Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 210 The phone rang at three in the morning on a Friday, ripping me out of a deep sleep. For a few seconds I was completely disoriented, trying to figure out where I was and why my phone was exploding in the middle of a London night. When I finally managed to grab it off the bedside table, I saw "Zoey" flashing on the screen. My heart jumped. Middle-of-the-night calls were never good news. "Zoey?" I answered, my voice still thick with sleep. "Are you okay? Did something happen?" "Hi, Annie!" My sister's voice was way too cheerful for three in the morning.

"How are you?" "Zoey," I said, sitting up and staring at the digital clock, "it's three a.m. here." "It is?" She sounded genuinely shocked. "Damn it, I'll never get these time zones right. Is it morning or afternoon for you?" "Middle of the night! Very middle of the night!" "Oh, sorry!" She laughed, but she didn't sound sorry at all. "I don't even know what day or night is anymore. Do you know how long it's been since I slept properly?" Despite the scare, I couldn't help smiling. "Since when do you have trouble sleeping?" "Since I became a mother. And since my son decided two a.m.

is the perfect time for a private rave." I heard a soft yawn on her end. "I swear I don't know if it's day or night in Verdania anymore. Imagine in London." A wave of longing hit me straight in the chest for my nephew Matt. "How's he doing?" I asked, my voice softening. "I miss him so much." "He's amazin every day." Zoey's tone shifted completely, full of that maternal warmth that Yesterday he stood up by himself for like five seconds. And he's trying to say mama.' Or 'papa.' Or maybe 'dada.' Honestly, who knows." I smiled, imagining my nephew wobbling on tiny legs.

"He's growing way too fast." oo fast." Zoey let out a long sigh. "Christian is in full-panic mode planning every detail of his first thday party." "Already?" I asked, shocked. "Still!" Zoey laughed. "Apparently some moms start planning the first birthday before the baby is even born. So technically I'm late. Or very early for his tenth birthday. I have no idea anymore." I laughed, remembering how easy it was to fall back into our rhythm. Even with an ocean between us, we always found way back to the same silly jokes. gs never change," I said.

a professional photographer for a baby who will probably cry through the entire party." "It's his first kid, Zoey. Let the man be dramatic." "You're right." I heard shuffling-she was probably adjusting

before then, but I'll definitely be there for Matt's birthday." I hesitated, then decided to tell her. "Actually... set aside an extra invitation. For a plus-one." There was silence on the other end. "What do you mean?" Zoey's

but preferably not at three a.m." "But-" "And no, he's not the plus-one. I'm talking about my new boyfriend." Dead silence. For a second, I thought the call had dropped. "Annabelle," Zoey said at last, fully awake now, "what do you mean

you're telling me you don't know who he is?" "That's right," I said, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "But I

had clearly jolted her awake. "It's totally normal. Every single woman uses apps these days." 2/4 Chapter 21 "But

doesn't exist when there's chemistry, Annie. You know that." "It does exist. And it's working very well, thank you." "Mhm." The skepticism in Zoey's voice was loud