Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 358 Marcus' POV The sound of my phone vibrating pulled me out of a deep, peaceful sleep. For a moment, I was completely disoriented. I couldn't remember where I was or why there was the constant sound of waves outside. Then it all came back. The Maldives. Aphrodite sleeping peacefully beside me. Our first night together in this tropical aradise. The surreal feeling of living someone else's honeymoon. I glanced at the digital clock on the nightstand, glowing softly in the dark. Three in the morning. Who the hell called at that hour?

My first instinct was to ignore it, but when I saw the name on the screen, I knew I couldn't. It was Christian. I grabbed the phone quickly, doing everything I could not to wake Aphrodite. She looked so serene there, brown hair spread across the pillow like a soft frame around her face, her breathing slow and even. The moonlight slipping through the window lightly illuminated her delicate features, and for a moment I felt guilty for bringing the real world into the sanctuary we'd created.

I eased myself out of bed, moving with extreme care, testing every step to make sure the mattress wouldn't shift or creak. I walked quietly out to the bungalow's deck, sliding the glass door shut behind me. The night breeze felt good against my skin, carrying the salty scent of the ocean mixed with the tropical flowers scattered throughout the resort. "Christian?" I answered softly, instinctively glancing back to make sure I hadn't woken anyone. "Marcus, finally! I need to talk to you about the Sherman contracts.

They're being difficult about the exclusivity clauses and-" His voice cut off abruptly when the video call connected and he saw me. Confusion spread across his face through the small screen. "Where the hell are you?" I looked around, as if seeing the scene through his eyes-the private pool glowing like a mirror under the moonlight, the wooden bungalows stretching gracefully over crystal-clear water reflecting the stars, the cleanest, most star-filled sky I'd ever seen. "Maldives," I replied, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

was in his home office, probably working since the crack of dawn. "What the hell are you talking about? You didn't-?" "It's not exactly my honeymoon," I interrupted, unable to stop myself from smiling at the sheer shock on his face. "But I'm playing a very active role in it." "What kind of mess

her name." "How do you meet someone and not know her name?" The disbelief in his voice was almost funny. 1/3 "The same way you met Zoey and she didn't know your name," I shot back, remembering the chaotic early days of their relationship. Christian laughed, shaking his head with an

I met someone, and I'm on what was supposed to be her honeymoon, after she ran away from her wedding." "Marcus..." Christian began, genuine concern in his eyes. "I really hope you're not getting yourself into something dangerous and-" He was interrupted when Zoey popped up excitedly behind him on the screen. Even through the video call, I could see she was glowing, with that special light mothers get when

instantly. Little Matt, the first of the new Kensington generation, the baby who had completely changed our family dynamic, was finally starting to talk. "Seriously?" I couldn't hide my genuine excitement. "Who

laughter. I couldn't stop myself from laughing out loud, the sound echoing over the calm water around the bungalow and bouncing between the neighboring overwater villas. "Well then, Joseph won. That kid is clearly going to carry on the family legacy." We talked for