Hired a Gigolo, Got a Billionaire

I leaned back in the chair and watched the scene with a calm that wasn’t calm.

The office was my office.

Same desk, same view, the same corner where I kept a mug I never actually used.

Except now, I was sitting on the opposite side of the desk.

It felt wrong.

Not because of pride.

Because of instinct.

My body knew exactly where I sat when I was the one in charge.

And on the other side was Matthew.

At least it was him.

At least when I looked at that occupied chair, I saw someone I trusted enough not to feel like they were stealing my skin.

Mia was still standing, leaning against the bookshelf, with that posture of someone ready to laugh and ready to bite in the same sentence.

Dante was sprawled in the armchair like this was a social call and not a conversation that could change a child’s life.

Matthew, on the other hand, had the serious look of someone who understood exactly what it meant to be here.

“Why are you asking me to do this, Gwen?” he asked, more controlled now.

“You have a private investigator.You have Child Protective Services.You have Cross.Why do you want to do this?” I didn’t dodge.

“You know why,” I replied.

“I have trouble trusting people.” Matthew raised an eyebrow like I had just stated the most obvious thing in the world and it was still somehow annoying.

move me with honesty.” He pointed his chin

not going to work.” I held

let

“Oh, no.

leaned back in the chair and crossed his

one of you Kensington situations, I spent fifteen days straight with my eyes burning from

Mia laughed out

thing.” I looked at

“‘You Kensingtons’ is not accurate,”

association too.” Matthew pointed at himself like I had just committed

a Bennett.”

about it, the whole pepper spray situation came from a request by another Bennett,”

sister Zoey.” Matthew rolled his eyes like he was replaying the entire scene, and that almost gave

Dante clapped slowly.

to be entertaining, at the very least,” he

in Longmin.I know how that country can be when it comes to… women.”

He

A Valentian woman will do him good.” Mia made a

have to actually sleep with her!” Dante’s smile

if he wants to.He’ll be paying.” Matthew looked at the three of us like he had just walked

“I’m not paying,”

gestured at the desk, the chair, the office, everything

not

took a deep

slightly and

“You have any idea what it means for me to be sitting

Mia stopped laughing.

stopped pretending this was all just

Matthew went on.

believe me, Gwen, I’m hoping you come back soon.But this shows Christian trusts me