Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 341 The reflection in the mirror showed a woman who looked ready for one of the most important social events of the year. However, inside, my stomach was twisted into knots. The emerald-green dress I'd chosen fit me perfectly, Valentian silk hugging every curve with effortless elegance, yet I kept smoothing imaginary wrinkles and adjusting the fabric with nervous hands.

It was the night of Kensington's major charity gala, hosted in partnership with a prestigious environmental The irony wasn't lost on me as we were celebrating sustainability and environmental responsibility while Alexandra was trying to destroy us with false accusations about pesticide contamination. Hundreds of influential guests would be there: powerful shareholders, international press, local authorities, even a few high- ranking politicians. The pressure was enormous.

I touched the diamond earrings Nate had given me, forcing myself to take a deep breath, trying to calm the nerves doing somersaults in my chest. Zoey, as head of PR, was running the entire event, and I knew she'd planned every detail meticulously. Still, it did nothing to ease my anxiety. "You look absolutely stunning," Nate's familiar voice said from behind me. I turned to find him standing in the doorway, flawless in a black tuxedo that looked like it had been tailored specifically for him. He was adjusting his tie, his movements precise and confident.

There was a glint in his green eyes, a mix of genuine admiration and barely contained amusement. "Thank you," I murmured, trying to smile despite the tightness in my throat. "But my stomach is a mess. This event is huge, Nate. What if something goes wrong in front of all these important people?" He crossed the room with those steady steps that always made me feel like everything would be okay. His hands framed my face, pulling me gently closer before he kissed me. It was a slow, soft, kiss filled with reassurance and promise.

has been carefully orchestrated." "Are you sure everything is going exactly as planned?" I pressed, my voice more vulnerable than I meant it to be. Nate nodded, guiding me toward the armchair by the window as he finished adjusting his cufflinks. "Alexandra sold

claimed he was going to do the same, but of course, he didn't." My stomach dropped. "And that's illegal... because?" Nate sat on the edge of the bed, looking at me with that patient expression he used when he was about to explain something complicated in simple terms. "Insider trading and market manipulation," he said calmly. "She's using non-public information to gain an advantage over other investors. And

softly. "Because we're

"she won't need money." The implication hit me like lightning, and I couldn't stop the smile that spread across my face. For the first time all evening, the tension finally began to lift from my shoulders. "And she won't have to worry about daily outfit choices for the next five years

know that? I wasn't very confident when you told Christian not to remove her from the board, but..." "But the corporate world is a chess match," he finished calmly. "Sometimes you have to sacrifice a few moves before delivering checkmate." He took my hand and gently pulled me up. There was something almost predatory in the confidence

now she's exactly where we wanted her," he said, checking his watch. "Right place. Right time. All the evidence she