Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 221

Chapter 221

Nathaniel’s POV

Turns out leaving wasn’t exactly optional. The second I hit Charles, Annabel’s security showed up, and they didn’t care about explanations, harassment, or self-defense. “House policy,” they said. “Any physical violence means immediate removal.”

So there we were, sitting on the curb outside one of the most exclusive clubs in London. I was still in my suit and Annie was in her elegant dress. Each of us were holding a drink we had managed to sneak out in the chaos.

“Well,” I said, taking a sip of my whisky, “this definitely wasn’t on my agenda tonight.”

Annie laughed, a real laugh that cut through the tension.

“I bet it wasn’t. Sorry I ruined your night.”

“You didn’t ruin anything,” I said right away. “That idiot did.”

“Still… you didn’t have to do that. Now we got thrown out because of me.”

I looked at her, sitting beside me on the curb, still trembling a little, and felt a fresh surge of anger toward Charles. How could anyone treat a woman like that? Annie was smart and funny. She had this sharp way of seeing the world. And that moron reduced her to some object he thought he deserved just because he’d “put up” with normal conversation. The arrogance. The way he talked about “collaborating with the fantasy.” It made me want to hunt him down and hit him again. No woman deserved that, but especially not Annie, who had been nothing but polite to him all night, even while he embarrassed her with his ridiculous lies.

“Annie, are you okay?” I asked, softer this time.

“I’m fine,” she sighed. “Just feeling like a complete idiot.”

“You’re not an idiot.”

“I am. I brought a total fraud to a fancy party, he embarrassed me in front of my coworkers, and then he tried to grope me on the dance floor. If that’s not being an idiot, I don’t know what is.”

“Believe me, I’ve seen worse,” I said, trying to ease the weight off her shoulders. “I once went out with a woman who spent the entire night talking about her ex. Two hours of ‘My ex said this’ and ‘My ex would never do that.’ By the end, she’d drunk so much she threw up on my suit. An Armani, by the way.”

Annie laughed again, and something in me warmed at the sound. I liked being able to make her smile after the hell she’d just been through.

“Okay, that’s pretty embarrassing,” she admitted. “But still, nothing tops a fake intellectual who invents archaeological discoveries and then tries to grab me.”

My smile faded. I couldn’t joke about that.

“Annie, I don’t want to overstep, but I think you need a little advice… from a friend.”

That was when I noticed a familiar figure approaching. It was Gwen. She was clearly looking for Annie, probably worried after we disappeared. But when she spotted us sitting together on the curb, she slowed down.

The moment she heard the word “friend,” she stopped completely, pointed a finger down her throat like she was going to gag, and shook her head dramatically. Then she casually walked away in the opposite direction.

I ignored Gwen’s theatrical exit and kept going.

“What I mean is… apps can be dangerous, Annie. You never really know who’s on the other side.”

“I know how to protect myself,” she cut in, her voice sharper. “I’m not stupid, Nate. I picked a public place, I told Gwen everything… if you hadn’t shown up, someone else would have helped.”

“It’s not about that,” I said quickly. “I’m not doubting your ability to take care of yourself. I’m saying… maybe it’s better to get to know people a little more before going out with them. It might save you some heartbreak.”

“You learned that from the puking girl?” she asked, raising a brow.

“It doesn’t matter,” Annie said, pulling out her phone. “It’s none of my business.”

But it was. Somehow it felt like it was. I wanted to explain that Alexandra and I were just… I didn’t even know what. Friends? People who tolerated each other because of shared circles? Someone who would always be around whether I liked it or not?

“Are you sure you’ll be okay?” I asked, real concern tightening my voice.

“I’ll be fine,” Annie said, though she looked exhausted. “Thanks for… for what you did in there.”

“Anytime.”

“I hope there won’t be a next time.”

“I hope that too.”

She gave me a short wave and started walking away, probably looking for somewhere quieter to call her Uber. I stayed there for a few seconds, watching her go, feeling a strange reluctance to return inside.

Alexandra’s party was still going. Music, champagne, elegant people discussing elegant things. All very polished. Very proper. Very… predictable.

Nothing like the woman walking away with her heels in her hand because her feet hurt. Hair slightly messy from the chaos of the night. Dignity still perfectly intact.

I let out a breath and headed back to the club entrance. The guard nodded, the doors opened, and I stepped back into the golden, perfect world I’d always known.

Only it suddenly felt a little empty.

Especially without Annie in it.