Lahat ng Kabanata ng Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire: Kabanata 31 - Kabanata 40

The words hung between us, heavy with meaning. The air inside the car felt thick, electric. Christian stayed close—so close I could feel his breath, see every little detail of his face—the faint shadow of stubble, the intense light in his eyes, the lips still damp from our kiss. For a moment—a glorious, hopeful moment—I thought he'd say yes. That we'd get out of the car together, walk into the house hand in hand, and maybe, just maybe, start something real. Something that belonged to us. His hand brushed my cheek, so softly it almost hurt. The look in his eyes was unlike anything I'd ever seen—vulnerable, almost reverent. "Zoey…" My name left his lips like a prayer. "I want to. More than you can imagine." My heart raced. I leaned toward him, ready for another kiss, ready to pull him inside, to continue what we had started. But his hands gently held my shoulders, keeping a small but decisive distance between us. "But I can't." Three simple words. Three syllables that dropped

"Confirm with the Cabernet promoters that they're supposed to be at station three, not two," I instructed Lisa, while adjusting the small Sunvale pin on my navy blazer. The event hall was flawless. The soft lighting created a sophisticated atmosphere, highlighting the wine displays and the infographics about the winery's production process. The first guests would be arriving in ten minutes, and my team moved with coordinated efficiency, making the final adjustments. "Zoey, Edward wants to see you in the lobby," one of the assistants said as he passed by. I found my boss near the main entrance, nervously adjusting his tie. Edward Mendez was a man in his early forties, with an energy that made it hard for anyone around him to stand still. "Ah, Zoey!" His face lit up when he saw me. "Everything's perfect. You've exceeded my expectations once again." "Thank you. The team worked hard." "The team followed your instructions." He smiled, but there was something calculating in his e

The taxi weaved through the city streets while I kept my eyes fixed on the window, without really seeing anything. My mind was still trapped in that moment between the windows at the event hall, with Christian so close I could feel the warmth of his body. "Because he deserved an explanation. Because I didn't want you to face it alone. Because…" Because what? What would Christian have said if Francesca hadn't shown up at that exact moment? The question hammered in my mind like an unfinished melody, waiting for resolution. After Francesca arrived, everything shifted. The brightness in her eyes when she looked at Christian was impossible to ignore. And the worst part? He smiled at her. Not the polite smile he gave to other guests, but something more genuine, almost intimate. The taxi stopped in front of my small building. I paid the fare and climbed the three flights of stairs slowly, each step weighing as though I were carrying concrete on my feet. Inside the apartment, silence

The company car wound along the twisting roads of Highridge Valley, each curve revealing landscapes that made my stomach tighten. Not because of the beauty—though the sunlit vineyards were breathtaking—but because of the memories every green hillside awakened. Three months ago, I had traveled these same roads in Christian's Porsche, anxious and nervous for completely different reasons. The memory of his hands on the wheel, his focused profile while driving, the light conversation punctuated by comfortable silences… it all felt like another lifetime. "The view is amazing," Lisa commented from the back seat, snapping photos nonstop with her phone. As my assistant, she was far more excited about the trip than was appropriate for a professional. "I've never been to Highridge before!" "Wait until you see the event complex," I replied, forcing an enthusiastic tone. "Crestview Complex is one of the best convention centers in the region." "And they say the Kensington winery is just twe

Christian's POV I saw her the moment I stepped into the main hall. It was impossible not to notice Zoey, even from behind, organizing something with her team. The way she gestured, the slight tilt of her head when she listened—these were details I'd memorized without meaning to during our time together. I avoided looking her way for the rest of the morning, focusing instead on the Kensington representatives and the scheduled meetings. But my awareness of her lingered, like a subtle magnetic field pulling my attention every time she moved across the space. It was Marcus who mentioned the incident first. "Seems there was some commotion with the Sunvale team," he said casually, checking his phone. "Something about a fight between Zoey Bennett and Elise Banks." My head snapped around, every sense on high alert. "A fight? What kind of fight?" Marcus raised his brows, surprised at my reaction. "From what I'm hearing, a slap was thrown. Security had to step in." Without a se