Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 211 "First photo: too serious. You look like you're interviewing for a bank director position," Gwen said, analyzing my phone like it was an important case study. "Second photo: way too casual. You look like you just woke up. Third photo..." "What about the third photo?" I asked, suddenly anxious. "In this one you're pretty, but you look like you're constipated." "Gwen!" It was Monday afternoon, and we were at the café near the office for what was technically a "work meeting" but was, in reality, a full dating-app-profile-building session.

Gwen insisted she couldn't let me do this alone because I had "zero instinct for personal branding." "Calm down," she laughed, scrolling through more of my pictures. "We'll find something good. Oh. This one. You're smiling naturally, your hair looks great, and it shows you have personality." "That's from Margaret's birthday party," I said. "I was laughing because James dropped cake on his tie." "Perfect. Men love women who know how to laugh." Gwen saved the photo.

"Now we need a full-body picture that isn't too obvious." "Obvious how?" "Like you in a bikini on the beach screaming 'look at my body' at random strangers online." "I would never do that!" "I know. That's why you need help." She kept scrolling. "This one. You in front of the London ferris wheel, blue dress, smiling. It shows you actually leave the house and have a social life." "A questionable social life, considering I took that picture alone with the timer." "No one needs to know that," Gwen said matter-of-factly.

"Personal branding is about highlighting the good parts." After forty-five minutes debating photos, we moved on to the profile text. That part was even worse. "'Verdanian in London looking for..." Gwen stopped typing and looked at me. "Looking for what?" "I don't know. That's why I'm using the app. If I knew what I was looking for, I would've found it already." "Annabelle, you need at least a vague idea. Adventure? Serious relationship? Someone to split a streaming bill with?" "Serious relationship," I said immediately. "Definitely serious relationship.

date." "Okay. 'Verdanian in London looking for a serious relationship with someone who appreciates wine, smart conversation, and..."" She paused, waiting. "And who doesn't lie about their height on the profile?" I suggested. 1/4 "Too specific. What about 'sense of humor'?" "Everyone puts sense of humor. It's cliché." "Because everyone wants someone funny, Annie. It's

love exploring London, and believe the best conversations happen over long dinners. Looking for someone genuine to discover the city together.] "Is the wine emoji too much?" I asked. "The wine emoji is perfect. Shows personality without being childish." After reviewing everything three times, I finally published the profile. Gwen insisted we hurry back to the office

three messages. "See?" Gwen said proudly. "I told you you'd be a success." "Calm down. It's too early to celebrate," I said. But secretly, I was thrilled. The first message was from David, 29, an attorney. [Hi Annabelle! Loved your profile. I'm a wine lover too. How about we explore London's best wine bars together?] "Look!" I showed Gwen. "Lawyer, polite,

[Verdanian in London? You must have interesting stories. I love meeting people from different cultures.] "This one seems nice too," I said. "Hmm." Gwen frowned. "I love meeting people from different cultures' gives me exotic-tourist vibes. Like you're an anthropological experience." "You think so?" "I do. But reply anyway. It might just be a terrible first line." The third message made both of us burst into laughter. [Hey

Gwen snorted. I 2/4 Chapter 211 I spent the next hour chatting with David, with Thomas, and with two other matches that popped up. David was polite and intelligent, asking about my work and how I was adjusting to London. Thomas was more direct, but not in a bad way. "I think I'm going to say yes to David,"

distributors?" Nate asked, walking toward our table. On instinct, I flipped my phone face-down and

hidden, then back to our guilty faces. "And these strategies involve hiding phones?" "I have no idea what you're talking about," I lied, painfully unconvincing. miled the kind of smile that told me he knew exactly what was going on but wouldn't push. It was ing I'd come to appreciate about him as he always respected the boundaries I set. "Of course." He placed a folder on my desk. "These are the reports from the Franconian team you requested. And Annie?" "Yes?" "Good