Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 33 "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 eyes that I'd begun to notice more and more over the past few weeks. "Listen, I need you to pay special attention to the Association's representatives.

The president, Robert Sanders, is crucial for our expansion plans." "I've already assigned Lisa to accompany him throughout the event." "Excellent." He checked his watch. "And what about the Kensingtons?" That uncomfortable feeling returned. No matter how much I tried to ignore it, Edward's insistence on the Kensingtons always left me uneasy. "Christian Kensington himself confirmed," Edward said, watching me closely as if studying my reaction. "Along with his export director." I kept my expression neutral, though my heart sped up. In just a few hours, I'd be face to face with Christian.

After three months. Ninety-two days, to be exact. Not that I'd been counting. "I'll assign someone appropriate to receive them." "Actually..." Edward placed a hand on my shoulder. "I thought you could do it yourself. Considering your... previous relationship with him." The way Edward always mentioned my past with Christian grated on me. Ever since the interview, when he'd remarked that "personal connections can open professional doors, I'd been trying to prove my worth as more than just "Kensington's fiancée." "Of course. No problem.".

they arrived. During the first hour of the event, I managed to keep my mind occupied with a thousand operational details. Lisa needed guidance with a difficult sommelier. One of the interactive displays malfunctioned. An influential critic arrived early and demanded immediate attention. It was while I was

balance between careless and refined. Beside him, an older man carried a folder and appeared to be taking notes on a tablet. Our eyes met across the room. Three months of

barely perceptible gesture of recognition. And I, automatically, returned it. "Zoey?" The critic's voice pulled me back to reality. "You were saying about the aging process?" "Yes, sorry. As I was explaining, our wines go through a maturation process that..." I finished my explanation,

moved through the hall, stopping to taste wines, chatting with other guests. Every few minutes, his eyes found mine across the room, as if he was just as aware of my presence as I was of his. It was a silent game, a careful dance of glances and measured distance. "Impressive how

his head." I shot my assistant a warning look. "Professionalism, Lisa. And not everything you read online is true." She rolled her eyes, amused. "Sure, boss. But he's heading this way, so... good luck holding onto that professionalism." My entire body tensed. Christian had finished his circuit of the hall and was now walking with purpose straight toward me. Each step closed the physical distance that had stretched between us for three months, while my heartbeat