Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 204

The silence stretched for a few brutal seconds. I was still kneeling on the elevator floor, my hands on Nathaniel's thighs, completely frozen. He stood shirtless above me, breathing unevenly. And the blonde woman stared at us with a mix of shock and anger.

"I… I can explain," I blurted, trying to get up fast, but my legs had apparently forgotten how to work.

Nathaniel offered his hand and helped me up. He slipped back into his soaked shirt with crisp, efficient movements.

"There's nothing to explain," he said. His voice was steady again. Controlled. But there was a tightness in his shoulders that hadn't been there a minute ago.

The blonde stepped inside, a slow amused smile curving her red lips.

"Well, well," she said, looking from me to Nathaniel. "Looks like you found yourself a new little toy, Nate."

The word toy hit like a slap.

"Alexandra," Nathaniel said. His tone carried a quiet warning. "This is Annabelle Bennett, our new market development specialist. Annie, this is Alexandra Kensington, international relations consultant."

"Kensington?" I repeated. My voice came out higher than I intended.

Alexandra laughed. A melodic sound with a sharp edge.

"The name tends to come with expectations," she said. Like she was explaining something obvious to a child.

I straightened fully and found my voice again.

"Actually, my sister is married to Christian Kensington."

Alexandra's smile faltered. Her eyes narrowed as she looked me over with new interest.

"I'm sorry?" she said, clearly not expecting that.

"Zoey Bennett Kensington," I explained. I kept my voice steady. "Christian is my brother-in-law."

For a moment, Alexandra looked genuinely surprised. She glanced at Nathaniel, then back at me, as if trying to fit that piece into a puzzle.

"Interesting," she murmured. "Not that I keep up with my cousin's life. I heard about the marriage, but… Anthony never mentioned Christian had married… someone from Verdania."

The way she said "someone from Verdania" wasn't remotely flattering.

"People fall in love in the most unexpected ways," I replied. My voice felt stronger than I expected.

The elevator arrived at the tenth floor with a soft ding. The doors slid open to the familiar hallway.

"Well," Nathaniel said as he adjusted his tie. "I think we all have work to do."

I stepped out first, my legs still shaky. Nathaniel followed. Alexandra's heels clicked behind us with a confidence I wished I had.

"Annabelle," Nathaniel called when I started heading for my desk. "Don't forget to review the documents for tonight. Margaret has the final details."

"Of course," I said, keeping my gaze anywhere but on him. "I'll be ready."

Alexandra lifted a perfectly sculpted brow.

"Tonight?" she asked. Her tone was far too casual to be real.

"Business dinner," Nathaniel said. "With the Franconian investors."

"Relax, sweetheart," she cut in with a laugh. "I'm not judging. Nate has that effect on women. Always has."

The way she said "always has" punched something tight inside my chest.

"Look," Alexandra went on, her voice turning warm in a way that felt anything but friendly, "I know you probably feel special. He's charming, powerful, ridiculously attractive. But let me give you a little advice, woman to woman. Lightning doesn't strike twice when it comes to girls like you landing guys like Nate. Your sister probably just got… lucky."

Girls like me. The phrase echoed through my head, dripping with all the things she didn't bother saying out loud.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I managed, though my voice didn't sound nearly as strong as I wanted.

"Of course you do." Alexandra smiled and touched my arm in a gesture that pretended to be gentle. "And there's nothing wrong with that. Just… keep your expectations realistic, okay?"

With that, she walked off, leaving me standing in the middle of the hallway feeling like I'd just been hit by a very well-dressed train.

I made my way to my desk in a daze. I dropped into my chair and tried to process what had just happened.

Gwen wasn't there. Good. I had a few minutes to get myself together before facing her inevitable interrogation.

Girls like me. Landing guys like Nate.

Alexandra's words echoed through my head, tangled with the memory of everything that had happened in the elevator. Nathaniel admitting he'd been teasing me, the heat in his eyes, the way my body had answered instantly.

And now? Now I also had to deal with Alexandra Kensington stalking around the office.

This day was going to be very, very long.