Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 288

Chapter 288

After we finished dinner, everyone gathered in the living room around the crackling fireplace. The setting was perfect-soft candlelight mixing with the warm glow of the flames, the quiet murmur of intimate conversations punctuated by occasional laughter, and the comforting smell of the hot chocolate Elizabeth had made for everyone. The Christmas decorations scattered around the room caught the light in a magical way, creating a cozy atmosphere that made me feel like part of the family, even though I was still technically an outsider.

Richard had settled near the piano, his fingers brushing the keys now and then in soft melodies that served as the perfect soundtrack for the evening. Oliver and Sarah were curled up on the sofa, speaking quietly about the golden retriever’s puppies, who were now sleeping peacefully in the clinic. Tori had claimed an elegant armchair, wine glass in hand, watching the entire family dynamic with that impeccable posture that seemed to be her signature.

“Well,” Elizabeth said, rising to her feet with that maternal smile that had won me over from the start, can’t let Christmas pass without exchanging gifts, can we?”

“we

She walked to a small pile of presents neatly arranged beneath the tree and returned with a package wrapped in gold paper.

“For you, Annie,” she said, handing it to me with a warm, expectant smile. “It’s nothing too elaborate, but…”

I took the gift, immediately feeling something soft inside. When I unwrapped it, I found a beautiful handmade scarf in shades of blue and gray, colors that complemented my skin perfectly. The craftsmanship was flawless, with every stitch perfect. I could tell it had taken hours to make.

“Elizabeth…” I murmured, running my fingers across the soft wool. “You made this?”

“I started as soon as Nate told me you were coming for Christmas,” she said, clearly pleased by my reaction. “I thought it would be useful for English winters.”

My eyes stung with tears. It wasn’t just the gift, though it was beautiful. It was the gesture, the care, the time she’d spent making something special for someone she barely knew. It was the way she’d made room for me in her family from the very start.

“Thank you so much,” I said sincerely, standing to hug her.

Elizabeth hugged me back-a motherly embrace I hadn’t realized how much I’d been missing.

“Welcome to the family, sweetheart,” she whispered just for me.

“I have something for Annie too,” Tori said suddenly, catching me completely off guard.

Everyone turned to look at her, clearly as surprised as I was. Tori stood gracefully and walked to her bag, where she pulled out an elegant envelope.

“It’s nothing too personal,” she said, handing it to me with her usual formality. “But I thought it might be useful.”

I opened the envelope and found a gift card from a store I recognized only vaguely-but I knew enough to know it was one of the most luxurious in London. The amount printed on it made my throat tighten.

“Tori, I… this is incredibly generous,” I managed, genuinely surprised and oddly touched by the unexpected

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gesture.

“I recommend spending it on a good pair of boots,” she said casually, taking a sip of wine. “My brother’s girlfriend shouldn’t be running around in Primark boots.”

Instinctively, I glanced down at my very cheap department-store boots. My face warmed slightly, but I couldn’t stop the little laugh inside. I finally understood. It was so incredibly Tori: trying to be kind while somehow being generous and slightly insulting at the same time.

“Thank you,” I said, choosing to focus on the intention rather than the delivery. “I’ll use it well.”

I was finally starting to understand Tori and her very particular way of showing affection. She genuinely had no filter, even when she was trying to be thoughtful. It was like she physically couldn’t express herself without slipping in some comment about status or appearances.

That was when Nate’s phone rang again.

“Sorry,” he said, glancing at the screen with an expression I couldn’t quite read. “I need to take this.”

He stood and left the room, heading toward the entry hall. It was his second call of the night, and I was starting to think it was strange.

I tried to stay focused on the conversation around me. Oliver was telling a funny story from his veterinary clinic, and Richard had started playing a soft Christmas melody on the piano. However, part of my attention was fixed on the faint sounds coming from the hall.

A few minutes later, I heard Nate’s voice calling from the corridor:

“Tori, can you come here for a second?”

Tori’s brow tightened slightly, but she stood with her usual elegance and slipped out of the room. Moments later, muffled voices drifted in from the direction of the kitchen. They weren’t yelling, but it was unmistakably a heated conversation. The tone was tense, even if I couldn’t make out the words.

Oliver stopped mid-sentence, and we all went quiet for a few seconds, inevitably tuning in to the faint happening just out of sight.

argument

“Probably just some silly sibling thing,” Richard said diplomatically, returning to the piano to cover the awkwardness. “Those two have been like that since they were kids.”

Sarah nodded, though I could tell she was just as curious as I was. The argument didn’t last long but it was enough to shift the cozy atmosphere of the room into something slightly strained.

Nate returned a moment later, followed by Tori, who settled back into her chair as if nothing had happened. But something in Nate’s expression had changed. His jaw was tighter, and there was a worried crease between his brows that he was clearly trying to hide.

“You okay?” I whispered when he sat beside me on the sofa.

“Everything’s fine,” he said quickly, but his smile never reached his eyes.

I tried to believe him, but I knew Nate well enough to recognize when something was weighing on him. He stayed with us for a few more minutes, participating just enough to seem present, but I could feel his mind was

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somewhere else entirely.

Richard began playing one last song on the piano. It was a soft, melancholy Christmas melody that drifted through the room like a natural closing note for the evening.

“I think it’s been a long day,” Nate said when the music ended, getting to his feet and offering me his hand. ” What do you say we go to bed?”

“Of course,” I said, taking his hand and saying goodnight to everyone.

In the bedroom, while Nate shut the door behind us, I studied him. His shoulders were tense, and he avoided meeting my eyes.

“Are you sure everything’s okay?” I asked again, sitting on the edge of the bed.

“Just tired,” he said, but there was something in his voice that didn’t fully convince me. “It’s been an intense day.”

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