Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 251 - チャプター 260

Nathaniel's POV I'd been sitting in my office for twenty minutes, staring at my phone like it might magically deliver the solution to the mess my life had become. Annie's message had arrived hours after I told her about the suspension, and every word hit with the precision of a knife. Annie: When I chose to trust. Because I think vulnerability is that: trusting someone to catch you… and realizing they choose not to stay when the fall starts. It works for love, friendship, even work. Because in the end, it all feels the same. The 'funny' part? They always say being vulnerable is brave. But no one warns you that sometimes courage comes with a broken heart or a suspension letter. I read the message for the fifth time, feeling the weight of every line. She'd written it thinking she was opening up to some anonymous, understanding stranger—someone who could comfort her from a distance without fully grasping what she was going through. But I understood. I understood every reference, eve

"I came to see you," he said simply. "What? Why?" I asked, completely thrown. "Can I come up?" he repeated, and there was something in his tone—almost amused. "I think we can talk better up there, don't you?" I hesitated. The last person I expected to see today was Marcus Kensington. Actually, the last person I expected to see any day was Marcus Kensington. Our relationship back in Verdania had ended in a… complicated way, and since then we'd maintained a very intentional distance. A distance he himself had set: me in Euradia, him in Ascia. "Sure," I said at last, pressing the buzzer to let him in. I rushed to the bathroom mirror, checking my reflection. I looked like a disaster with messy hair, eyes slightly puffy from stress, and an oversized T-shirt and sweatpants. Definitely not how I wanted to look when facing an ex, especially one who always seemed like he'd been ripped straight out of a fashion magazine. A knock came a few minutes later. I took a deep breath before o

Nathaniel's POV For a moment, I just stared at Annie standing in the doorway—her hair slightly tousled, her expression frozen in absolute shock. But my gaze quickly drifted past her, into the apartment… to him. Marcus. Relaxed on her couch like it belonged to him. Leaned back with that casual, arrogant posture meant to broadcast control. One arm draped along the backrest, legs spread just enough to make a point, a faint smirk tugging at his lips. Everything about him screamed possession—of the space, of the moment… maybe even of Annie. The air thickened instantly, turning heavy and sharp. Without waiting for permission—but without asking, either—I stepped inside with controlled, deliberate movements, closing the door behind me. The click echoed like a declaration of war. "What are you doing here?" I shot back, keeping my voice low but firm enough to leave no room for games. Marcus's smirk widened, clearly entertained by my unexpected appearance. He didn't stand or even sh

I got to the restaurant fifteen minutes before my meeting with Gwen and picked a quiet table in the corner, far from the windows facing the busy street. The place was perfect for what I needed. It was cozy enough for private conversations, but lively enough that no one would pay attention to two women having lunch. I ordered a coffee and tried to sort through the thoughts that had been tormenting me since the night before. Getting put on leave, Marcus's proposal, Nate showing up out of nowhere with those strange flowers, Wanderer's messages getting deeper and deeper… everything felt like one impossible knot, as if my life had turned into an especially dramatic telenovela. Gwen arrived right on time, as always, bringing that positive energy that usually rubbed off on me. Today she looked elegant in a navy-blue blazer that contrasted perfectly with her hair, carrying a leather folder that made it clear she really did have a packed afternoon ahead. "Sorry if I seem rushed," she said

Nathaniel's P.O.V I got home at six in the evening, two hours earlier than usual, my mind boiling ever since I'd seen Annie's photo that morning. The entire day at the office had been torture. Every time I blinked, I saw those curves, the way the morning light caressed her skin, the silent invitation in that image that had made it completely impossible to focus on anything. I dropped my briefcase by the door and loosened my tie, feeling like it was strangling me. Her photo kept burning in the back of my mind, every detail etched with a clarity that made my whole body tense. It was like she knew exactly where to touch to completely disarm me, even from miles away. I went straight to the bathroom and turned the shower to cold. The icy water hitting my skin made me jolt, but it was exactly what I needed. I tried to let the cold wash away the heat that had followed me all day, tried to calm myself enough to think clearly about what was about to happen. But it was useless. Her image