All Chapters of Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire: Chapter 231 - Chapter 240

Nathaniel's POV After brunch, the house naturally split into groups. The women. Zoey, Annie, and Gwen. Settled on the back patio where they could talk more privately while Matt played on a blanket on the floor. From inside, I could hear their lively chatter, punctuated every now and then by Zoey's contagious laugh. "How about a drink?" I asked Christian, nodding toward the bar in the living room. "After a transatlantic flight with a baby, I'm guessing you could use one." "God, yes," he laughed, following me into the quieter part of the house. "I love my kid, but three hours of nonstop crying on a plane is a test of endurance no one should have to face." The living room had a different atmosphere from the rest of the house. More masculine, with leather armchairs, shelves packed with books, and a well-stocked bar I barely touched when I was alone. The lighting was softer here so it was better suited for serious conversations. I poured two fingers of Macallan 18 for both of us.

Nathaniel's POV Monday came with that familiar back-to-work energy. But this time it felt amplified by Christian's presence in the office. He walked in at eight sharp wearing a flawless gray suit that basically screamed CEO on inspection tour. And he hadn't stopped since. He spent the whole morning reviewing quarterly reports line by line. Talking with the regional directors about performance and targets. Checking every detail of Kensington's London operations himself. That was his style to be hands-on and never satisfied with numbers on a spreadsheet or surface-level summaries. When Christian visited a branch, he wanted to understand not only what was working, but why it was working. I was used to his routine when he came to London. But this time there was extra weight to it. He wasn't just the CEO checking financials and logistics. He was my best friend from university. Someone who knew me too well to be fooled for long. Especially when I was trying to hide something. And espec

Nathaniel's POV Wednesday morning found me in my office, staring at quarterly reports while my mind wandered far from the numbers on the screen. Ever since yesterday, Alexandra's comment about how we would "steal all the attention" at the Kensington party kept echoing in my head. The way she said it was so effortless, as if we were automatically a pair. As COO, people expected me to show up to events like that with someone on my arm. Normally it didn't bother me. I'd bring someone I was seeing casually. Sometimes Alexandra herself. It was corporate theater. Nothing more. But this time the idea gnawed at me. I didn't want to spend another night pretending to enjoy empty small talk or playing a part that meant nothing. Maybe it was the conversation with Marcus. Or Christian's suspicious looks lately. But the thought of performing again already exhausted me. Around noon, I decided to get some air and clear my head with a coffee. The café next door was half full, buzzing with the u

Friday afternoon rolled in with a different kind of energy. My apartment, usually a quiet retreat after work, was suddenly alive with upbeat music and the sound of my friends laughing. Zoey, Gwen, and I had decided to get ready together, turning the pre-party routine into its own little event. The coffee table was covered in makeup, wine glasses were scattered around the living room, and three different dresses were draped over the couch while I tried to pick one. "The black one is classic," Zoey said as she held up the sleek dress I'd bought last month. "You can't go wrong with it." "But the wine-red one is bolder," Gwen countered, lifting the deep burgundy dress with the open back. "And that color looks gorgeous on your skin." "Decisions, decisions," I muttered, eyeing both. "Why does choosing an outfit have to be so complicated?" "Because you want to impress the charming Franconian," Gwen said with a mischievous grin. "Don't even try to deny it. I saw you melt yesterday wh

Nathaniel's POV When I saw Annie walking up to the terrace with Henry, a sharp sting of jealousy hit me. I tried to rationalize it as professional concern. After all, Henry was an important client, and Annie was a valuable employee. It made sense that I'd want to be sure things were going smoothly. At least that's what I kept trying to tell myself. "The Vintara wines are being very well received," Alexandra said beside me, following my gaze. "Christian always chooses the best." "Hmm," I muttered, only half listening. "I think I'll take a look at the terrace," I said, aiming for casual. "Check how the drink setup is doing outside." "Great idea," Alexandra agreed immediately. "I'll go with you. I want everything to be perfect." So much for going alone. The terrace was beautifully decorated, tiny lights woven through the greenery, giving the whole space a warm, intimate glow. Henry and Annie were talking near the railing. She held a glass of red wine and laughed at somethi