Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 236 Nathaniel's POV Wednesday morning found me in my office, staring at quarterly reports while my mind wandered far from the numbers on the screen. Ever since yesterday, Alexandra's comment about how we would "steal all the attention at the Kensington party kept echoing in my head. The way she said it was so effortless, as if we were automatically a pair. 11 As COO, people expected me to show up to events like that with someone on my arm. Normally it didn't bother me. I'd bring someone I was seeing casually. Sometimes Alexandra herself. It was corporate theater. Nothing more.

But this time the idea gnawed at me. I didn't want to spend another night pretending to enjoy empty small talk or playing a part that meant nothing. Maybe it was the conversation with Marcus. Or Christian's suspicious looks lately. But the thought of performing again already exhausted me. Around noon, I decided to get some air and clear my head with a coffee. The café next door was half full, buzzing with the usual lunch-hour hum. And that's when I saw Annie, sitting alone at a corner table by the window, flipping through some papers while drinking what looked like a cappuccino.

There was something peaceful about her. Focused. Unbothered by the noise around her. I hesitated. Normally, I'd grab my coffee and head back upstairs. Keep the professional line intact. But something about seeing her like that. Unarmored, outside the office, made me want to try something different. "Mind if I sit?" I asked as I reached her table. She looked up, clearly surprised. "Sure," she said, gathering her papers to make space. "Just going over some projections for the Franconian team." "Working through lunch?" I said as I sat across from her.

Weather. How Westcliff had suddenly decided to be pleasant the moment no one expected it. The upcoming meeting with the Eisenwald

Friday." "It's supposed to be a big event, from what Gwen said," Annie replied, stirring her cappuccino. "It always is." I paused, choosing my words. "I was thinking that... well, they always expect me to bring someone to events like that. It's part of

added quickly. "As friends, of course. Just to make the social part easier. For both of us. Since we're... friends." She gave a small smile, then shook her head. "Interesting idea, but Gwen already arranged someone to go with me. Something about 'the perfect match."" She made air quotes. "She's very excited, though I have no idea who the guy is." Something unpleasant twisted low in my stomach. A mystery date picked by Gwen. I tried to stay casual. "You don't know who he is? No

to interfere. I'll figure something out." "And you?" she asked, her tone curious. "You're not going with Alexandra? I thought you two always showed up together at these

her cup a little. But I knew she understood what I meant. We talked about lighter things after that. Work. Projects. The party. And while she spoke, I found myself watching her in quiet pieces. The way she moved her hands when she explained something. The bright spark in her eyes when she talked about a project she loved. The sharp comments she made without