Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 381 Madeline's POV The moment Marcus left, I stormed into Olivia's office with a fury I didn't even know I still had in me. "You've lost your mind!" I snapped, my voice echoing off the empty room. "How could you involve Marcus in this?" Olivia looked at me with an expression that mixed guilt and determination, but she didn't back down. "Madeline-" "No!" I cut her off, all the adrenaline and terror from the past few minutes turning into pure rage. "You have no idea the danger you put him in!

It's dangerous for him to be here, it's dangerous for you if Dominic finds out you're conspiring against him, and it's dangerous for me!" I started pacing back and forth, my hands shaking. "And on top of that, you invited Vivian to come along!" I went on. "What kind of plan is that supposed to be?" "Calm down," Olivia said, raising her hands in a placating gesture. "I only invited Vivian because I knew she wouldn't come. If she was invited, she wouldn't suspect anything. It was strategic." "Strategic?" I repeated, incredulous. "Olivia, these people don't play games!

They pointed a gun at his head in the Maldives. A real gun, with a real laser sight. If they find out you're involved in this-" "I know the risks," she interrupted. "But I also know you're drowning in this situation. Someone has to help you. 11 "No one needs to help me!" I yelled, even knowing it was a lie as the words left my mouth. "I'm going to get married, I'm going to have my baby, and I'm going to move on with my life. Marcus needs to forget he ever met me!" Olivia studied me for a moment, her expression turning serious. "He can keep coming here, if you want," she said calmly.

"No one would suspect anything if he pretended to be a janitor or something. The studio is always hiring people for maintenance-" "I never want to see him again!" I cut in sharply. "And I want you to stop interfering in my life, Olivia. I didn't ask for your help. I don't want your help. And I don't need your help." I headed straight for the door, desperate to get out of there-to escape the pressure, the possibilities, the impossible choices being shoved in front of me. My hand was already on the doorknob when I heard Olivia's voice behind me.

I'd been trying to suppress ever since I'd confirmed the pregnancy. "It's his," I said, without turning around. 'Are you one hundred percent sure that baby won't be born with a beautiful pair of blue eyes?"

What else was he capable of? But I couldn't go there. I couldn't let my mind follow that dark path. Because if I started considering every horrible possibility, every way this could go wrong,

minimal. A small percentage against a large one. Maybe one percent versus ninety-nine. And I needed to cling to those ninety-nine percent like my life depended on it. Because maybe it really did. "You're speculating about an absurdly small possibility," I said to Olivia, trying to

my mental defenses. "It's my reality now. And I'll make it work." "Even if it means sacrificing your

needed to believe to keep going? 2/3 "I believe that sometimes we don't have a choice," I said finally. "And that it's better to accept reality than fight it and end up hurting everyone in the process." "Including yourself?" cluding myself." Olivia shook her head, clearly frustrated by my stubbornness. "You do have a choice, Madeline. You always have. You're just too afraid to use it." "I'm not afraid," I lied. "I'm responsible. I understand