Lahat ng Kabanata ng A Contract With My Billionaire Ex: Kabanata 71 - Kabanata 80

Anastasia POV “Do you have any guests to add?” Vivian asked me."My friend Sara," I said. "And some of my regular bakery customers who have become friends.""Lovely. How many approximately?""Maybe ten?" I did a quick mental count of people I would actually want at my wedding if this was real. "Fifteen at most.""And Leon, anyone from your side?""James and his wife and maybe a few colleagues from work." Leon counted on his fingers. "Another ten or so."Vivian nodded. "That brings us to about one hundred and fifty total. Perfect for the garden venue."The caterer approached with small plates of food samples. "I have prepared several options for the reception menu. A formal sit-down dinner or a more casual buffet style."We spent the next forty-five minutes tasting everything from salmon to filet mignon to elaborate vegetarian dishes. Each sample was delicious and I could not focus on any of it because my mind was stuck on the reality of what we were planning.A real wedding. With rea

Jennifer's POV I met Alan at the same upscale restaurant where we had first talked, two days after the gala. He was already waiting at our usual corner table when I arrived, looking at his phone with that calculating expression I had come to recognize. "You saw the announcement," I said as I sat down. It was obviously not a question. "The whole city saw the announcement." Alan put his phone down and looked at me. "Leon went bigger than I expected. Public announcement, media coverage, and grandma crying happy tears. Very theatrical." "It worked though. Everyone believes them now." I pulled out my own phone and scrolled through the photos I had managed to take at the gala before Leon kicked me out. "They looked perfect together. Like an actual couple in love." Alan took my phone and studied the photos. "They are good actors," he said finally, handing the phone back. "But something is definitely off about their relationship." "What makes you say that?" "Let's go over it agai

Anastasia's POV Sara looked at the failed attempts around us. "You are trying to practice while exhausted and stressed. No wonder it is not working. Your brain is fried.""But I only have two days—""Two days is plenty of time if you are actually focused. But you cannot be focused if you are also trying to plan a wedding and keep Eleanor happy and maintain this fake relationship with Leon." Sara met my eyes. "Something has to give, Ana. You cannot be everything to everyone."Before I could respond, the bell chimed again. This time Leon walked in carrying a bag from the bakery supply store down the street."I saw the lights on and the door was unlocked," he said by way of greeting. Then he saw my tear-stained face and his expression shifted. "What happened? Are you okay?""She is fine," Sara said before I could answer. "Just overwhelmed and overtired."Leon put down his bag and came to stand beside me, looking at the wreckage of my practice session. "Practice for Friday?"I nodded, no

Anastasia's POVThe restaurant Leon chose was small and intimate. The kind of place that did not have tablecloths or fancy presentations. Just good food and quiet corners where people could actually have conversations without shouting over background noise.We sat at a table near the back, away from the windows and the few other diners scattered throughout the space. For the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe."This is nice," I said, looking around. "How did you find this place?""James recommended it. He brings clients here when he wants to have real conversations instead of impressing them with expensive wine lists." Leon studied the menu. "I figured we both needed a break from performing for people."He was right. Every meal lately had been with Eleanor or the wedding planner or some business associate who needed to congratulate Leon on his engagement. This was the first time we had been alone together without an agenda in at least a week. The waiter came and we order

Leon's POVThe morning partners meeting started like any other. Coffee, financial projections, quarterly reports. My senior partners sat around the conference table discussing portfolio performance and potential new acquisitions. I was glad they agreed to have the meeting still even though it was a Saturday and Christmas was right around the corner."The Mitchells are finally ready to move their accounts over from Goldman," Tony said, looking pleased with himself. "That is another twelve million in assets under management.""Excellent work," I said, making a note. "What else is in the pipeline?""We have been in talks with Hendricks Private Wealth Management," David said, pulling up a file on the screen. "They represent high-net-worth individuals and family offices. If we can get them as a client, it opens doors to their entire network."I looked at the numbers on the screen. Fifty million dollars in managed assets. Lucrative management fees. Access to some of the wealthiest families