Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 628 Gwen's POV Nick stared at the wine label. Kensington, written in elegant gold letters against a dark background. My heart was pounding so hard | was sure he could hear it. The silence stretched between us. Heavy. Suffocating. Finally, he lifted his eyes to mine, something unreadable in his expression. "Kensington..." he said slowly. "As in Kensington Wines?" It was like he could see it but still couldn't quite believe it. Like he needed to hear it out loud to make it real "Exactly," | confirmed, my voice softer than | intended.

He placed the bottle back on the table with exaggerated care, as. if it might shatter. "You're the owner of Kensington Wines?" he asked plainly. "Technically, Christian is," | corrected quickly. "He's the CEO of Kensington. I'm just the COO for Valentia." ---- Nick frowned, confusion deepening. "COO?" he repeated. "What does that even mean?" There was something almost endearing about the way he didn't understand that part of my world. | had to fight the urge to smile. The last thing | wanted was to sound condescending. "Chief Operating Officer," | explained gently. "!

oversee operations in Valentia. Production, logistics, distribution, relationships with suppliers and partners. Christian focuses more on global strategy, expansion, investments." Nick absorbed that in silence. "And you say you're 'just' the COO for Valentia?" he asked, raising an eyebrow. | shrugged, downplaying it. "It sounds bigger than it feels day to day," | said, even though | knew that wasn't entirely true. "A lot of meetings. Bureaucracy. Technical decisions." He looked at me like he knew | was minimizing it on purpose.

it discreetly and see if it was worth making an offer." | saw something close off in his face. "But | told Christian it wasn't going to happen the moment my memory came back," | added quickly. "| understood how much you loved that place. That for you it wasn't about money. That the estate is family.

be part of something that took that from you." Nick stayed quiet for a long time. "I don't even know what I'm getting myself into," he muttered finally, more to himself than to me. "It doesn't change that much," | tried. "It's just a last name." "A last name that owns an empire," he replied, looking directly at me. Then something seemed to click in his mind. "The necklace..." he said slowly. "Bella's necklace?" I nodded, knowing exactly where he was going. ---- "Diamonds," | said simply. "Your

represented. | just wanted to give something special to a special little girl. Our friendship necklace, like she called it." "Because for you, it's easy not to think about it," Nick said. There was no accusation in his voice. Just truth. "Yes," | admitted. "And | know how privileged |

see another side of life with you," | said honestly. "And | like it. The simplicity. The authenticity. The things that matter beyond money and business." | took his hand in both of mine. "And maybe," | added more softly, "I can help you see another side of life with me. It's not about one of us giving up our world for the other. It's about finding

come by Kensington headquarters with me? Just to see it. To understand that part of my life a little better." He gave me a small smile. Tired. But real. "| don't know," he said honestly. "Maybe... maybe we should start with baby steps." | let out a soft laugh, relief washing through me. "Okay," | agreed. "Baby steps. We can do that." He rubbed his eyes, suddenly looking exhausted. "| need to