Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 299 The hot water in Nate's marble bathtub was exactly what I needed after the last few chaotic days. I eased myself into the water, scented with the essential oils he always kept stocked-lavender and eucalyptus, the perfect mix for unwinding. The tub was big enough for two, with hydro-massage jets placed like they'd been designed for sin, and a breathtaking view of the city through the panoramic window. A detail that always made me smile, because it was so obvious he'd invested in comfort... and intimate moments.

I rested my head on the cushioned edge and closed my eyes, finally letting my mind process everything that had happened. Steam curled softly around me, wrapping me in a warm, fragrant haze that seemed to melt away every last bit of tension. Despite Alexandra and every calculated little attempt she'd made to stir trouble, the whole trip had been shockingly perfect. Christmas with the Carter family had been warmer and more welcoming than anything I could've dreamed up.

Elizabeth treated me like a daughter from the moment I stepped through the door, Richard pulled me into his stories and conversations with easy, fatherly charm, and Oliver had me laughing nonstop with that relaxed, genuine personality of his. And even Tori-who at first seemed determined not to like me, with her sharp comments about my background and my "pedigree"-I thought I'd managed to soften her at least a little.

was fragile. And even if I hadn't won her over completely, I had a very specific plan in mind. I reached for my phone on the marble side table, careful not to drip water on the screen, and typed a

her sprawled on the giant sofa in the Kensington mansion, Matt asleep on her lap or Christian working beside her. "What???

still felt surreal when I paused

could to keep the house running and stop everything from collapsing. 1/3 25 Bonus I remembered the

mansion straight out of an architecture magazine, with staff and a garden and a bank account that would never again keep them up at night. My brother working at a multinational in the Imperial City, traveling the world and making more in one month than our entire family used to see in a year. And

an impressive talent for surprising us when we least expected it. I typed again, steering the conversation back