Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 217 "I spent the whole morning rehearsing what I was going to say to Nate. In theory, it was simple. Thank him for the gifts, accept the record, then return the necklace. So why were my hands shaking? By Thursday morning, the office buzzed with a totally different energy. It wasn't the usual chatter about deadlines. It felt lighter, excited, almost festive. People were huddled around screens, whispering and smiling in that particular way that only happened when something social and fun was in the works.

"What's going on?" I asked Gwen as I reached my desk, noticing even Margaret, Nate's always-serious secretary, chatting enthusiastically with two women from finance. "You haven't checked your email yet?" Gwen asked without looking away from her screen, though she wore a small, knowing smile. "Not yet. Why?" "Big party tomorrow," she said, finally glancing at me. "Alexandra's birthday celebration. Private venue, exclusive club in Mayfair. Everyone's invited." 1 twisted. Of course Alexandra would throw an extravagant party. And of course everyone would be but it.

I muttered, powering on my computer without much enthusiasm. "You don't sound excited," Gwen said, eyeing me. "It's going to be fun. When was the last time you went to a real party in London?" "Never," I admitted. "But it's fine. I'm not much of a party person anyway." "What do you mean you're not a party person? Annie, you're twenty-seven, not seventy. And this isn't just any party. It's at Avalynn's." "Where?" "Avalynn's," she re a months dobviously know. "It's one of the most exclusive clubs in London. There's ervation.

Alexandra probably spent a fortune renting the space." pecting to see the invitation somewhere. I checked my inbox, my starred ons folder. rse," I murmured, checking again. "I didn't get the invitation." "What do you mean you didn't?" Gwen frowned. "Everyone in the office got it. Check your spam." I checked spam, trash, and archived mail. There was absolutely nothing. "She didn't invite me," I said at last, trying to sound casual, even though a sharp sting spread through my chest. "What?" Gwen looked genuinely shocked. "That makes no sense.

Why would she exclude you?" 1/3 Chapter 217 "Isn't it obvious?" I shrugged, pretending it didn't bother me. "She doesn't like me. And honestly, I'm not crazy about her either." "Because you both like the same man," Gwen said, in that tone she used when she was about to drop a pointed remark. "Absolutely not," I protested immediately. "That's not it. Nate and I are..." "Friends." Gwen threw her hands up dramatically. "And that's exactly why you're wearing the necklace and never gave it back," she added, nodding toward my chest.

wore it because it was pretty, nothing more. Gwen's knowing smirk told me she wasn't buying that for a second. "This has nothing to do with..." I started, but the door to our

get the email with everyone else." In reality, I knew exactly why I hadn't received it. But I wasn't about to give her the satisfaction of admitting it. "Ah" was all I managed to say.

word friends with a tone that made it painfully clear she didn't believe a single bit of our so called friendship, "maybe we could be friends too. Her words were as fake as her smile. And probably as fake as her platinum blond hair, I thought bitterly. "That's very kind of you." I said, keeping my face as neutral as I could. in a asked, tilting her head slightly. "It'll be at Avalynn's, eight o'clock. Dress ad every right to come up with an

the way she looked at me, like she expected me to decline, like she was certain I wasn't sticated or brave enough to show up in her perfect little world, made me react. "Thank you," I said, forcing a smile. "I'll be there." "Wonderful." Alexandra clapped her hands once, pretending to be thrilled. "Oh, and the invitation includes a plus one, of course. I wouldn't want anyone feeling lonely or out of place at the party." She paused, her smile sharpening.

Of course they had plans. That must have been what they were talking about, that reservation, their Friday night. "Good for you two," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "Isn't it?" Alexandra smiled, victorious. "Well, I have to go. So many last-minute details to handle. See you tomorrow. And you too, cousin," she added

muttered at last. "Yeah," I said, pretending I didn't care, even

nothing more than an outsider tolerated in her world. And the worst part was that it worked. I felt exactly how she wanted me to feel. Small. Out of place. Not enough. "So," Gwen said carefully, "you're really going to the party?" "I am," I answered with more determination than I felt. "And I'm going to look incredible." "Good," Gwen said with an approving grin. "And your plus one?" hone, thinking about the dating app. Maybe it was time to finally schedule that date I'd been Isaid. "I have a few options." ven if

stomach twist. Even if I had no idea how I was supposed to get through an entire night watching them together. But I was going to that party. And I was going to show Alexandra Kensington that I wasn't nearly as easy to intimidate as she thought. BIG SALE: 3500 bonus free fou you P Comments U Support Share get it 3/3 attractive?" -, ouլ, a is the size of a toddler. Why do men think fishing

rolled my eyes and swiped again. "Oh, this one looks normal... wait. 'Looking for a woman who can cook, clean, keep the house tidy, and isn't too feminist.' Dear God, are we in 2025 or 1925?" It was three in the afternoon on