Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 306 The magical moment of locking eyes with Nate was cut short before I could fully process what I'd felt. I had barely taken two steps toward the terrace when a man approached me with a confident, charming smile, subtly blocking my path. "Impressive how unpredictable English weather can be-even indoors," he said in a refined Eisenwald accent, gesturing toward the windows where rain had just begun to tap softly against the glass. "Outside it's pouring, yet in here you've managed to create a perpetual summer." I couldn't help a genuine laugh.

"That's true," I replied with an easy smile. "I think the English have perfected the art of completely ignoring their own weather. If we depended on it to celebrate, London would be a much quieter city." "Exactly!" he laughed, clearly pleased that he'd made me smile. "Klaus Reinhardt, by the way." The last name made me pause instantly. Reinhardt. As in Reinhardt Industries, the largest buyer of Kensington's organic line in Euradia, responsible for a significant share of our profits in that segment. I'd studied the reports on that account extensively.

They didn't just buy in large volumes; they influenced other distributors across the region, acting as a gateway to the entire Eisenwald market. "Annabelle Bennett," I replied, shaking his hand while my mind rapidly processed the importance of this encounter. "It's great to finally put a face to the name. I see you mentioned in emails and contracts all the time." "Oh, so you work for Kensington?" he asked, suddenly more interested. "Yes.

The organic line is part of my portfolio," I said, then added with a conspiratorial smile, "And don't tell anyone, but it's my favorite one to work with." Klaus smiled broadly. "Then we already have something in common," he said, his eyes lighting up. "Which makes me wonder... what else we might discover we have in common tonight." The tone shifted subtly, and I was just about to steer the conversation back into professional territory when a server passed nearby carrying a tray with the last two glasses of a wine I recognized immediately.

I accepted it, using the moment to bring things back to work. "Perfect," I said,

his glass, "is finding someone so passionate about their work. And who, coincidentally, looks absolutely stunning while talking about organic winemaking." There it was

a sip of wine to buy myself a moment to think. "That dress looks incredible on you," he continued, abandoning any pretense that this was still a business conversation. "White suits your skin tone perfectly." "Thank you," I repeated, a flicker of discomfort settling in as I tried to keep my tone light. "You must be used to events like this in London,"

were no longer even pretending to be professional. I could feel other guests' eyes occasionally drifting toward us,

you," I said carefully, searching for a polite way to decline without creating any friction that could spill over into business. "But I already have other commitments tonight." "What a shame," he replied, though his smile didn't fade. "Perhaps another time. I'll be in London for a few more days." That was when I noticed Tori near the buffet, chatting animatedly with a group of guests. The perfect excuse. "Excuse me," I said, subtly gesturing in her