Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 79 The possibility lingered in the air, almost tangible. Annie's words echoed in my mind like a refrain I couldn't ignore. Break the contract? Turn our charade into reality? It was something I hadn't even allowed myself to consider, too afraid of drowning in false hope. Once again, Elise's words came back to haunt me: "No one will ever choose someone like you." Would a man like Christian Kensington who was wealthy, sophisticated, and heir to a wine empire ever willingly choose to stay with me when he no longer had to?

When the deal was done and his grandfather was reassured? "I don't know if he..." "Did you ask him?" "Of course not!" "Then how do you know?" Her tone was exasperated. "Look, if he's showing you special places, giving you jewelry, having amazing sex with you in the vineyards-" "I didn't say it was amazing!" "Please, you didn't need to. It's Valentia. Everything is more sensual there." She waved off my protest. "The point is, those aren't the actions of someone just fulfilling a contract." Her arguments made sense, but the fear still clung to me.

The fear of fooling myself again, the way I had with Alex. Of confusing convenience with love. "I was there, you know?" Annie's voice turned suddenly serious. "At the wedding. I saw how Alex looked at Elise. And I saw how Christian looks at you. Trust me, it's different." A lump rose in my throat. It never ceased to amaze me how my sister could read my heart even when I didn't spell it out. "And what if I'm reading it all wrong? What if he's just..." "Playing a role?" Annie finished for me. "Zoey, at some point you're going to have to trust someone again.

and Elise ruin that for you." I closed my eyes, letting her words sink in. "Thank you, Annie." "That's what sisters are for." Her voice shifted back to playful. "That, and telling you when you're being a complete idiot- which, honestly, is most of the time." I laughed, feeling some of the weight on my shoulders lift. "I love you, you know?" "Of course you do.

that Marcus? Are you seriously sleeping with my husband's cousin?" "Enjoy Valentia, sis!" Her voice grew faint as she pulled the

towel slung low around his waist, water droplets still gleaming on his chest. For a moment, I completely forgot about Annie and her bombshell revelation. My eyes involuntarily traced over Christian's body -broad shoulders, defined abs, droplets of water carving tempting paths

okay?" he asked, noting my expression. "You looked like you'd seen a ghost. Well, until you saw me. Now you look like you're thinking things... thoroughly indecent things." I tossed a pillow at him,

family dinners more interesting." The absurdity of the situation finally hit me, and I started laughing too. Because, of all the possible complications in our already tangled arrangement, the idea of Annie and Marcus together somehow felt the most