Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 552 Mia's POV "You have to be out of your mind." I paused, staring at the computer screen where Christian's face filled the frame, wearing that serious, unreadable expression he always used when he wanted something. "Although, now that I think about it, you've never exactly been all there." I was sitting at my desk in my apartment in Florentia, still in my pajamas because it was Sunday morning and I had every intention of spending the entire day doing absolutely nothing productive. Clearly, those plans were going straight down the drain.

"Mia, I'm serious," Christian said from the other side of the video call, his voice carrying that controlled tone he used when he was worried but trying not to show it. "I've been trying to reach Gwen since last night." "And?" I asked, picking up my cappuccino and taking a sip. "She's probably busy. You know how she gets when she's focused on something." "She's not answering her phone," Christian went on, ignoring my attempt to downplay it. "And the inn where she's staying... the call won't even go through. It drops immediately." "Welcome to rural Valentia," I said with a dry smile.

"Cell service out there is more of a suggestion than an actual thing." "I saw online that Montelira is completely without power," he said, and now I could see real concern in his eyes. "That's probably why I can't get in touch." "Obviously," I replied, rolling my eyes. "Christian, we're in the middle of one of the harshest winters Valentia has seen in decades. It's snowing even in Florentia, and it almost never snows here. Imagine Montelira, up in the hills. Everything is probably buried under snow. The roads must be a nightmare." I set my cup back on the desk and leaned closer to the camera.

"There is absolutely no chance I'm leaving the house right now. I had my lips filled three days ago. My aesthetician was very clear. No extreme cold for at least a week. Do you have any idea how much that procedure cost? And how much it'll cost me if I ruin everything by driving into a snowstorm?" Christian didn't look even remotely impressed by my argument. "Mia, it's not just that the call won't go through," he said, his voice turning more serious. "When I did manage to reach the inn, before the line dropped, someone answered. A man.

my coffee cup. "Something like what?" 1/4 "The call dropped before he could explain," Christian said, frustration clear on his face. "That's why I need you to go there. I need to know she's okay." I leaned back in my chair, processing that for a moment. Then I shrugged. "You know Gwen," I said, lifting my coffee again. "She probably twisted

not, like, on some secret mission to push those people out and acquire the land for Kensington, is she?" "That's not exactly-" Christian started, but I didn't let him finish. "You know we don't do

they'd ever made. "Mia," he said, his voice like steel now, "I could not care less about business if there's even a chance that something happened to my sister. You're going to Montelira right now and you're going to make sure she's okay. This is not a suggestion." I let out a long sigh, realizing I'd pushed him too far. And no

relentless. He had a way of getting exactly what he wanted, no matter how many obstacles stood in the way. If he wanted this favor from me, if he was using that tone, then there was no way out. I lowered my

something that almost looked like a smile touched his lips. "And that's exactly why I sent... a driver... to go with you." I blinked. "I'm sorry, what?" "A driver," he repeated calmly. "Someone who knows how to drive in dangerous conditions. Someone I trust." 2/4 "Why does the driver need company?" I asked, confused. "Can't he go by himself to check if Gwen is okay?" "Of course not," Christian replied, as