Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 217

"I spent the whole morning rehearsing what I was going to say to Nate. In theory, it was simple. Thank him for the gifts, accept the record, then return the necklace.

So why were my hands shaking?

By Thursday morning, the office buzzed with a totally different energy. It wasn't the usual chatter about deadlines. It felt lighter, excited, almost festive. People were huddled around screens, whispering and smiling in that particular way that only happened when something social and fun was in the works.

"What's going on?" I asked Gwen as I reached my desk, noticing even Margaret, Nate's always-serious secretary, chatting enthusiastically with two women from finance.

"You haven't checked your email yet?" Gwen asked without looking away from her screen, though she wore a small, knowing smile.

"Not yet. Why?"

"Big party tomorrow," she said, finally glancing at me. "Alexandra's birthday celebration. Private venue, exclusive club in Mayfair. Everyone's invited."

My stomach twisted. Of course Alexandra would throw an extravagant party. And of course everyone would be buzzing about it.

"Nice," I muttered, powering on my computer without much enthusiasm.

"You don't sound excited," Gwen said, eyeing me. "It's going to be fun. When was the last time you went to a real party in London?"

"Never," I admitted. "But it's fine. I'm not much of a party person anyway."

"What do you mean you're not a party person? Annie, you're twenty-seven, not seventy. And this isn't just any party. It's at Avalynn's."

"Where?"

"Avalynn's," she repeated like I should obviously know. "It's one of the most exclusive clubs in London. There's a months-long waitlist just to get a reservation. Alexandra probably spent a fortune renting the space."

I sighed and opened my email, expecting to see the invitation somewhere. I checked my inbox, my starred messages, even the promotions folder.

Nothing.

"Of course," I murmured, checking again. "I didn't get the invitation."

"What do you mean you didn't?" Gwen frowned. "Everyone in the office got it. Check your spam."

I checked spam, trash, and archived mail. There was absolutely nothing.

"She didn't invite me," I said at last, trying to sound casual, even though a sharp sting spread through my chest.

"What?" Gwen looked genuinely shocked. "That makes no sense. Why would she exclude you?"

"Isn't it obvious?" I shrugged, pretending it didn't bother me. "She doesn't like me. And honestly, I'm not crazy about her either."

"Because you both like the same man," Gwen said, in that tone she used when she was about to drop a pointed remark.

"Absolutely not," I protested immediately. "That's not it. Nate and I are..."

"Friends." Gwen threw her hands up dramatically. "And that's exactly why you're wearing the necklace and never gave it back," she added, nodding toward my chest.

Instinctively, my hand touched the sun pendant I'd put on after the office incident and never removed. I'd told myself I wore it because it was pretty, nothing more. Gwen's knowing smirk told me she wasn't buying that for a second.

"This has nothing to do with..." I started, but the door to our room opened.

Alexandra walked in like she owned the building, dressed in a spotless white blazer over a silk blouse. Her heels clicked sharply on the wooden floor as she strode straight toward me, wearing a polished, too-perfect smile.

"Annabelle," she said brightly, as if we were dear friends. "So good to find you."

"Isn't it?" Alexandra smiled, victorious. "Well, I have to go. So many last-minute details to handle. See you tomorrow. And you too, cousin," she added to Gwen.

She turned and left the room with the same calculated elegance she'd entered with, leaving behind expensive perfume and a thick layer of tension.

Gwen and I stayed silent for a few seconds after the door closed.

"What a snake," Gwen muttered at last.

"Yeah," I said, pretending I didn't care, even though my mind was spinning.

Alexandra had done exactly what she meant to do. She'd invited me in a way that sounded friendly on the surface but was nothing more than a power play. She showed me she had Nate. She showed me they had plans. She showed me I was nothing more than an outsider tolerated in her world.

And the worst part was that it worked. I felt exactly how she wanted me to feel. Small. Out of place. Not enough.

"So," Gwen said carefully, "you're really going to the party?"

"I am," I answered with more determination than I felt. "And I'm going to look incredible."

"Good," Gwen said with an approving grin. "And your plus one?"

I glanced at my phone, thinking about the dating app. Maybe it was time to finally schedule that date I'd been avoiding.

"Leave it to me," I said. "I have a few options."

Even if I didn't. Even if the thought of seeing Nate with Alexandra made my stomach twist. Even if I had no idea how I was supposed to get through an entire night watching them together.

But I was going to that party. And I was going to show Alexandra Kensington that I wasn't nearly as easy to intimidate as she thought.