Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 101 The private jet sliced through the sky toward Solara Bay, leaving behind the Highridge Valley and the chaotic weekend we'd just survived. Out the window, the sun was setting, painting the clouds pink and orange. On any other day, it would've been the kind of view that held me captive. But my thoughts were as turbulent as the air that occasionally made the plane shudder. Annabelle sat unusually quiet in the seat across from me, her eyes fixed on her phone screen, though I doubted she was actually reading the messages she kept scrolling through. The silence between us felt strange.

Annie was never this quiet-always ready with a joke or some sarcastic comment. "You okay?" I finally asked, breaking the half-hour silence. She looked up, a forced smile tugging at her lips. "Of course. Just a little tired. It was a... intense weekend." "Annie." My tone made it clear I wasn't buying it. "It's me. You can drop the act." She sighed, locked her phone, and let it fall into her lap. "That obvious, huh?" "To me it is." I leaned forward, resting a hand on her knee.

"Is this about Marcus?" A flicker of vulnerability crossed her face before she covered it with a laugh that almost sounded natural. "I was just starting to like what we had, which is ridiculous, because I always knew it wouldn't last." She shrugged, trying to sound nonchalant. "That was kind of the point, right? No strings, no expectations." "And now he's going to Euradia." "And now he's going to Euradia," she repeated softly. "Life goes on." I watched her for a moment. Annie had always been the carefree one, the sister who treated relationships like short-lived adventures.

Seeing her actually affected by Marcus leaving was new. "You could still make it work, you know." I tried to sound casual. "For the Kensingtons, Euradia's as easy to get to as the Highridge Valley or Solara. One private jet flight, and you're there." Annie laughed, and this time it sounded more genuine. "We weren't at that level, Zoey. It was fun, but it's not like we were..." She waved her hand vaguely. "I don't know, planning a future or something." "Still, you could get there," I said, surprising myself with how much I wanted to see her happy. "He clearly likes you. Like, really likes you.

to look away, suddenly fascinated by the sunset outside. 1/3 "It's... complicated." "Complicated like the original arrangement, or complicated like 'I'm getting real feelings for the guy I'm supposed to be pretending to be

I thought he was. Or maybe he is, just... more." "More?" "Deeper. More complex. More... real." I struggled to find the right words. "When I found out who he really was after

the plane, as if the universe itself was mocking how unstable my life felt at that moment. Annie tightened her seatbelt but kept watching me

doctor said it's just a virus." "Mmm-hmm." She didn't look convinced in the slightest. "You've complained three times today about the flight attendant's 'strong' perfume,

say," Annie countered, slipping into a mock- professional voice, "It's just a little virus.' Translation: 'I have no idea what's wrong, but you'll probably live.'"' I rolled my eyes but couldn't help smiling. "In that case, it's definitely a virus. Trust me." 2/3 Annie