Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 203

I was late on Friday at 8.30 am. Of course I was. On the day of the dinner with the Franconian investors, my alarm decided not to go off. My shower took a century to heat up. And now I was sprinting through Kensington's hallways like my life depended on it.

Balancing my bag, a folder full of Vintara documents, and a giant coffee from the corner shop, I rushed toward the elevators. One of them was already closing.

"Hold it, please!" I shouted, picking up speed.

A hand shot out between the doors, stopping them just in time. I silently thanked whatever good soul had saved me from another five-minute wait.

"Thank you, you're an a—" I started as I stepped inside without looking.

Nathaniel Carter leaned against the back wall. Perfect in a navy suit. Watching me with that smile I was starting to know way too well.

Shit.

"Good morning, Annabelle," he said as he hit the button to close the doors. "Not coming in?"

I froze in the doorway like an idiot, still processing. Backing out now would be obvious. And painfully awkward. I had no choice.

"Right," I muttered, slipping all the way in and standing on the opposite side of the elevator.

The doors shut. We were alone in the small, quiet space. The tension felt almost physical.

"Tenth floor?" he asked, his finger already hovering over the button.

"Yes. Thanks."

The elevator started to rise. I focused on the changing numbers, on anything except the fact that I was trapped in two square meters with the man who had once made me moan in an airplane bathroom.

"Ready for tonight?" Nathaniel asked lightly.

"Yes. I reviewed everything about Vintara. I think I can contribute with…"

Clang!

The elevator lurched hard, throwing me forward. My coffee flew straight into Nathaniel's chest, soaking his white shirt and tie.

"Oh my God!" I yelped. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry!"

"Shit," he hissed, pushing off the wall. "That's hot as hell."

The elevator had stopped completely between floors. The lights flickered once. Then steadied. But we didn't move an inch.

"Nathaniel, I'm so sorry, let me…" I dug frantically through my bag for anything resembling paper.

"No, it's fine, I just need to…" He yanked his tie loose. Then went straight for the buttons of his shirt.

And then he started taking his shirt off.

I should have looked away. I should have focused on the elevator situation, or the documents scattered across the floor, or literally anything else.

I didn't.

Because Nathaniel Carter shirtless was… holy shit.

Defined chest. Perfect lines of muscle running down his stomach. Arms that made it clear why his suits fit the way they did. A small scar near his left shoulder. A faint trail of hair running down from his chest and disappearing beneath his waistband.

"I thought I was going to die…"

"But you didn't."

"We can't…" I began, though even I didn't believe myself.

"Can't what?" he murmured, lifting a hand toward my face.

That was when I noticed the papers scattered across the floor. I needed to gather them. I needed to do… anything other than fall headfirst into the temptation standing in front of me.

I dropped to my knees to pick up the documents, desperate to regain even a shred of control. But the moment I knelt between his legs, the elevator jolted violently again.

I pitched forward, my hands flying to his thighs for balance. My face ended up far too close to a place I absolutely should not have been looking at.

Ding!

The elevator doors slid open right then.

And there I was. Kneeling between Nathaniel Carter's legs. He was shirtless. My hands were on his thighs. My face was level with his waistband.

"Oh my God…" I whispered, frozen solid.

On the other side of the door stood a stunningly beautiful blonde woman staring at us with wide eyes. She was elegant, wearing a dress that probably cost more than my monthly salary.

For a few seconds, no one moved. Time simply stopped.

Then the woman crossed her arms, her voice dripping with disdain, "And who exactly does she think she is?"