New beginning: Billionaire love story

The next morning, Claire's phone buzzed on her desk, pulling her attention away from the endless stream of emails. She can finally get back to work after convincing Matthew that she is fine and that she can get back to work even though Matthew didn't 100% believe her but he let her nonetheless.

She glanced at the caller ID and felt a smile tug at her lips. It was Talia. It had been too long since they'd last spoken, and Claire realized just how much she missed her friend's infectious energy.

"Claire!" Talia's voice came through the phone, bright and bubbly as always. Claire could practically see her grinning on the other end of the line.

"Hey, Talia," Claire responded calmly, but there was warmth in her tone. "How's Italy treating you?"

"Oh my God, Claire, it's been amazing!" Talia squealed, the excitement in her voice unmistakable. "I've been doing everything! Mrs. Armetta has been showing me around, and the food here-oh, you wouldn't believe it! And the fashion-everywhere you look, it's like stepping into a magazine! I even got to help out with some designs! I mean, can you believe it?"

Claire chuckled, genuinely happy to hear Talia so thrilled. "Sounds like you're living the dream," she said. "I'm glad everything's going so well."

"I know, right?" Talia continued, her voice a little breathless from all the excitement. "But enough about me-how are you, Claire? You've been on my mind, you know. I've been texting you, but it's not the same as hearing your voice."

Claire's smile softened at the concern in Talia's voice. "I'm fine, just the usual-work, work, and more work," she replied, letting out a small sigh. She purposely left out any mention of the incident with the poison. The fewer people who knew about that, the better. "Claire, you sound tired," Talia said, her voice softening with worry. "Are you sure you're, okay?"

Claire hesitated for a second before brushing it off. "I'm good, Talia. Just swamped with projects as always. But enough about me why'd you call? I'm sure it's not just to hear me complain about work."

Talia seemed to brighten up again, her usual spark returning. "Oh! Right! So, tomorrow there's this huge fashion show happening, hosted by Armetta Boutique. Everyone's going to be there artists, singers, influencers, you name it. And guess what? I've been helping organize the whole thing! I even got to design part of the stage!"

"Wow, that's incredible, Talia!" Claire said, genuinely impressed. "You've really outdone yourself."

"Thanks!" Talia replied, clearly pleased with the compliment. "But here's the thing-I really want you to be there, Claire. I mean, none of this would have happened if it weren't for you introducing me to Mrs. Armetta. You've got to come!"Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

Claire couldn't help but smile. "I just did what felt right, but I'd be honored to attend. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Talia let out a little cheer on the other end of the line. "Yay! I'm so glad! It's going to be amazing, Claire, I promise. I'll save you the best seat in the house."

"I'm looking forward to it," Claire said, her tone light. "I could use a night out."

The call wrapped up shortly after, with Talia still buzzing with excitement. Talia placed her phone down, her excitement giving way to a thoughtful frown. Something was off with Claire, she could feel it. She had sounded fine, sure, but there was something in her voice-a weariness that Talia couldn't ignore.

"She's hiding something," Talia muttered to herself, her fingers tapping against the table. "I'll find out what's going on, even if I have to drag it out of her."

With that resolve, Talia turned her attention back to the fashion show preparations. She had a lot to do before tomorrow.

The day of the fashion show had finally arrived, and Claire felt a mix of excitement and nerves as she stepped out of the sleek black car that had just pulled up to the venue. She was dressed in a stunning limited-edition outfit from Armetta Boutique, a perfect blend of elegance and edge. The dress, a sleek black number with a hint of shimmer, was paired with a stylish tweed blazer that added just the right amount of sophistication.

Her hair was styled to perfection, falling in soft waves around her shoulders, and she wore oversized shades to protect her eyes from the barrage of camera flashes that greeted her the moment she stepped out.

The photographers were relentless, shouting her name from every direction.

"Claire! Over here!"

"Look this way, Claire!"

"Give us a pose!"

The flashes were blinding, and though Claire wasn't particularly fond of the media circus, she knew she had to play the game. After all, the media was a powerful beast-it could either elevate your image or destroy it with a single headline.

So, Claire put on her best "media

smile," the one that was perfectly practiced but never quite reached her eyes She waved and posed just enough to keep the photographers happ

then quickly followed a staff

member who led her inside the venue, away from the chaos.

Once she was out of sight, Claire let out a long sigh of relief. "I swear, those cameras get more aggressive every time," she muttered under her breath, adjusting her shades.

Just then, a familiar figure

approached her, tapping her

shoulder lightly. Claire turned around

and broke into a genuine smile when she saw Talia standing there. "Talia! It's so good to see you!" Claire exclaimed, pulling her into a warm hug.

"I've missed you so much, Claire!" Talia replied, hugging her back just as tightly. "You look amazing!"

Claire pulled back, taking in Talia's appearance with a grin. "Look at you! Your hair-shorter and darker? Italy has definitely changed you!"

Talia blushed and laughed, running a hand through her newly cropped and dyed hair. "I wanted to try something different. You know, new country, new look. What do you think?"

"I love it! It suits you perfectly," Claire said, genuinely impressed. "You look chic and sophisticated, very European."

"Thanks! But enough about me," Talia said, giving Claire an appreciative once-over. "You look incredible! How on earth did you get your hands on that limited-edition dress? It's not even out yet!"

Claire smirked, tilting her head slightly as she teased, "I have my ways, Talia. A girl's gotta have her secrets." They both chuckled, the easy camaraderie between them making the stress of the event fade into the background. "Come on," Talia said, looping her arm through Claire's. "Let me show you to your seat. You're going to love it."

Claire followed Talia, chatting casually as they made their way through the elegantly decorated venue. The atmosphere was buzzing with excitement, models, and designers rushing around, final preparations being made before the show started. When they reached the seating area, Claire was taken aback to find that her seat was in the front row, right in front of the stage. She turned to Talia; her eyebrows raised in surprise. "Is this really my seat?"

Talia nodded excitedly; her eyes sparkling. "Yep! Mrs. Armetta herself insisted that you be seated here. She thinks you'll be the perfect face for her new collection."

Claire couldn't help but smile, feeling both flattered and a little out of her element. "Well, I'm honored. Thank you, Talia. This is amazing."

"Don't mention it!" Talia said, giving her a quick hug before turning to head backstage. "I've got to get back and help with the final touches. Enjoy the show, and we'll catch up more later, okay?"

"Absolutely," Claire replied, taking her seat and waving as Talia disappeared behind the curtain.

Settling into her seat, Claire took a moment to take in her surroundings. The venue was a masterpiece of modern design, with sleek lines and muted colors that allowed the focus to be entirely on fashion. The front row was filled with the who's who of the fashion world-designers, influencers, and a few celebrities thrown into the mix.

However, she spotted someone she thought she would never see again.