Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 23 +25 Bonus Francesca Montgomery. The name Christian had spoken that night during the storm, like a scar that still hurt when touched. The woman who had betrayed him in the worst possible way. And now here she was, her hand extended toward me, a calculated smile on her perfect lips. "A pleasure to meet you," I replied, gripping her hand harder than I intended. "Zoey Bennett." "Zoey," she repeated, as if tasting the name, testing it. "What a... unique name.

Christian always did have peculiar taste." Her Valentian accent gave her words a melodic tone that clashed with the sharp edge hidden beneath them. Beside me, Christian was like a statue-rigid, almost unrecognizable compared to the man who had kissed me only minutes earlier. "And how did you two meet?" Francesca asked, her dark eyes scanning every inch of my face. "Christian rarely attends events that aren't business-related. Or has that changed?" "Mutual friends," I answered automatically, repeating the story we'd agreed upon. "We saw each other a few times before something...

happened." "Fascinating." She smiled, though it never reached her eyes. "And you sell wedding dresses, don't you? An adorable coincidence, given the circumstances." "I don't believe in coincidences," Christian finally spoke, his voice so cold I barely recognized it. "I believe in fate." Francesca let out a light laugh, almost musical. "Fate?" She tilted her head, watching him with curiosity. "You? The man who planned every single minute of his life? How interesting." "People change," he replied curtly. "Apparently." She took a sip from the glass she held.

he wanted." The tension between them was almost tangible, heavy with history and unresolved wounds. And there I was, caught in the middle, trying to piece together years of their relationship from stolen glances and carefully chosen words. "Joseph has always been perceptive about what truly matters," Christian answered, his arm sliding around my waist

just closed an exclusive deal with the largest distributors in Dawn City." Christian's fingers pressed lightly against my waist, and I realized this wasn't just an awkward run-in with an ex -it was a business confrontation too. "There are other markets," he replied with studied calm. "Certainly. Although I wonder..." Her eyes shifted to me. "Does Zoey know about your other... projects?

your fiancée really knows about you. About us." "There is no us," Christian shot back, tense. "Perhaps not now." Francesca stepped closer, lowering

you must be...?" "Elise Banks, Elite PR." She extended her hand with that polished confidence I'd always envied. "We're handling the public relations for

to us one last time. "Christian, Zoey, it was a pleasure. I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again... very soon." As the two of them walked away, I felt Christian visibly relax beside me. Without hesitation, he guided me toward a side exit that led to