Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 249 Nate's office was quiet except for the soft tapping of keys and the distant hum of activity outside. We'd been working for almost two hours, reviewing a crucial project for next week's investor meeting. The focus it required should've kept everything clean and professional. It should have. But the air between us carried a tension neither of us acknowledged. It felt like the Kensington party had sparked an invisible current, turning every accidental glance, every time our hands almost brushed while passing documents, into something heavy with meaning. The glass walls didn't help.

I could see people walking through the hallway, some sneaking curious looks our way as if trying to figure out what was happening in here. Ever since the party, it felt like the whole office had gone back to watching me with thinly veiled interest. Like I was some exhibit at a zoo. "The third-quarter numbers need adjusting here," I murmured, pointing at a section of the spreadsheet and trying to keep my voice calm and professional. "Right," Nate said. He made the correction, but I could tell his attention wasn't fully on the work. Then he stopped typing.

The silence stretched for a few seconds before he spoke again. "I wanted to apologize. For what Alexandra did at the party. I kept my eyes on the laptop screen, pretending to analyze the charts even as my stomach tightened at the memory. "You don't have to apologize for her," I said quietly. "You're not the one who attacks people just to feel important." "Even so." Nate turned his chair slightly toward me. "She caused a hell of a mess." I sighed and finally looked up, meeting his eyes. What I saw there wasn't just professional concern. It was real. "Yeah," I admitted.

worked for these past months vanished because of one toxic comment from her." And as if on cue, Margaret walked down the hallway, sending an obviously curious glance through the glass as

smile. A half-smile that was part apology, part amusement. "Maybe," he said softly, his voice slipping into a tone that made my heart kick up. "Maybe I'm out of my mind for you." 11 1/3 I went completely speechless. I opened my mouth. Closed it. Opened it again.

didn't you go to the garden that night?" The question caught me completely off guard. I'd been avoiding that moment ever since the party. Avoiding the memory

and..." "And we lost the moment," Nate finished. "We lost the moment," I echoed. He looked at me for a second that felt much longer than it actually was. "And what would've happened if you had gone?" he asked. His voice was low. It sent a cold ripple down my spine. I hesitated, feeling like I was standing on the edge of a cliff. I held his gaze, realizing this wasn't a casual question. "Probably..." I started slowly, choosing each word. "Something a lot more inappropriate than your

regret it," Nate said immediately, with a conviction that startled me. "Nate..." I began. But my voice came out weaker than I meant. "I wouldn't regret it," he repeated. His eyes never left mine.. My heart kicked hard. Panic mixed with something I refused to name. This was going too far. Too fast. In the completely wrong place. I took a steady breath and forced my voice to sound firm. "We need to finish this project." I turned back to the computer on purpose. For a few seconds, Nate didn't move. Then he slowly returned