Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 554 Mia's POV "You've got five seconds to wipe that stupid grin off your face before I throw you out the window," I said, folding my arms and glaring at Dante from the passenger seat. Dante, of course, didn't lose the smile. If anything, it widened. That smug, infuriating grin he'd worn since we were kids whenever he knew he was getting under my skin. "Good morning to you too, cousin," he said cheerfully, hands relaxed on the steering wheel of the fully snow-equipped Land Rover Christian had apparently arranged. "Love the suitcase.

Did you pack for a whole month just to 'check if Gwen is okay'?" "You gave me fifteen minutes to leave the house," I shot back. "I didn't have time to plan properly." "Fifteen minutes?" Dante scoffed. "It was forty-five. I timed it while you were 'just putting on light makeup. 111 "I hate you," I muttered. "No, you don't," Dante said, starting the engine. It purred smoothly, the heater already kicking in. "You love me. Everyone loves me.

It's my natural gift." "Your natural gift is being unbearable." "That too." We pulled out of my building's parking area, and Dante navigated the streets of Florentia with the confidence of someone who'd done it a thousand times, even though he'd only moved back from Ascia not long ago. Which honestly tracked, considering how many "friends" he seemed to have scattered around the city. Snow was still falling, though not heavily. In Florentia, it was the light, romantic kind, dusting old rooftops and cobblestone streets in a thin, picturesque layer.

But I knew that as we climbed toward Montelira in the hills, things were going to get a lot worse. "So," Dante said after a few minutes of silence, "we're rescuing the Supreme Workaholic from the middle of a snowstorm because Christian said so. Sounds like a perfectly normal Sunday." "She's not a workaholic," I shot back automatically, even though it was only half true. Gwen really did live for her job. "Mia, she sent emails at three in the morning last week," Dante said. "Three a.m.

didn't argue much. Gwen did take her job seriously. Sometimes too seriously. Especially after my brother had stepped away from Kensington and she felt like she had to prove herself even more to Christian. I stared out the window as Florentia faded behind us, replaced by snow-covered hills and vineyards sleeping through winter. "It was better when Marcus was Christian's right-hand man," I said after a moment. "He handled

brunch, and not driving into the middle of nowhere in a snowstorm." Dante laughed. "Oh, come on. Admit it. You were bored. Your life is work, spa, and the occasional dinner with that dull banker you're dating." "Stephen is not dull," I said defensively, even though it was a lie. Stephen was painfully

passion other people reserved for their obsessions. "He explained the Swiss banking system for forty-five minutes at dinner last time," Dante said. "I timed it. Forty-five minutes, Mia. You had that glazed look in your eyes." "I was being politely attentive." "You were mentally planning your escape." I couldn't argue with that because it was true. The road began to climb, the

belonged on a postcard. "Seriously," Dante said, his tone turning sober for a moment, "Christian sounded genuinely worried when he talked to me. It's not like him to send two of us to check on someone. Usually it's just a quick phone call." "I know," I admitted. "He said someone at the inn

minutes, the only sounds the low hum of the engine and the tires crunching over packed snow. "Do you think she's okay?" I asked finally, letting some of the worry creep into my voice. 2/4 +25 Bonus

fine and going to be annoyed that we interrupted her secret mission." "True," I agreed, feeling a little better. "She's going to kill us for showing up and potentially blowing her cover." "Oh, absolutely," Dante said, his grin returning. "It'll be fun." "You have a very