Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 119

The intercom buzzed exactly at seven, right on time. Christian was punctual even when it came to casual moments. I pressed the button to let him in, my heart picking up speed as I checked my reflection in the hallway mirror one last time.

I’d spent the whole afternoon preparing dinner, carefully planning every detail. His favorite, the saffron risotto, was perfect, creamy and rich, just the way he liked it. It had taken nearly two hours of constant stirring to reach that point, letting the rice slowly absorb the broth the way my mother had taught me years ago. The table was set with candles-nothing over the top, just romantic enough for the moment I’d been planning all week.

Ever since I’d found out I was pregnant, I’d been rehearsing how I’d tell him. I’d imagined the perfect words, the perfect setting, the joy on his face. But now that the moment was actually here, my stomach was a mess of nerves.

I heard his footsteps in the hall before he even knocked. I opened the door just as he raised his hand toward the bell.

“Hey,” I said softly, though the smile spreading across my face was impossible to hide.

“Hey.” He kissed me before even stepping fully inside, his hands finding my waist in that familiar way that made everything else-my nerves, my fears-fade into the background.

The kiss was deeper than usual, like he was trying to anchor himself in me somehow. When we finally broke apart, I got a better look at him. There was tension in his shoulders, a subtle stiffness in his posture that I recognized right away. Something was wrong.

Christian almost never brought work problems home, but when he did, it was serious. His jaw was tight, and no matter how hard he tried to hide it, I could see the faint lines of strain around his eyes.

“You okay?” I asked, touching his face gently.

“Now I am.” He covered my hand with his, closing his eyes for a moment. “It’s been a rough week, but I want to leave all the work crap behind this weekend. Just you and me.”

I nodded, understanding. Whatever was bothering him, he’d tell me when he was ready. For now, I had my own

revelation to focus on.

“Perfect, because I made something special for you.”

Christian frowned slightly, curiosity flickering in his eyes. Some of the tension in his face began to fade.

“The surprise?”

“Part of it.” I gave him a playful smile, taking his hand and leading him toward the dining room. “The rest comes after dinner.”

“Mysteriously sexy. I like that about you.” He smiled, and his shoulders relaxed a little more.

I watched him unwind, just a bit, the lines around his mouth softening. It amazed me how we could calm each other down without even trying. From the very beginning-even when our relationship was nothing more than a contract-there had always been this quiet sense of peace between us.

“Sit down and relax. I just need to finish up in the kitchen.”

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