Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 465 Vivian's POV The heat of Belmonte hit me like a slap the moment I stepped out of the airport. After days in the chill of the Valentian mountains, the Verdanian humidity felt almost suffocating. I dragged my scuffed rolling suitcase through the terminal, scanning for the driver Dominic had promised to send. He wasn't hard to spot. A tall man in a dark suit held a placard with my name on it: Vivian Walker. "Ms. Walker?" he asked, with the stiff formality typical of Dominic's employees. "Yes," I confirmed, handing over my luggage. "Is he waiting?" "At the office, ma'am.

He said it was urgent.' Of course it was urgent. Dominic hated when things didn't go exactly according to plan-and when I came back empty-handed. Well, not completely empty-handed. I'd planted seeds of doubt in Madeline's mind about Marcus. I'd told her about her father. I'd even almost convinced her to get on my jet. But almost was never enough for Dominic. As we crawled through Belmonte's traffic, I rehearsed how I'd explain what happened at the camp. There were several ways to frame the situation, some more favorable to me than others.

The real question was which version Dominic would be most willing to accept without exploding. His office was in an unassuming building, the kind that blended into the background but probably cost a fortune to maintain. Typical Dominic. Always operating in the shadows, far from any spotlight that might attract unwanted attention. I rode the silent elevator to his floor, my heels echoing down the marble hallway as I walked toward the door I knew was his. I didn't knock. Between us, unnecessary ceremony was a waste of time especially when he was already clearly angry.

calculated disappointment. "Vivian," he said my name like he was tasting spoiled

landing, to say you failed?" I took a deep breath, bracing myself for the storm I knew was coming. "Madeline isn't as stupid as we thought," I said, allowing a faint edge of defiance into my voice. Dominic's eyes narrowed dangerously. "Or maybe you're more stupid than I thought.' This time, I couldn't quite stop myself. I rolled my eyes, just barely. Reactions like that usually made him 1/3 angrier, but I was tired of being

safe while I created subtle but effective obstacles in his path. Of course, the original idea had been simple. If Madeline got hurt during one of the activities, I'd be

how to use "small accidents" to reposition myself as her confidante and protector. But Madeline wasn't the one who got hurt. Zoey fell off the bridge. Then Marcus ended up in the hospital. It was like the universe itself was conspiring against my plans, no matter how well thought-out they were. In the end, I barely had any time alone with Madeline. I did manage to tell her about her father. I even almost convinced her to get on that jet with me.

confidence I knew would irritate him. "We both know she's coming to Verdania to see her father. It doesn't matter that he locked her up in a mental institution-she's still sweet, naïve little Madeline." Dominic's face flushed red with instant fury.