Chapter 15: A New Beginning 

Taking the cityscape of Los Angeles into account, Alex Hayes peeped off from the window of his newly acquired office atop a sleek downtown skyscraper. This city was quite different from the buzzing chaos of Manhattan. The tempo here was different—art-mad, inventive, and cheerfully cutthroat. This was precisely the kind of challenge Alex needed to show, if not to Ethan, then to himself, that he could stand alone. 

The split up with Ethan and their erstwhile together empire had been a bitter pill to swallow, but Alex had resolved that he would not let it define him. If anything, it had stoked a fire—an urge within him to forge his own legacy. With half the assets from the divided spoils recovering himself and visualizing the future, Alex was on his way to launching Hayes Innovations—a venture capital firm specializing in innovative technologies. 

The move was shrewd. If Silicon Valley was the capital of technology, so was Los Angeles sprinting toward being a hotspot for creative entrepreneurship. Within months, Alex had earned somewhat a reputation for spotting startups with unrecognized potential and making them market leaders. His deal negotiation prowess and partnership presence earned the respect of investors and entrepreneurs alike. 

He barely had time to breathe under the workload cascading from the morning to the night: meetings, presentations, and networking events. And he thrived in that whirlwind. This new venture was gathering momentum, and though he would hardly allow himself to admit it, part of the motivation behind it was to prove himself better than Ethan. 

The Conference 

At one of those glittering functions—a posh business conference being held in a five-star hotel in Beverly Hills—Alex came across another familiar face. The hotbed of industry leaders, venture capitalists, and innovating minds bustled through the ballroom; after concluding an interesting panel on investment strategies, Alex caught his sight on her from across the room. 

Clara 

She stood by the bar, hunched in conversation with a handful of other attendees. An image of confidence, Clara wore an elegant navy-blue pantsuit that gave her an air of charm. Her hair was pulled back in a neat ponytail, and the relentless glimmer in her eyes was both familiar and challenging in a way Alex found exciting. 

Clara had come far since he had last seen her. She was now a sought-after consultant for business transformations for ailing companies. Her reputation and the scintillating tales of how she had salvaged dying ventures into success stories preceded her-which were common knowledge to the industry. 

Alex hesitated for a moment, trying to decide if he should approach her. Their history was complicated. Clara was deeply entwined into the saga of Ethan and Sophie, and while Alex had distanced himself from that chapter, confronting Clara brought forth a surge of leftover emotions. 

Before he could decide, Clara spotted him. A flicker of surprise crossed her face, and then she turned to him with a polite smile, excusing herself from her group and crossing to him. 

"Alex Hayes," she greeted him, holding out her hand. "It's been a while."

"Clara," Alex responded, taking her hand in his. "You look...successful."

"So do you," she replied lightly, her tone partially teasing. "Hayes Innovations seems to be really making waves." 

"And I hear you're the businesswoman of last resort," Alex continued, matter-of-factly but obviously impressed. "What are you doing on this side of the country?"

"Business, of course," she answered. "I have a group of clients to speak to here. But I didn't expect to run into you."

"Neither did I," Alex said. "But it is a nice surprise." 

From there, the conversation flowed quite easily, passing into personal territory. They exchanged each other's life stories with the trials and tribulations, triumphs and glories. Alex, for the first time in a long time, felt a connection free from enmity. 

Sparks Fly 

With the hour getting late, Alex felt an urge stirring in him toward Clara that was beginning to surprise him. Sharp, determined, and willing to challenge him, she was a breath of fresh air compared to the orchestrated exchanges he was used to by now. 

Clara could hardly suppress being interested in Alex. Underneath his denunciations of all things old-world lay a man struggling with carrying the very burdens of his past yet all the while trying to create a new one: A certain vulnerability she had not noticed before, and it made him all the more attractive. 

It was Alex who then offered to walk Clara to her car as the conference went off for the night. To them, the cool Los Angeles evening air was a welcome break from the stuffy offices as they strolled through the hotel's courtyard. 

"The night was unexpected," Clara said quickly glancing at Alex.

"In a good way, I hope," Alex replied with a tone softer than his usual voice. 

Clara turned sharply to him, suddenly stopping her walk. "I think so." 

For a minute, they carried an expectant gaze on each other, the intensity between them. Before either of them overthought things, Alex leaned forward. Clara met him halfway. The brief kiss was electric, a spark suggesting the possibility of something deeper. 

When they pulled apart, Clara smiled, a mix of pleasant surprise and curiosity on her face. "Well, that's going to change things."

"It certainly does," Alex agreed, his tone taking on a serious element. "But I'm not sure that I take issue with it." 

Clara chuckled softly. "Neither do I." 

The Beginning of Something New 

Alex had not felt that kind of expectation in quite some years. For the first time since leaving the comforts of Manhattan, he was sure he was moving ahead both personally and professionally. 

There was something about Clara that stirred Alex from within and made him want to open himself to the thought of trying love, even again, and while they were just beginning down the road together, his mind couldn't help but wonder whether their shared ambition and respect could allow them to build something really special. 

He stood in the hotel courtyard, a faint smile on his lips looking up at the star-studded sky, thinking about what would come next. 

The Taking Off of Something 

The travel back to his penthouse felt uncommonly long tonight for Alex Hayes. His thoughts kept playing over the day's events—the sharpness of Clara's wit, her easy laughter, and the sparkle in her eyes, which matched his own in intensity. He hadn't felt this alive in years.

This intrigued him.

Alex was back at the conference this next day. No, not as an obligation but in the vague hope of catching sight of Clara. He had hardly slept, tossing and turning with questions. Was the same jolt felt through her kiss? Could it have been just a one-off deal, or could it begin something so much deeper? 

As though pre-arranged, Clara was already on site, confidently speaking to a group of business executives about their strategic turnarounds. Alex settled on a chair at the back of the hall with ears listening keenly as she deflected questions with a healthy mixing of authority and of charm. She was mesmerizing, her intelligence shining through every word. 

After the session, Clara found Alex lingering close to the coffee station. She ambled up to him with an expression of interest and amusement on her face.

"Stalking me now, Hayes?" teased the woman in a casual tone while sipping from her coffee mug.

"Not at all," retorted Alex at once, though the hint of a smile kind of betrayed him. "I was just curious to see if you're really as impressive as you claim to be in action."

"And?"

"You exceeded my expectations," came the admission. 

Clara laughed softly but truly. "Well, that's high praise coming from you." 

A Shared Story Luncheon  

Instead, they opted for a terrific rooftop restaurant where poor people would crave a lunch while the rich ones got fed by the conference—all with really spectacular views of the Los Angeles skyline. The cozy environment was just kind for a little more intimate conversation such that Alex found his usual professional mien being substantially loosened. 

Clara settled her chair back against the wall and regarded Alex over pesto-drenched grilled salmon and bright green salad. "You've been speaking of new ventures," she said, "but I am really curious—how is Ethan? I would guess the separation was no easy proposition." 

The expression changed on the face of Alex as the easy smile disappeared into a more guarded expression. He swirled the wine in his glass and then took a sip as he weighed his reply. 

"It wasn't," he finally admitted. "I had built an empire with Ethan, and tearing it apart was beyond mere division of property; it was also reconstructing who we were without each other." 

Clara tilted her head, genuine curiosity brightening her eyes. "How did you do something like that? Splitting up a business that enormous wasn't going to be simple." 

Alex nodded his head, thoughtful before he began his narration. "Lawyers, financial advisors, and countless board meetings were what we had to include. Each subsidiary was evaluated, divided, and restructured. In the end, it was agreed that Ethan and I would split our affairs except for the mother company in Manhattan, which was the only thing neither of us wanted to let go. I took only 30 per cent equity share because I didn't want to get involved too much." 

Absurdity came to Clara's mind, who raised an eyebrow. "That must make things… complicated." 

"Indeed," said Alex with an ironic laugh. "Especially since Sophie has made herself an incredibly visible cog in Ethan's business. She isn't only his partner at home; he is making her an equal in the company, which I think is a mistake." 

Clara's fork stopped short, yet she successfully blinked that reaction away. "Sophie?" she asked casually. 

"Yes," Alex replied, his voice turning to gravel. "She grinds him down like a pin-nail. I'd never seen Ethan so blinded by someone. As if he was ready to jeopardize everything just to see her happy." 

Clara nodded slowly, thinking through Alex's words. "Sounds like you don't trust her." 

"I don't," Alex said bluntly. "There is something about her—something very calculated. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I just know that she is not what she seems to be. I accused her of coming to Alex for a revenge over the acquisition of her father's business, which led to his business collapse and eventual death." 

Clara tilted her gaze downward at her plate, then slowly steered the conversation elsewhere. "It's funny that you mention Sophie. She and I were friends a long time ago. What did she say when you confronted her?" 

Alex looked up, intrigued. "You and Sophie? I never would have guessed. She didn't deny it." 

Clara smiled faintly, an unreadable expression on her face. "We were quite close, but life happened. We just drifted." 

"Drifted?" Alex pursued, with the instinct that there could be more. 

Clara shrugged, her tone light but deliberate. "Let's just say we wanted different things. People change, and sometimes, it's just better to walk away rather than hang on to something that doesn't work anymore." 

He watched her now, noting with some interest how tense she had suddenly become. A little more about her relationship with Sophie hung heavier in the air than likely was meant to, but there seemed no sense in pressing. 

"Well, you are better off," Alex said after a pause. "Trust me, you would not want to be physically tied with someone like her. Sophie is trouble." 

Clara took a moment to think. She did not answer immediately, busy thinking through what Alex had just said. She had not shared the reasons for her parting with Sophie, but now she could not dismiss the many eerie similarities between her own former experiences and Alex's immediate frustrations. She couldn't tell Alex that she was the one who engineered Sophie's revenge; that she was the one who pointed her to the gala, gave her a fake invitation card, and taught her how to infiltrate it. How could she tell Alex that she left Sophie out of jealousy when she found out that Ethan the handsome billionaire, instead of destroying her, found her attractive and fell in love with her instead. 

Rekindling A Connection 

The conversation eventually became more casual as they resumed discussing Clara's consulting business, Alex's own relatively recent endeavors, and their individual career prospects. However, the background discussion between Alex and Clara regarding Ethan and Sophie persisted, adding to the complexity of an already complex relationship.

Clara found herself appreciating and understanding Alex's determination to put his broken relationship with Ethan behind him. She started to see in Alex someone who understood the kind of resilience it took to start over after spending years rebuilding her own life after the horrible events. She remembered how she had rejected Alex while he was still struggling in business. But now he seemed not to mind. She had progressed significantly. And this made the two of them.

For Alex, Clara represented a refreshing departure; forthright and unyielding. She dared to question him and speak her mind, yet her grace in steering the conversation endeared him all the more. 

"I'm happy we did this," Alex said as they prepared to leave. "I seldom get to talk to someone who really understands." 

Clara smiled, an affectionate softness in her eyes. "I feel that way, too." 

The connection for Alex was entirely unexpected: not just because of a mutual goal or the twin ability to handle pressure but also beyond this ever-widening scope into that very niche where few would actually reach, where she determinedly connected with him. 

Clara felt it, too. Underneath Alex's poised exterior, she saw a man faced with the burden of his past, just like she had once been. Although subtle, his vulnerabilities drew her in. 

Post-lunch, they ambled through the streets of downtown L.A., structured with a decreasing emphasis on business and growing with personal anecdotes. They chuckled about the peculiarities of the business world, discussed the pros and cons of different leadership styles, and even exchanged some embarrassing stories from the world of work in early days. 

They had just entered a tranquil park overlooking the city when Alex turned to Clara and said, "You know, I never expected to enjoy today so much."

"Neither did I," admitted Clara. 

For some minutes, they stood in silence with the sprawling city beneath them. Alex lingered on Clara's face, and for the first time in years, he felt his fortifications begin to crumble. 

Sensation 

Before he had the chance to question himself, Alex closed the distance between him and Clara. Clara looked up into his eyes, her expression soft, but there was a guarded look that conveyed that, like Alex, she was wrestling with the weight of the moment. 

"I don't usually do this," Alex murmured.

"What are you going to do?" Clara asked, teasing, but a hint of real curiosity crept into her voice.

"Take chances like this," he replied.

Clara smiled a small, genuine smile. "Then maybe you should just like you did before. I wouldn't mind." 

That was all the encouragement Alex needed. He leaned in, and their lips came together in a kiss that was as sweet as it was intense. The kiss was a release of tension, a celebration of the unspoken feelings that had mounted between them all day long. 

Clara met him with equal fervor, hands softly resting against Alex's chest as she buried all consideration. The moment lasted without the world intruding—their connection buzzing with electricity. 

When their lips parted, Clara turned bashful, while Alex's breathing was a little laborious. 

"Well," Clara spoke barely above a whisper, "that was unexpected."

"Well, it was unexpected for me, too," Alex admitted, his tone hinting at an unusual vulnerability. 

Somewhere New 

The walk to the hotel was lighter, charged with unspoken possibilities nevertheless. Alex couldn't remember the last time he had felt so relaxed with someone, so interested in another person. 

For Clara, the kiss had been a surprise. She started viewing Alex with respect in business when he began showing signs of success, but now, observing him this close, made her wonder whether their interaction was built on ambition and shared experiences from work. Was there room for something else? 

As Alex stood on the balcony of his penthouse that night, the memory of Clara's kiss still fresh in his mind, for the first time in ages, he could feel flickers of hope: not only for his business but indeed, for his private life.