to handle in London."

Alexander leaned back in his chair, considering her words.

"I've found information about Andre."

Claire raised her brows at his statement.

"Andre had a debt, a big one then suddenly all of his debts has been paid. And I know who did it."

"Eligos right? Don't worry, Andre told me everything yesterday."

"He did?" Alexander sounded surprised, like he didn't expect it.

"Yeah. However, I need to finish my investigation on Eligos."

"Investigation?"

"The least you know the better." Claire nodded at him and leave his office.

When Claire stepped out of Heathrow Airport, she didn't expect to see Matthew leaning against his car, arms crossed, waiting for her.

A slight smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

Matthew straightened as she approached, relief evident in his face. "You're back."

Claire raised an eyebrow. "You sound surprised."

Matthew scoffed. "Well, considering the mess you walked into in Vegas, I wasn't sure if you'd even make

it out in one piece."

Claire rolled her eyes.

Before she could protest, Matthew was already giving her a once-over, checking for any signs of injury. She slapped his hands away. "I'm fine."

Matthew ignored her protests, still scanning her carefully. "No bruises? No mysterious injuries? No bullet wounds?"

Claire sighed. "I said I'm fine."

Matthew crossed his arms, unconvinced. "Excuse me for wanting to make sure you didn't get into more trouble."

Claire gave him a pointed look. "I always get into trouble. It's just a matter of whether or not I can handle it."

Matthew chuckled, shaking his head. "And you always think you can handle everything on your own." Claire's expression turned serious. "I need to talk to you about something."

"Alright," he said, gesturing toward the car. "Let's talk."

They both slid into the vehicle, and Matthew started the engine.

"I need your help looking into Allan Smith again."

Matthew frowned. "Allan Smith? The guy from the accident?"

Claire nodded. "Eligos brought up his name. And not just his name he wants the truth about him." Matthew's grip on the steering wheel tightened. "Why the hell would Eligos care about him?"

Claire shook her head. "I don't know. But I hacked into the government database before I left Vegas. Allan Smith's information is still the same. But his wife and son? It's as if they disappeared off the face of the earth."

Matthew exhaled. "We looked into them before. There was nothing. If someone erased them, they did a damn good job."

Claire turned to him. "Then we need to do better."

Matthew glanced at her before refocusing on the road. "This isn't just about Eligos, is it?"

Claire's jaw tightened. "It's about the accident. About what happened three years ago. If Eligos wants the truth, then that means there's something we missed."

Matthew didn't respond

immediately. He understood better than anyone how much that night haunted Claire. It wasn't just about

the memory loss. It was about losing her parents. About losing control. noveldrama

And now, it was resurfacing again.

"Alright," Matthew finally said. "We'll look into it."

Claire nodded.

Kon

By the time they arrived at Cryptonic's headquarters, Claire was already switching gears. She needed to get back to work.

Claire powered on her laptop. “We

start with Allan Smith's family. I'lldig

into private databases while you check for any connections in London-banks, old addresses, anything.”

Matthew smirked. "Ah, so we're going full spy mode again."

Claire arched a brow. "You complaining?"

He shrugged. "Just saying, it's been a while since we've done something this reckless."

Claire's gaze darkened. "Then let's make it count."

Matthew sighed. "That's what I'm afraid of."

Claire smirked.

It was time to uncover the truth.

For hours, Claire and Matthew sat in front of their screens, their fingers flying over keyboards as they dug

deep into the digital abyss, searching for any trace of Allan Smith.

But it was as if he never existed.