Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

Chapter 696

Nick's POV

I drove without rushing. No bravado. No automatic confidence of someone who knows the city with his eyes closed. Because after all these months, I could say I knew Florentia. I knew the streets, the shortcuts, the fastest way around traffic. But that day, I knew something else. Gwen's fear. Fresh out of hiding. Still warm. She sat quietly in the passenger seat, both hands resting in her lap, fingers laced together like holding onto herself was the most discreet way to stay whole. She had cried during the exam. So had I.

The sound of the heartbeat had filled the room, and for a few minutes I'd believed it was enough to silence the past. It wasn't. I could see it in the tension in her jaw.

In the way she stared out the window without actually seeing anything. Part of her was still on that road from years ago, and I wanted to rip that road off the map.

"Nick," she said finally. The way she said my name told me she was about to try to take control of the universe.

"Drop me at Kensington. I have a few urgent things to handle that-"

"No," I cut in, without raising my voice. She turned toward me, surprised. Gwen isn't used to hearing no like that. Direct. Without a paragraph underneath.

"Nick, I-"

"Today is ours," I said, keeping my eyes on the road. If I looked at her, I might soften, and I couldn't afford to soften.

"You've handled enough urgent things in your life. Today you're going to breathe."

"I have a meeting, I have-"

"You have a heart beating that we heard today, and you have me, "I finished.

"Everything else can wait." She opened her mouth to argue. I already knew the argument. Responsibility. Reputation. Deadlines. I knew how she built walls out of schedules. I signaled right.

"Where are you going?" she asked, suspicious.

"Supermarket."

"Nick."

engine,

I asked. She held my gaze for a long second.

"I.. do."

"Then come on."

lead meetings with people who bought and sold companies like they were trading shoes. I'd seen her face reporters, lawyers, hospitals. But in front of a shelf of vegetables,

asked, already

pushed the cart forward.

going to teach you the

"I know the difference."

a bunch of fresh basil

the Pope." She tried not to laugh. Didn't fully succeed. I picked things

fish. Fresh pasta. Real olive oil. Strawberries. Bread, because bread turns a place into a home.

we got home,

to visit a friend. Back tonight. - Martina'

said, gesturing

just us." I carried the bags in and started putting things away. Gwen stood there watching, like she was trying to figure out the rules

you feel something?" I asked. She frowned. "Feel what?"

She exhaled.

it's

mistaken for gas. A humble beginning." She actually laughed. And in that sound,

at the table and gently taking the knife out of her

"I'm making lunch."

I can help."

knife." She crossed her arms.

"I'm not incompetent."

cut an avocado while completely ignoring the pit."