New beginning: Billionaire love story novel Chapter 472

Claire sat at her desk, fingers tapping restlessly against the polished wood. The soft hum of her office seemed unusually loud as she stared blankly at her phone. Her mind was still reeling from the conversation she’d just had with Mr. Saint Laurent.

“A Christmas party, Claire. It’s time.”

His voice, full of warmth and gentle authority, echoed in her mind. He’d always spoken to her like she was a part of the family, which made the call all the more difficult to process.

“But why me?” she had asked, trying to keep the disbelief out of her tone.

“Because it’s been three years, dear,” he had replied kindly. “You disappeared for too long. It’s time for the world — for your peers — to know that Claire Peterson is back. Hosting this party will show everyone that you are still a force to be reckoned with.”

She leaned back in her chair, pinching the bridge of her nose. The weight of his words pressed on her shoulders, and no matter how many times she tried to reject the idea, he had countered with an unshakeable faith in her.

Earlier That Morning

The phone call had come just as she was reviewing some reports. Sandra had barely announced it before she picked up, curiosity piqued. Mr. Saint Laurent didn’t often call her directly.

“Good morning, Claire,” his voice had rumbled warmly.

“Good morning, Mr. Saint Laurent,” she greeted politely, though she felt a twinge of apprehension.

“I’m sorry for interrupting your morning but I won’t take your time for too long. So, the reason why I calIed you is that I want you to host this year’s Christmas party,” he said, his tone gentle but resolute.

The air seemed to thin around her. She blinked, certain she had misheard. “I’m sorry, did you say me hosting the party?”

“Yes,” he affirmed. “It’s been too long since you’ve hosted anything. You’ve been back for months, and yet the world still doesn’t know that Claire Peterson has returned. I think it’s time to change that.”

“Mr. Saint Laurent, I appreciate the sentiment, but I can’t.” She sighed, her fingers tightening around the edge of her desk. “I’m swamped with work. There’s too much going on right now, and—”

“I know you can do it,” he interrupted gently. “You’ve always managed to balance the impossible. This is important, Claire. You need to remind everyone of who you are. And more importantly, you need to remind yourself.”

“Isn’t my appearance is not enough?” Claire asks, slightly frowning.

“Is not that it isn’t enough. I just feel like people doesn’t know about you more and I hate the fact that some people look down on you just because you are a woman. That isn’t what it’s supposed to be. They need to respect you Claire and know about your existence.”

Her jaw clenched. She wasn’t ready for this. Not with Matthew in a coma, his absence gnawing at the edges of her mind. “I don’t know if I can, Mr. Saint Laurent. Matthew always handled these things with me. Without him—”

“Matthew would want you to do this,” he said, his voice firm. “I know it’s hard, but you’re not alone. We’ll all be here to support you. You’ve never needed anyone to stand in front of you, Claire. You’re strong enough to handle this.”

His faith in her was unwavering, and the warmth in his tone made her heart ache. She struggled to keep her voice steady. “I’ll think about it.”

“Don’t think too long,” he replied softly. “This is an opportunity to show the world that Claire Peterson is still standing tall. You owe it to yourself.”

As the call ended, Claire had sat in stunned silence, the weight of his words slowly sinking in.

Now, hours later, she still hadn’t moved from her seat. The memory of Matthew was a persistent ghost. They had planned so many of these events together, his insight and wit balancing her precision. The thought of hosting without him made her feel unmoored.

Her phone buzzed, breaking her from her thoughts. She glanced at the screen — Adrian.

She hesitated a moment before picking up. “Hey,” she said, trying to keep the weariness out of her voice.

“Hey, yourself,” Adrian replied, his voice tinged with concern. “I just found out what my grandfather asked you to do. Claire, I’m so sorry. He shouldn’t have put you in that position.”

She sighed. “It’s okay, Adrian. He meant well.”