Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 24

Chapter 24

Christian turned to me, the question about Francesca still hanging in the air between us. Then, surprisingly, he smiled that crooked smile that seemed reserved for the moments when he decided to change the rules of the game.

“And you?” he asked, his eyes never leaving mine. “Do you still care about Alex?”

The question caught me completely off guard. For a moment, it felt like the ground disappeared beneath my feet.

It was a fair question, but somehow it felt more intimate, more invasive than mine about Francesca.

“You know I do,” I admitted, turning my gaze toward the dark vineyards. “It’s not something you get over overnight.”

Christian leaned in slightly on the balcony, close enough that our arms nearly touched.

“I have to ask,” his voice was unexpectedly gentle. “Do you really care about him, or do you care about the idea of winning him back? About showing Elise that you won and she lost?”

The question was so precise it almost hurt physically. No one had ever put into words what, deep down, I had already asked myself. Did I still love Alex, the man who betrayed and humiliated me? Or did I love the idea of victory, of revenge, of proving I wasn’t so easily replaced?

I took a deep breath, letting the cool night air fill my lungs. I decided to be honest-with Christian and with myself.

“Both, I guess,” I whispered. “Part of me still remembers the man I fell in love with. The other part just… doesn’t want to feel like I lost everything, like I was so easily replaced.”,

Something flickered across Christian’s face-understanding, maybe? Or something deeper?

“You didn’t lose everything, Zoey,” he said, his voice steady. “You gained the chance to find someone who truly values you.”

I looked at him-really looked at him. In the soft glow of the garden lights, Christian seemed different-less the calculating CEO, more the man who held my hand during the storm.

And then it hit me: he had skillfully avoided my original question.

“You didn’t answer about Francesca,” I pointed out. “Do you still have feelings for her?”

Something shifted in his eyes, a shadow passing over his face. He opened his mouth to reply, but before he could speak, we were interrupted.

“Mr. Kensington?” One of the event staff appeared at the balcony entrance. “It’s time for your speech. Your grandfather is asking for you.”

Christian frowned, clearly frustrated by the interruption, but nodded.

“Tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”

When we were alone again, he turned back to me.

“We’ll talk about this later,” he promised, offering me his arm. “Shall we?”

“People change,” I replied curtly, trying to move past him.

Alex subtly blocked my way, that smile I knew far too well curving on his lips.

“You know, when I saw you at my wedding with Christian Kensington, I couldn’t believe it.” He stepped closer. ” But looking at you now…”

“Now what?”

He took a slow sip of his drink, his eyes never leaving mine.

“Now I understand why he’s interested.” His voice dropped an octave, slipping into that tone he always used when he wanted something.

The double meaning was too obvious to ignore. A mixture of anger and something I refused to name surged inside me. This was the man I had loved for years, the man I had cried over night after night. And now he was here, looking at me as if I were a meal he had left unfinished but suddenly found appetizing again.

Alex took another step forward, close enough for me to catch his familiar cologne.

“That dress…” His gaze slid down my body in a way that made me want to cover myself, even as I stood frozen. “It reminds me of that night-our anniversary. You wore something similar.”

I swallowed hard, the memory flashing back. The way he had slowly peeled my clothes away, piece by piece, between kisses and whispered promises.

“I always liked how silk slid off your skin,” he went on, his voice now a deliberately seductive whisper. “The sound it makes when it falls to the floor.” His eyes locked onto mine, filled with a mix of desire and challenge.” Sometimes I still dream about it… about seeing you in something like this dress, then tearing it off slowly, finding out if your body still reacts the same way when I touch you.”