Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 221 Nathaniel's POV Turns out leaving wasn't exactly optional. The second I hit Charles, Annabel's security showed up, and they didn't care about explanations, harassment, or self-defense. "House policy," they said. "Any physical violence means immediate removal." So there we were, sitting on the curb outside one of the most exclusive clubs in London. I was still in my suit and Annie was in her elegant dress. Each of us were holding a drink we had managed to sneak out in the chaos.

"Well," I said, taking a sip of my whisky, "this definitely wasn't on my agenda tonight." Annie laughed, a real laugh that cut through the tension. "I bet it wasn't. Sorry I ruined your night." "You didn't ruin anything," I said right away. "That idiot did." "Still... you didn't have to do that. Now we got thrown out because of me." I looked at her, sitting beside me on the curb, still trembling a little, and felt a fresh surge of anger toward Charles. How could anyone treat a woman like that? Annie was smart and funny. She had this sharp way of seeing the world.

And that moron reduced her to some object he thought he deserved just because he'd "put up" with normal conversation. The arrogance. The way he talked about "collaborating with the fantasy." It made me want to hunt him down and hit him again. No woman deserved that, but especially not Annie, who had been nothing but polite to him all night, even while he embarrassed her with his ridiculous lies. "Annie, are you okay?" I asked, softer this time. "I'm fine," she sighed. "Just feeling like a complete idiot." "You're not an idiot." "I am.

I brought a total fraud to a fancy party, he embarrassed me in front of my coworkers, and then he tried to grope me on the dance floor. If that's not being an idiot, I don't know what is." "Believe me, I've seen worse," I said, trying to ease the weight off her shoulders. "I once went out with a woman who spent the entire night talking about her ex. Two hours of 'My ex said this' and 'My ex would never do that.' By the end, she'd drunk so much she threw up on my suit. An Armani, by the way." Annie laughed again, and something in me warmed at the sound.

she admitted. "But still, nothing tops a fake intellectual who invents archaeological discoveries and then tries to grab me." My smile faded. I couldn't joke about that. "Annie, I don't want to overstep, but I think you need a little advice... from a friend." That was when I noticed a familiar figure approaching. It was Gwen.

her throat like she was going to gag, and shook her head dramatically. Then she casually walked away in the opposite direction. I ignored Gwen's theatrical exit and kept going. "What I mean is... apps can be dangerous, Annie. You never really know who's on the other side." "I know

"It's not about that," I said quickly. "I'm not doubting your ability to take care of yourself. I'm saying... maybe it's better to get to know people a little more before going out with them. It might save you some heartbreak." "You learned that from the puking girl?" she asked, raising a brow. "Oh no," I laughed. "I learned that from dates way worse than that." "Worse than puke on an

a misunderstanding about the situation. You can return now, if you'd like." Alexandra had fixed it. Of course she had. She had that elegant, effortless way of smoothing over social disasters, something that came from a lifetime of moving through

to your date." The word date bothered me more than it should have. "It wasn't a date," I said quickly. "I only accepted the invitation the way anyone would. It's impossible to say no to Alexandra Kensington when she invites you