Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 595 Gwen's POV | had left Florentia before dawn, driving along the familiar road as the sun slowly rose over the Castorian hills. Nick knew | was coming for the weekend. After all, the influencers Zoey had booked were arriving on Saturday, and we needed to make sure everything was perfect. But | hadn't told him I'd be coming on Friday. | hadn't told him | was coming a day early | went straight to the local branch of Castoria Capital Bank, the bank that held Nick's debt. | had chosen to handle it in person instead of trying to manage it from Florentia. Less bureaucracy.

More control. The bank was small but elegant, with the atmosphere of an old institution trying to look modern. Marble floors. Dark wood counters. Employees in impeccable suits assisting the few morning clients. | walked directly to the front desk. "Good morning," | said to the man behind the counter, a man in his fifties with thin-framed glasses. "I need to speak to someone about paying off a debt." "Of course, ma'am. One moment, please." ---- He guided me to a private office, where | was greeted by a manager. Giorgio Marini, according to the nameplate on his desk.

"How can | help you?" he asked, gesturing for me to sit. | placed the folder I'd brought on the desk and took out the papers Christian had helped me prepare. "| want to pay off a debt," | said directly. "It's in the name of Nicholas Valemont. This is the contract number." | slid the paper with the information across the desk. The manager picked it up, typed something into his computer, and waited. His eyes scanned the screen. He frowned slightly. "Are you related to the debtor?" he asked, peering at me over his glasses. "No." "Then..." he hesitated.

"May | ask why you want to pay this debt?" | kept my expression perfectly neutral. Professional. "Because losing that property is not in my plans." He cleared his throat, clearly uncomfortable with my blunt answer. ---- "I see," he said slowly. "I'll check with our legal department. In principle, there is no legal obstacle to third-party payment. Just a moment." He stood and left the office, leaving me alone with generic paintings of Castorian landscapes on the walls. He returned ten minutes later with a thick folder and an even more uneasy expression.

a... complication." "What kind of complication?" "The debt in question is currently being negotiated for assignment," he explained, opening the folder and showing me documents | couldn't read upside down. "To a third party. An investor who is purchasing a package of distressed loans." "Assignment?" | repeated, making sure | understood. "You're selling

new creditor assumes the risk and collection rights." The words hit me like a punch. ---- If this man bought the debt, he would take the property. That had to be his goal "But you told Nick he had time," | said, my voice harder now. " Sixty days to fix the situation or present a proposal.

kind of deadline is a scenario, not a formal obligation on the bank's part." "In other words, it was more talk than a real guarantee." "| wouldn't put it that way... but yes. The contract allows the bank to sell the loan earlier. And once a credit enters a package like this, my hands are tied. It's not my decision. | only manage the local branch." 'Then

it?" He sighed and rubbed his forehead, as if a headache were starting to form. "It's not that simple," he said. "The loan has already been classified as distressed in our system. And there's an investor in advanced negotiations with the bank to purchase this debt ---- along with others as part of a closed

cleans up our balance sheet. Reduces risk." "How advantageous, exactly?" | pressed, adopting the look of someone with a counteroffer in mind. The manager hesitated, clearly torn between protocol and opportunity. "Officially, I'm not supposed to disclose those figures," he

distressed loans. Various sectors. Retail, agriculture, small businesses. Total face value of approximately 3.2 million dollars." For a moment, the air left my lungs. This wasn't about paying off forty-two

face value, but for distressed assets, it's an excellent offer." | did the math quickly in my head. | had that money. Technically, | had much more than that. But it was an insane amount to spend just to save one forty-two-thousand-dollar loan. On the other