Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 212 Nathaniel's POV By Tuesday morning, I couldn't pretend I wasn't curious anymore. I'd spent half the night replaying yesterday's scene in my head: the way Annie flipped her phone face-down with all the subtlety of a brick, the guilty expression like a kid caught stealing dessert, and especially that desperate, pathetic "strategies of strategy" line Gwen had thrown out like a human shield. I tried focusing on the financial reports spread across my desk, but every five minutes my eyes drifted toward the hallway, searching for her.

At nine fifteen, she walked past my door with a coffee in hand, smiling at something on her phone. Something tightened in my chest. Not that it was any of my business. We were friends now. Friends respected each other's privacy and didn't snoop around like insecure teenagers. But I still couldn't shake it. By ten, I gave up pretending to be productive. I stepped out of my office under the guise of getting coffee. Pure coincidence, of course, that Gwen happened to be alone in the break room, stirring sugar into her tea like she was contemplating the mysteries of the universe.

"Gwen," I began, aiming for casual as I grabbed a clean mug. "Can I talk to you for a minute?" She looked up from her cup, curious but wary. "Of course, Nate." She leaned against the counter. "What's up? Is it about the Franconian team? Because-" "It's about Annie," I admitted, no point trying to dance around it. "Oh." Gwen raised an eyebrow, now more interested than annoyed. "Okay... what do you want to know?" "It's just that I briefly saw her phone yesterday, while you two were trying very hard to pretend you weren't hiding climbed higher. She wasn't going to help me even a little.

if she's using dating apps..." I let the sentence hang, hoping she'd fill in the blanks. "And who said she's using dating apps?" Gwen asked, but the tiny smirk at the corner of her mouth betrayed her instantly. Ah. So I'd been right. 't born

problem exactly?" "There is no problem," I lied, feeling my jaw tighten. "It's just that... as COO of this company, I have a responsibility to look after the well-being of all employees. And if Annie is putting herself at risk meeting strangers from the internet-" Gwen

to look mortified. "This is a legitimate safety concern. London can be dangerous for women alone." "Oh, relax, Nate." Gwen rolled her eyes so dramatically she probably saw the inside of her skull. "She has a date on Thursday, but it's in a public place. Very

eyebrow and gave me a look like I'd just suggested London was crawling with man-eating dragons. "London isn't safe?" Gwen repeated. "Of course not." I grabbed my phone and