THE BILLIONAIRE HEIRESS' COMEBACK

CHAPTER 12

The next morning, I woke up feeling like I had been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body ached, and even the slightest movement sent a dull pain rippling through me.

I groaned, barely managing to sit up.

Coach Leo had warned me this would happen—muscle soreness was completely normal, especially for beginners like me who hadn’t worked out in years.

Luckily, my workout sessions were scheduled every two days to give my muscles time to recover.

However, Coach Leo had insisted that I stick to a stretching routine twice a day—once in the morning and once in the evening—to help with the soreness and improve flexibility.

Determined not to skip, I dragged myself to the living room and started my morning stretches.

As I was reaching for my toes, trying not to wince, Lily walked out of her room, still in her pajamas, her hair a tangled mess.

She blinked at me in surprise.

"Wow, aren’t you sore? Why are you moving around so early in the morning?" she asked while rubbing her eyes.

I let out a small laugh, though it came out more like a painted sigh. “I am sore. But I need to do this—it helps with the soreness.”

Lily raised an eyebrow and plopped onto the couch, watching me struggle. “You look like you're in pain. Are you sure this is helping?”

I shot her a tired smile. “It’s supposed to. At least, that’s what Coach Leo said. If I don’t stretch, it’ll be even worse later.”

She hummed in thought, then leaned back against the cushions. “Well, good luck with that. I’ll be here….not stretching.”

I rolled my eyes playfully. “Thanks for the moral support.”

Lily grinned. “Anytime.”

Not minding Lily’s teasing, I focused on my morning stretches, following the routine Coach Leo had taught me to ease the soreness.

Each movement felt stiff at first, but as I continued, the tension in my muscles gradually loosened.

After about ten minutes, I carefully sat down beside Lily, letting out a deep sigh.

I had thought change would be easy, but actually doing it was a different story.

I never realized that even simple stretching could be this challenging—let alone the actual workouts.

“Hah….I guess I have a long way to go before I completely get rid of the fat on my body,” I muttered, stretching my legs out in front of me.

Lily glanced at me and smiled. “It won’t be easy, but it’ll be worth it. You’re already doing a great job, Clara.”

I turned to her, appreciating the encouragement. “Thanks, Lily.”

“Anytime.” She grinned. “So, do you want to have breakfast?”

I sighed, rubbing my stomach. “The dietitian and the cook aren’t here yet.”

Lily blinked at me in surprise. “Wait, you hired a dietitian and a cook? You’re really going all in on this!”

I shrugged. “Since I’m already doing this, I might as well do it right.”

Just as I finished speaking, the sound of the door intercom rang.

Lily raised an eyebrow. “Speak of the devil. That must be them.”

I stood up, stretching my sore limbs, but before I could take a step, Lily extended her hand in front of me, stopping me in my tracks.

"Stay put," she said firmly. "You're still sore, so don’t overexert yourself. You still have me, you know? I’ll go get them."

I hesitated but eventually nodded, sinking back onto the couch with a small sigh. “Fine. But if it’s not them, be careful. You never know.”

Lily rolled her eyes playfully. “Relax, Clara. We’re in a luxury hotel, not some sketchy back alley.”

Right.

I needed to remind myself that security here wasn’t the same as in my old apartment.

It wouldn’t be easy for anyone suspicious to get in—especially to the top floor.

The elevator used for this floor was exclusive after all, requiring a master card to operate.

Only I, my assistant Jonas, Lily and my family had access to it. Even the card used to enter my suite was separate from the one for the elevator, which was currently in my possession.

Maybe my wariness came from years of living in a much less secure place.

The apartment I stayed in for four years had barely any security—just a rusted metal gate at the entrance.

There wasn’t even a guard, that's why break-ins and thefts were common, so I had always been on high alert.

I had even spent extra money reinforcing my room—modifying the windows, installing three different locks on both sides of the door, and still, I would push a table against it at night just to feel safer.

I sighed, realizing I was still carrying that habit of vigilance even here, where everything was locked down like a fortress. Maybe it was time to loosen up, even just a little.

I looked over at Lily, who was now practically skipping toward the door. She pressed the intercom button and leaned in. “Who is it?” she asked in casual tone.

A familiar voice crackled through the speaker.

“It’s me, Jonas, Ms. Lily. I’ve brought the dietitian and the cook, as per the young lady’s instructions.”

Hearing Jonas’s voice, Lily glanced back at me with a smirk. “See? Nothing to worry about.”

I let out a small breath, relaxing slightly. “Alright, let them in.”

Lily pressed the button to unlock the door, then pulled it open.

Jonas stepped in first, dressed in his usual black suit, followed by two unfamiliar faces—both are women, as I have specially requested and both of them appear to be professional and well presented.

“Good morning, Ms. Lily,” Jonas greeted politely before turning his attention to me.

“Lady Clara, I’ve brought the professionals you requested. This is Mrs. Mendoza, your dietitian, and Ms. Irene, your personal cook.”

The woman, who looked to be in her early fifties, adjusted her glasses and gave me a small nod. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Clara. I’ll be handling your nutritional plan to ensure your meals align with your fitness goals.”

Ms. Irene, a warm-looking woman in her mid thirties, smiled kindly. “And I’ll be preparing your meals according to Mrs. Mendoza's recommendations. If you have any food preferences or allergies, please let me know.”

I stood up, still feeling the soreness in my legs, and gave them both a polite smile. “Thank you for coming. I really appreciate it. Honestly, I have no idea where to start when it comes to proper nutrition, so I’ll be relying on you both.”

Mrs. Mendoza chuckled. “That’s what we’re here for. I’ll need to conduct an initial assessment—your weight, body composition, and dietary habits—so we can tailor a plan that works best for you.”

Lily, who had been quietly observing, suddenly chimed in. “Does that mean Clara’s snacks are getting banned?”

I shot her a glare. “Lily.”

Mrs. Mendoza smiled kindly. “Not necessarily banned, but we will be making some adjustments.”

Lily laughed, leaning back in her chair. “Well, good luck with that.”

Jonas cleared his throat. “Shall we move to the dining area? That way, we can go over the details more comfortably.”

I nodded. “Good idea. Let’s sit down and talk.”

With that, we all made our way to the dining area. As we settled in, Mrs. Mendoza began briefing me on my new diet while Ms. Irene, the cook, started preparing breakfast. Meanwhile, Jonas excused himself after receiving a sudden call from the reception.

“To help Ms. Clara into the changes, we’ll gradually reduce your carb intake instead of cutting it off completely. This will help prevent any digestive discomfort,” Mrs. Mendoza explained.

I nodded, trusting her expertise. “I’m not really familiar with dieting, so I’ll just follow whatever you recommend.”

She gave an approving nod. “Then, I will make sure to prepare a great meal plan for you, Ms. After all, small, sustainable changes are better than drastic ones.”

After the discussion, the aroma of freshly cooked food filled the air. Chef Irene set the dishes on the table, and I took the opportunity to invite both her and Mrs. Mendoza to join us for breakfast.

“Please, stay and eat with us,” I said warmly.

Mrs. Mendoza smiled but shook her head. “I appreciate the offer, Ms. Clara, but I regret declining since I should head out soon. However, I’ll go over your allergies and health report with you before I leave.”

I handed her the medical reports from my latest check-up. “You can also coordinate directly with chef Irene regarding my meals since you won’t be staying with us. I want to make sure everything is properly planned.”

Mrs. Mendoza nodded as she scanned through the reports. “That’s a good idea. I’ll work closely with chef Irene to ensure your diet aligns with your needs.”

Meanwhile, Chef Irene, who would be staying in one of the guest rooms on the top floor, smiled warmly. “Don’t worry, Ms. Clara. I’ll take care of your meals and make sure they’re both healthy and delicious.”