Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 631 Nicholas' POV That Monday, | was supposed to head back to Montelira early. That was the plan. Wake up, grab a quick coffee, get in the car, and go back to real life. Instead, | was sitting in the cheapest café | could find within three blocks of the city center, staring down at a watery cappuccino and a croissant that had clearly seen better days. My phone rested on the table, the screen open to a search: Kensington Florentia headquarters. There was an address. Photos of the building. Articles about expansion, exports, awards.

| scrolled through it all like it belonged to some other galaxy, not to the family of the woman I'd shared a tiny inn room with. I sighed | didn't have a perfect plan. Just an uncomfortable feeling that had stuck with me since the weekend. If | was really going to try to build a life with a Kensington, then | at least needed to try to get mine to a place where | didn't feel like a burden. It wasn't about proving something to her. It was about trying to ---- prove something to myself The Kensington building took up almost half the block. Glass, clean lines, marble on the ground floor.

It wasn't flashy, but it had the kind of presence that made you straighten your back without even realizing it. | paused in front of the revolving doors for a second, taking a deep breath. Gwen worked there. She walked through that lobby every day like it was the most normal thing in the world. | stepped inside. The floor was so polished it reflected the ceiling lights. The reception area was wide, with a long desk, flower arrangements, and couches where a few people sat waiting while checking their phones. Behind the desk, a woman in an impeccable suit was typing on her computer.

"Good morning," she said professionally as soon as she looked up. "How can | help you?" "Id like to speak with Christian Kensington." "Do you have an appointment with Mr. Kensington?" she asked, already reaching for her mouse. "An appointment?" | repeated, feeling like an idiot the moment ---- the word left my mouth. "Yes, sir," she replied, still formal. "Meetings with the CEO are only held with a previously scheduled appointment. | can check the calendar if you give me your name and the company you represent." | swallowed. Company. Represent. "I'm Nicholas Valemont," | said.

"| understand. Unfortunately, Mr. Kensington's schedule is quite full today. I can take your contact information in case something opens up before he returns to Verdania, or, if you prefer, | can offer a videoconference at another time." "| need to speak with him today," | insisted, my voice steady but

breath, clearly running out of patience. "Mr. Valemont, if you'd like, | can provide the contact information for the department responsible for scheduling. But | will need you to..." She paused, choosing the most polite words she could. "step away

pressing down on my back. | had no right to be irritated. The rules were the same for everyone. Still, the sense of not belonging kept pounding in my head That

mean, she doesn't know I'm here. |... came to see Christian. But it looks like he doesn't have an opening." | tried to keep my tone neutral, but the frustration must have slipped through. Dante glanced at the receptionist, then back at me, and started laughing. "Oh my God," he said.

Family doesn't ask to be squeezed in. Family creates the opening." ---- The receptionist, who had been pretending not to hear, looked away, embarrassed. "Mr. Dante..." she murmured, her tone a mix of warning and preemptive apology. He leaned casually against the counter, that effortless charm already switched on. "Giulia, this isn't your fault," he said, reading her name tag. " You're doing your job perfectly. The problem is that no one told my almost cousin here that Christian is harder to get a meeting with than the Pope." She fought

him out by his tie." He turned to me. "Come on." Before | could argue, he was already guiding me gently by the arm toward the private elevators. ---- "Lreally don't want to be a bother..." | started. "You

| searched for the words. "Now that | know who Gwen really is... who all of you are... | don't want to sit around waiting for the world to come crashing down on me. | want the estate to