Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 355 Marcus' POV Leaning against the glass wall overlooking the runway, I watched the constant flow of people around me. Couples laughing as they scroll through their phones. Entire families loaded down with suitcases and excitement. Executives checking last-minute emails. Solo travelers lost in books or headphones. Everyone med to know exactly where they were-and where they were going. I, on the other hand, was standing here waiting for a woman whose name I didn't know, about to board a honeymoon that wasn't mine, based on a promise made after a night of sex that still felt unreal.

I slipped my hand into the pocket of my jacket and feel the crumpled piece of paper she left had behind in the hotel room. The flight details, gate number, and time were all written in hurried but careful handwriting. "This way we don't have to exchange numbers or accidentally learn each other's names at check-in," she had said, wearing that mysterious smile I couldn't get out of my head. Any rational man would've thrown that paper away. Or better yet, any rational man would never have made it this far.

Who in their right mind would agree to fly to the Maldives with a complete stranger just hours after meeting her, while she was running away from her own wedding? But here I was. And I knew exactly why. I didn't want to let this chance slip away again. I couldn't spend the rest of my life wondering what if. What if this goddess in a wedding dress who appeared in front of me like she fell straight out of the sky was fate giving me one last chance not to repeat my past mistakes? It was not every day a runaway bride crossed your path while you were riding your motorcycle down some random avenue.

more like a neon sign flashing relentlessly in my brain: This is your chance, idiot! Don't waste it! The watch on my wrist told me there were fifteen minutes left until boarding. Around me, passengers began drifting toward the gate, organizing documents, adjusting carry-ons, and forming small clusters of conversation. A family with three

all, who am I to her besides a stranger who showed up at the right moment? Or the

But she still hadn't shown up. Maybe that was for the best. Maybe it was a sign this whole thing was just a temporary lapse in judgment, and now I could go back to my normal, sensible, predictable life. Maybe I should call Christian and tell him I was officially ending my unplanned vacation. He'd have a place for me again. He always would. "Now boarding priority passengers in first class and business class for flight 3847." I glanced down at

class. She really hadn't held back on the honeymoon. Or rather, her ex-fiancé hadn't. I stepped into the priority line, my carry-on heavy on my shoulder. By the time I was almost at the front, close to the agent checking passes, I mentally accepted that I was an idiot to believe this would actually happen. She was not coming. She was probably talking to her family right now, trying to clean up the chaos her canceled wedding must've caused. And I was going to the Maldives alone, on someone else's honeymoon. "Next!" I took my first step toward the airline agent when I

a second. "Apollo!" Her voice cut through the airport noise like a blade. I turned toward the sound; and there she was, running straight toward me, a rolling suitcase rattling behind her, sunglasses hiding half her face, loose hair flying with every step. It was her. She came. The impact of seeing her again hit me like