Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 103 The café was packed, the usual late-morning chaos of Enchanted Beach. I chose a table by the window- strategically perfect. Visible enough to project confidence, but private enough for a professional conversation. While I waited, I adjusted the folder with my portfolio, pretending it didn't feel like my entire future was sitting on the table with me. This wasn't a typical interview. Lucy Albright, communications director at Prism PR, had suggested "an informal chat" after seeing my résumé. "Better to get to know each other without the pressure of a desk between us," she'd written.

According to every career blog I'd been devouring lately, that was a good sign. Right on the dot at eleven, a woman in her forties walked in. Her platinum pixie cut and bold red frames matched everything I'd heard about Prism-bold, stylish, a little intimidating in the best way. "Zoey?" she asked, approaching with a warm smile and a firm handshake. "Lucy Albright. So glad to finally meet you." "The pleasure's mine," I said, returning the smile, doing my best to project a confidence I wasn't totally feeling.

Once we ordered-double espresso for her, ginger tea for me, hoping to calm my stubborn stomach-Lucy got straight to the point. "Your résumé is impressive. Solid experience in PR, great references, excellent education." She tilted her head, studying me over her glasses. "And of course, there's the Kensington factor." I felt my smile falter just a little. "I'd rather be evaluated for my qualifications, not my last name." "Admirable," she said, nodding approvingly. "But it would be naive of me to ignore it.

Being a Kensington is both an advantage and an obstacle in your case, you know." "How so?" "On one hand, you have access to circles our other consultants could take years to reach." She took a sip of her coffee. "On the other, people will always wonder-did she land that client because of skill, or because of her connections?" It was the first time anyone had said it out loud. In other interviews, the Kensington name hung in the air like an invisible elephant-noticed, but carefully ignored. "I understand the concern," I said evenly. "But my work has always spoken for itself.

them as tools, not crutches." Lucy smiled, clearly pleased with the answer. "Exactly what I was hoping to hear. At Prism, we value people who recognize their privilege without being defined by it." She opened her tablet, swiping to a presentation. "Let me show you

better look. "That campaign for the food festival? The multisensory approach is exactly the kind of strategy that- "Zoey? Zoey Benne-uh, Kensington?" - 11 The familiar voice froze me mid-sentence. Slowly, I looked up to see Edward, my former boss from Sunvale, standing beside our table with a look of

one quick, assessing glance. "Lucy Albright, Prism PR," she said smoothly. "You know Zoey?" "Know her?" Edward laughed, pulling up a chair without being invited. "She was the best hire Sunvale had in years! Even if it was only for a short time." My stomach twisted-and for once, it had nothing to do with the so-called virus. "Edward, we're in the middle of a meeting-" "I just need a minute." He turned to

brilliant decision. She has an incredible eye for marketing premium wines. Her ideas for our reserve line were revolutionary." I frowned, completely thrown. I'd never worked on the reserve line at Sunvale. My short stint there had been

she left." He winked, like we shared some private joke. An alarm went off in my head. What the hell was he doing? Why imply I'd shared "valuable information" when I'd barely had access to anything confidential while I was there? "It was nice seeing you again, Edward." I forced a polite, firm smile.