New beginning: Billionaire love story

Robert Robertson's blood ran cold as he heard Eligos say those words, but he forced himself to keep his face steady. No way was he going to let Eligos see just how scared he was. His jaw clenched, and his fists balled at his sides as rage bubbled beneath the surface. His whole body felt like it was vibrating with anger. "This isn't a joke, Eligos!" Robert's voice was strained, frustration clear in every word. "What the hell is going on here?"

Eligos, lounging in his chair, just laughed. It was a low, mocking sound like he found Robert's outburst hilarious. "Calm down," Eligos said, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I'm only joking."

Robert's face twisted, clearly unimpressed. He glared at Eligos, his patience rapidly wearing thin. "I'm tired of your stupid games. Get serious for once, will you?"

Eligos's amusement faded in an instant. His expression went ice-cold as he leaned forward, placing both hands flat on the table between them. His eyes narrowed dangerously, and when he spoke, his voice was low and chilling, the kind that sent a shiver racing down Robert's spine.

"You need to understand something, Robert. This is how I work. If you don't like it, you're free to walk away." He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in before adding, "But don't ever talk to me like that again."

Robert froze, his bravado evaporating. Slowly, he retracted his hands from the table and swallowed the lump forming in his throat. He looked down, avoiding Eligos's piercing gaze. "I just want the job done," Robert mumbled, voice barely above a whisper. "I've waited long enough."

Eligos leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. He looked at Robert with an unsettling calm, like a predator playing with its prey. "Tell me something, Robert," Eligos said casually. "Are you afraid of me?"

Robert's lips parted, but no sound came out at first. Then, quietly, he muttered, "No."

"Then why aren't you looking at me?" Eligos tilted his head, daring Robert to meet his gaze.

With a shaky breath, Robert lifted his eyes slowly to meet Eligos's. The man's stare was unwavering, intense. After a tense few seconds, Eligos stood up from his chair, never breaking eye contact. He loomed over Robert, his presence heavy and suffocating. "I'll get the job done," Eligos said, his tone now a promise. "Especially when it comes to the person who ruined my family."

Robert blinked, feeling his heart skip a beat. His voice wavered as he asked, "What's the plan?"

Eligos smiled, but there was no warmth in it. He began pacing slowly, his hands clasped behind his back. "I'm thinking... a surprise attack. Catch Claire Peterson off guard. That's the only way to take someone like her down."

Robert furrowed his brow, trying to piece together what Eligos was saying. "A surprise attack? How?"

Eligos stopped pacing, a mischievous smirk creeping onto his face. He moved to Robert's side and casually placed an arm on his shoulder. "Confusion, my dear Robert. We make her confused."

Robert frowned, the confusion now his own. "What do you mean by 'confused'?"

Eligos chuckled darkly, patting Robert's shoulder like a mentor about to share his grand wisdom. "Led her to capture the wrong person. Not once or twice but maybe countless times." Robert's frown deepened. "And then what?"

Eligos's grin widened. He was clearly enjoying this. "Then, we let her chase after them, thinking she's got the upper hand. She'll be running around, trying to find out who is the person she is running after, getting more and more tired, more and more frustrated. Eventually, she'll give up or make a mistake." He paused, savoring the next part. "That's when we strike. That's when I surprise her."

Robert swallowed hard, his skin prickling with unease. "You think she'll just... give up?"

"She'll have no choice," Eligos replied smoothly, walking back to his chair and sitting down again. "And when she's on the edge of breaking, that's when I'll be there to push her over."

Robert shifted uncomfortably in his seat, his mind racing. He knew Claire was smart, maybe even smarter than Eligos gave her credit for. But he also knew that this man, sitting across from him, was dangerous, and unpredictable. The thought of crossing him wasn't even an option.

"What do you want me to do?" Robert asked after a long pause.

Eligos raised an eyebrow. "Oh, Robert, don't worry. All you need to do is be yourself. Act normal. Don't be suspicious, and definitely don't give anything away. If you do that, this plan will go perfectly."

Robert nodded slowly, though doubt gnawed at the edges of his mind. "And if she figures it out?"

Eligos's smile returned, sharp and cold. "She won't."

Robert wanted to believe him, but something about this whole plan made his stomach churn. "What if she does?"

Eligos's gaze darkened, and his tone grew more serious. "If she does, we'll deal with it. But she won't get that far, not if you follow the plan."

The room felt like it had dropped ten

degrees as Robert absorbed Eligos's words. Every instinct he had was screaming at him that this was dangerous, that he was in way over his head. But he also knew there was no turning back now. Not after everything.

Eligos watched him closely, sensing the turmoil in Robert's mind. "Relax," he said, almost kindly. "You're in good hands."

Good hands? Robert doubted that. But what choice did he have? This was his mess, and Eligos was the only one who could help him clean it up.

"Just remember," Eligos continued, leaning back in his chair, "Claire's smart, but she's only human. She can be broken, just like anyone else." Robert's jaw tightened. "And you're sure this will work?"

Eligos laughed again, a low, eerie sound. "Of course. Trust me, by the time we're done, Claire Peterson won't know what hit her."

Robert forced himself to nod, though inside, every fiber of his being was screaming at him to run far, far away.

But he couldn't.

Not now.

Before Robert could respond, Eligos suddenly shoved his hands into his pants pockets, his demeanor shifting. "Well, Robert," he said casually, "I think we've covered everything. You'll see me soon enough." Without warning, Eligos snapped his fingers, the sharp sound echoing in the dim room. Robert's eyes widened in panic, but before he could react, a heavy bag slammed over his head, plunging him into darkness. "Not again!" Robert muttered under his breath, struggling in vain against the hands that held him.

He squirmed, trying to fight back,

but he was no match for the brute force of Eligos's men. One of them held him down while another jabbed a needle into his arm. The last thing Robert felt was the sensation of his body going limp, every muscle turning to jelly as the drug took effect.

Eligos watched, his expression unreadable, as Robert's body slumped forward. "Put him back in his car," he ordered, his voice cold and calm like he was instructing them to carry out a simple chore.

The men didn't need to be told twice.

They lifted Robert with ease,

dragging him out of the room. Eligos satisfied that everything was

proceeding according to plan, teneto

and walked out of the dimnoveldrama

basement. His footsteps echoed as he climbed the stairs, each step feeling like the countdown to

something much bigger.

As he reached the top, he paused for a moment, looking back into the darkness below. His lips curled into a smirk. "Good luck, Claire Peterson," he muttered under his breath before disappearing into the shadows.