Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 297 As soon as we pulled away from the Carters' driveway and hit the main road, I couldn't hold it in anymore. The laugh I'd been choking back ever since Nate refused to give Alexandra a ride finally burst out-starting as a snort and building until it turned into a full, genuine laugh. "I can't believe you actually did that," I said between giggles, turning toward him in the driver's seat. "I can't believe it either," Nate admitted, shaking his head with a half-smile that looked as stunned as it did amused. "I mean, she set it up perfectly.

Right in front of my parents to pressure me into agreeing." "But you didn't," I pointed out, still grinning wide. "Nope." He ran a hand through his hair. "I was raised to be polite and gentlemanly, especially with women. My mom would kill me if she knew I refused to give someone in trouble a ride. But Alexandra has been getting under my skin lately." "That wasn't impolite," I said firmly.

"I mean, you've got full permission not to be nice when the person in question is just a low-grade strategist using awkward situations to get what she wants..." Nate laughed, finally looking like he could fully relax. "You're right. And honestly? It felt liberating. I'm tired of pretending I don't see what she's doing." We drove in easy silence for a few miles, watching the English countryside drift by. The biting winter cold gave everything that melancholic December feel-golden fields, bare trees, the whole picture-perfect British scene.

your head, Annie," he said quickly. "That's exactly what she wants.' "That's not it," I replied, shifting in my seat to get comfortable. "But maybe she's right about one thing: maybe we shouldn't go together to the Kensington New Year's party." Nate actually looked hurt. I could see his expression change in the windshield's reflection-a mix

deep sigh. "Yeah," he admitted reluctantly. "Since we're keeping things quiet until you're completely in the clear, it would make sense for us to go separately. Or... I don't know, skip it and do something else." "As COO, you know skipping it would look

and she'll use it against us, so pretending doesn't help. Which is why I don't get why you suddenly don't want to go with me." 1/3 "Because apparently she doesn't want us going together either." "And you want to give her what she wants?" "It's not giving in," I explained carefully. "It's sticking to our original plan to keep things quiet until everything settles down. And honestly, I kind of get why she doesn't want us showing up together." "Why?" "Because she'll probably try to force herself into being your date at the

up with that. We can go separately, but we're not going with anyone. You're not going with her, and I'm not going with anyone else." "Deal," Nate said instantly. "I'd much rather go alone than give her the satisfaction of trying to use me as her plus-one." "Exactly." I smiled,

We drove in silence for a few more minutes, both of us lost in our own thoughts. The road was quiet, and the soft hum of the engine made the whole moment feel almost meditative. "But," Nate said eventually, breaking the silence with a lighter tone, "I'll still figure out a way to kiss you