Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 451 Madeline's POV "Very funny, Mia," Marcus started, pushing himself up from the log where he'd been sitting. "I hadn't even started-" "AHHHHHHHH!" Another scream from Mia cut him off, even louder than the first. Marcus didn't hesitate for a second. He vaulted over the log and took off running toward the sound, disappearing into the dark trees. I stood up quickly, trying to follow despite my pregnancy making sudden movements harder than usual. "Mia!" Christian shouted too, sprinting after Marcus, with Luke, Olivia, and several other team members right behind him.

The sound of our footsteps echoed through the forest as we chased the screams. Low branches scraped against our coats, and the darkness between the trees made it hard to see where we were stepping. The glow of the bonfire faded fast, and soon we were navigating only by the light of a few flashlights someone had grabbed along the way. "Over here!" Marcus shouted from somewhere ahead. When we finally reached the clearing where Marcus had stopped, it took me a few seconds to process what I was seeing.

Mia stood there, completely unharmed, arms crossed in a posture I immediately recognized as her highest level of irritation. And in front of her... In front of her stood a tall, undeniably handsome man, casually leaning against a tree as if the whole situation were perfectly normal. Even in the weak flashlight glow, it was impossible not to notice how attractive he was. Slightly messy dark hair, an easy confidence in his posture, and most of all, those unmistakable eyes I had learned to recognize. They were Kensington eyes without a doubt.

"Who is that?" I asked, looking from Mia to the stranger. "My horror story come to life," Mia replied flatly, never taking her eyes off him. The stranger laughed, a low, amused sound that echoed through the clearing. "How cruel, Mia," he said, his voice laced with deliberate charm. "I prefer to think of myself as a dream come true. The casual arrogance in his tone made me roll my eyes internally, though I had to admit there was something undeniably magnetic about his confidence. Then he turned to Marcus, pushing himself off the tree in one smooth motion.

he said, extending a hand to Marcus in a relaxed greeting. "There you are. Gwen asked me to deliver this." He pulled an envelope from the inside pocket of his coat. It was elegant, sealed with the Kensington crest in red wax. Marcus took it curiously, breaking the seal and unfolding what was clearly a letter. 1/3 +25 Bonus I couldn't resist my curiosity and stepped slightly behind Marcus's shoulder to read along with

the female half of the Asclan continent. For a moment, I considered redirecting him to Nate, but the

then handed the letter to Christian, who started laughing too as soon as he reached the end. "So why didn't you show up earlier if Gwen sent you straight to

to be entertaining "Oh, I did arrive," he replied with that effortless, charming arrogance. "I just made a strategic stop at a cabin where I met a girl from the competition. Interesting situation... rivalry and all that." Christian shook his head with an expression somewhere between amused and exasperated, while Zoey burst out laughing. "Well," Marcus said pragmatically, "with Zoey injured, we might actually need a substitute." "Hey!" Zoey protested

on her shoulder." Better not push it with that foot." Zoey huffed in frustration, then turned her attention to the newcomer. "Where do all these Kensingtons keep coming from that I've never seen before?" she asked, clearly exasperated.