New beginning: Billionaire love story

Claire leaned back in her chair, arms crossed, eyes sharp as a hawk as she looked across the desk. Her intense gaze settled on the woman sitting opposite her. After a moment's pause, Claire finally broke the silence. "You're hired," she said flatly.

The woman's face broke into a wide, relieved smile. "Thank you, Ms. Peterson," she said, her voice steady but polite.

Claire gave a curt nod, her eyes still scanning her with an evaluating look. This woman seemed sharp, smart, and perhaps most importantly, capable of dealing with the unpredictable mess that was Lisa. That last part was critical. "Don't disappoint me," Claire warned, her voice laced with an edge.

The woman straightened, looking Claire in the eye. "I won't, Ms. Peterson."

With that, she stood up, grabbed her bag, and headed for the door, her heels clicking confidently on the office floor. Matthew, who had been standing nearby, raised his eyebrows as he watched her go. Once the door closed, he turned to Claire. "So... you're sure about this one?" he asked.

Claire gave him a small, knowing smirk. "I trust your pick, Matthew. After all, you were the one who did the interview."

Matthew rubbed the back of his neck. "She's got the look, and I think she can handle herself around Lisa," he said, still sounding a little unsure.

"Good," Claire said firmly. "I have enough on my plate right now with this 'secret admirer' trying to mess with my life, but I can't forget about Lisa. If she can't be put behind bars, at least we can make her suffer. She's a loose end, and I don't leave those hanging." Matthew gave her a sideways glance, intrigued. "You really thought this all out, huh?"

Claire tilted her head slightly, her smile widening. "Oh, this is just the beginning, Matthew. Wait until it all unfolds."

The next day, Winnie pulled her hair back into a tight bun and adjusted her glasses, straightening her crisp suit jacket before she entered the psychological ward. The building loomed above her, its sterile, gray exterior somehow fitting the job she was about to do. She took a deep breath, trying to keep her nerves under control.noveldrama

After all, this wasn't exactly the usual acting gig she'd been used to. But Claire Peterson's offer had been too good to pass up-both the pay and the promise of protection had convinced her.

Her phone buzzed with a text from Claire right before she went inside, "Remember, stay calm and act professional. Lisa is quick to pick up on anything suspicious."

Winnie replied with a quick thumbs-up emoji and slipped the phone into her bag, her heart racing. Claire hadn't told her much about why she needed her to do this, but she knew it involved someone named Lisa Thompson, and from the sounds of it, Lisa needed to be taught a very specific lesson.

At the check-in desk, Winnie handed over the fake ID and documents Claire had given her. She watched the officer behind the counter as he checked her details. As he glanced from her ID to the screen, Winnie felt a prickle of anxiety.

This wasn't a small-time gig; she was about to impersonate a doctor in a psychological ward. But she forced herself to stay calm, keep her gaze steady, and maintain a neutral expression.

After a long, nerve-wracking pause, the officer handed back her things, nodding. "Follow Officer Toby," he said, motioning to the uniformed man nearby. "He'll take you to see Ms. Thompson." Winnie nodded, clutching her bag a little tighter. "Thank you."

As she walked with Officer Toby down the long, sterile hallways, her mind raced. What was Lisa even like? She knew Claire didn't care for her, but what had this woman done to make Claire go to these lengths? "So, how long have you been with the hospital?" Officer Toby asked casually as they walked.

"Uh, not too long," Winnie replied, trying to sound casual. "Just transferred here, actually."

He nodded, seemingly satisfied with that answer. "Well, Ms. Thompson isn't the easiest patient, that's for sure. She's sharp, and she always thinks she's being tested or manipulated, you know?"

Winnie forced a laugh, even as her pulse quickened. "I've handled a few tough ones before," she lied, hoping she sounded confident.

They finally arrived at a thick metal door with a small window at eye level. Toby punched in a code and opened it, motioning for her to step inside. "Good luck," he said with a grin that told her she'd need it.

Winnie took a deep breath, squared

her shoulders, and walked in. Inside

the room sat Lisa, a woman with dark, intense eyes and a wary expression. She looked up, studying Winnie carefully. Winnie felt the weight of that stare as if Lisa w

were

peeling back her layers and looking

for any signs of deception.

"Hello, Ms. Thompson," Winnie greeted with a calm smile, hoping her voice didn't waver. "I'm Dr. Davis. I'm here to check on your progress."

Lisa's eyes narrowed slightly. "Dr. Johnson? Funny, I don't remember you from last time."

Winnie kept her expression steady. "Yes, I'm new to the team," she said, pulling out her clipboard and flipping through the fake notes Claire had prepared for her. "I wanted to go

over some things with you if that's

alright."

Lisa leaned back in her chair, her gaze suspicious. "Fine. But don't think I'm gonna let you poke around in my head like all the others."

"Of course," Winnie replied smoothly. "I'm just here to make sure you're comfortable and to see if there's anything you need."

Lisa folded her arms, studying Winnie with a smirk. "Comfortable? Please. This place is about as cozy as a coffin."

Winnie forced a polite laugh. "Well, we're doing our best to make sure you're taken care of."

Lisa raised an eyebrow. "You don't look like a regular doctor," she said, a hint of challenge in her tone. "Why are you really here?"

Winnie's stomach tightened, but she kept her face calm. "I assure you, I'm here to do my job. Dr. Amelia Hart wanted me to check on you personally."

Lisa raised her brows. "So you are my new doctor?"

Winnie nodded with a smile on her face. "Yes, I am and I am here to make you feel better and good as new, Ms. Thompson. Dr. Amelia Hart only wants the best for you." Lisa let out a laugh, her eyes glinting. "Right. Best for me. Sure."

The two of them stared at each other for a moment, an unspoken tension lingering in the air. Winnie felt the weight of it but kept her

expression neutral, focusing on net

maintaining her cover. She knew she couldn't let Lisa get too close, couldn't let her see past the mask she was wearing.

Finally, Winnie made a show of glancing at her watch. "Well, I'll be back again tomorrow. If there's anything specific you'd like to discuss, please let me know."

Lisa waved her off with a dismissive hand. "Whatever. Just another doctor with nothing new to say."

As she left the room, Winnie let out a quiet sigh of relief, her nerves still buzzing from the interaction. She'd survived her first meeting with Lisa, but she knew she'd have to be on high alert for the next one.

As she walked back down the hallway, she thought about her conversation with Claire. Claire was powerful, that much was clear. This wasn't just some job; it was a mission. And Winnie was right in the middle of it. For now, though, she'd done her part. All she had to do was keep it up-and make sure Lisa didn't catch on.