Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 229

Nathaniel's POV

I was in my office reviewing contracts when I decided to send Annie my next question. It was nearly ten in the morning, and she still hadn't said anything about the flowers. Maybe she hadn't had time to process the gift yet, or maybe she was buried in work.

I opened the app and typed: [Fourth question: What attracts you more in a person, someone who challenges you or someone who complements you?]

I hit send and set my phone aside, trying to focus on the documents in front of me. But it was hard to concentrate when part of my mind kept imagining her face when she saw the roses. I hoped she liked them, that she understood the callback to our conversation the night before.

A sharp knock pulled me out of my thoughts.

"Come in," I said, and Gwen stepped inside with a serious expression.

"Nate, I need to talk to you about a security issue."

"Of course. Have a seat. What happened?"

"Someone came into our office this morning and left flowers on Annie's desk."

I forced myself to look surprised, raising my eyebrows.

"Flowers? What kind of flowers?"

"A huge bouquet of roses. With an unsigned card."

"Interesting." I picked up a pen, rolling it between my fingers, trying to look mildly curious and nothing more. "Any idea who might have left them?"

"That's exactly what worries me." Gwen leaned forward in her chair. "Annie's been talking to some guy on a dating app for a few days. A completely anonymous profile. And now, suddenly, he knows where she works and managed to get access to our office."

"Hmm," I murmured, still spinning the pen. "Are you sure it was this guy from the app?"

"Who else would it be?" Gwen looked at me like the answer was obvious. "Nate, this is serious. A man she met online having physical access to her workplace? He could be a stalker."

"Or it could be someone who works in the building," I said casually. "Or maybe the flowers were left at reception and Margaret brought them up."

"No, I already asked Margaret. She didn't receive anything for Annie this morning."

"And what about the other employees? Did you ask if anyone saw something?"

"Nate." Gwen let out an impatient sigh. "I'm talking about a potential security risk. This man got onto our floor, found Annie's exact desk, and left flowers without anyone noticing. That takes planning, knowledge of the space…"

"Gwen, don't you think you're overreacting a little?" I cut in, trying to sound reasonable. "They were just flowers."

"Just flowers?" she repeated, incredulous. "Nate, stalker behavior always starts with gestures that look romantic. Flowers today, what next?"

"But you said she's been talking to him for days. If he was really dangerous, wouldn't there be other signs?"

"Anonymous profiles are a massive red flag," Gwen insisted. "Normal men don't hide behind fake identities. And now he's escalated to invasive behavior."

A wave of guilt hit me. Hearing it laid out like that made my actions sound… questionable.

"What do you think we should do?" I asked, though I already sensed where this was going.

"I want access to the security cameras to see how he got in and when he left the flowers."

My stomach dropped. Of course she'd want the footage. I'd arrived at six in the morning, used my key card to enter through the private garage, and taken the executive elevator straight up to avoid the main lobby. I'd planned everything so no one would see me, not the cleaning crew, not Margaret, not the night security team already off shift.

Silence settled between us. Heavy. Uncomfortable. Gwen watched me like she was solving a puzzle, and I could practically feel the pieces clicking into place in her mind.

"And why are you so opposed to looking into it?" she asked finally. "Normally you take security issues very seriously."

"I am taking it seriously. I just think you're jumping to conclusions."

"Am I?" Gwen leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms. "Let me recap. A faceless man from a dating app sends flowers to one of our employees. He gets into our office without anyone noticing. I suggest checking the security cameras, and you refuse. Then, when I say roses, you immediately assume they were red and ask if Annie liked them."

My jaw tightened before I could stop it.

"Gwen…"

"And you came in very early today, didn't you?" she continued, her voice firmer now. "Margaret mentioned your car was already in the garage when she arrived at seven thirty."

"I always come in early when I have a heavy workload."

"Do you?" Gwen held my stare. "Nate, you've known Annie for months. You know exactly where she sits. You have full access to the building. And you showed up suspiciously early this morning."

My heart was pounding, but I kept my face neutral.

"Where are you going with this, Gwen?"

She stared at me for a few more seconds, and I saw the exact moment realization hit her.

"It was you, wasn't it?" she said softly.