Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 289

Chapter 289

I watched him for a few seconds, seeing how Nate moved around the room mechanically, clearly lost in his thoughts. I decided I wasn’t going to pretend I hadn’t noticed.

“You know this isn’t going to work, right?” I said bluntly, still sitting on the bed but looking straight at him.

He turned, surprised by my directness.

“What?” he asked, a slight frown forming.

“You lying and shutting down every time there’s a problem,” I said, shifting on the edge of the bed. “Especially when the problem involves me.’

His eyebrows shot up in genuine surprise.

“How do you know it’s about you?”

“Because I’m getting very good at reading you,” I said, crossing my arms. “And because I saw how tense you got after that call. Whatever Tori said to you in the kitchen, had something to do with me.”

Nate let out a deep sigh, dragging a hand through his hair in frustration. From the look on his face, I could tell he was about to tell me something he would have preferred to keep to himself.

“You’re right,” he admitted at last, walking over and sitting beside me on the bed. “It’s about you. Or rather… it’s about Alexandra.”

My stomach tightened at the sound of that name.

“What does she have to do with anything?”

“Remember when I gave my phone to Tori so she could look up that recipe online?” he began, his voice taking on a carefully controlled tone. “Well… while she was using it, a message from Alexandra popped up.”

My jaw tensed automatically. Of course it had to be Alexandra. It was always her.

“What kind of message?” I asked, trying to keep my voice neutral.

“She said she was planning to pass through Bath during the holidays and wanted to know if I was in town,” Nate continued, watching me closely to gauge my reaction. “And Tori responded as if she were me, without thinking about the consequences. She invited Alexandra for lunch tomorrow.”

I felt anger flare hot in my chest. Not necessarily at Tori as she really did seem like the impulsive type, but at the situation itself. At the way Alexandra always managed to creep into our lives no matter what.

“And those calls last night…” I started.

“The first one really was work. But the second…” Nate sighed. “That was her confirming she was coming. She said she’d already accepted the invitation and was excited to see the family again. By the time I saw the message thread on my phone, it was too late. She was already on her way.

“That’s why you argued with Tori,” I said quietly.

“I was furious with her,” he admitted. “Not because she meant any harm. Tori is impulsive and has no filter.

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You’ve probably noticed that. And to be honest, even though she doesn’t have anything against you, she still likes the idea of having Alexandra around. Even if it’s just as her friend.”

I took a deep breath, trying to process everything. It was frustrating, but not entirely unexpected. From the very beginning, it had been obvious that Tori had made plans that didn’t include me at all. Maybe her opinion of me had shifted over the course of the evening. But she had definitely not changed her mind about the benefit of having a Kensington in the family.

“She never misses a chance, does she?” I said, more to myself than to Nate.

“Who? Tori or Alexandra?”

“Alexandra,” I replied, with a firmness that surprised even me. “She always finds a way to show she thinks she can stir up trouble.”

Nate moved closer, taking my hand in his.

up

whenever

“Look, we don’t have to stay for lunch tomorrow,” he said softly. “We can leave before she gets here. Come up with an excuse, say you’re not feeling well…”

Part of me wanted to take the out. It would’ve been easier, less dramatic. It would spare us the awkwardness and avoid any kind of confrontation. But there was another part of me, one that was tired of always feeling like I was the one who had to run or hide whenever Alexandra appeared.

“Does she know about us?” I asked suddenly.

Nate hesitated, and I saw in his expression that this was the part bothering him the most.

“Tori told her,” he admitted with a heavy sigh. “And that’s what pissed me off the most. It wasn’t her place to share.”

A wave of irritation rushed through me not just because of the breach of privacy, but because of the implication that Tori had run to tell Alexandra as if she were sharing some juicy gossip.

“So she’s coming here knowing we’re together,” I said quietly, mostly to myself as I tried to process what that

meant.

“Annie…” Nate began, clearly worried about how I was taking it. “Really. We can just leave. We don’t have to deal with this.”

I took a slow breath, feeling something solidify inside me. A determination I didn’t know I had-a strength born from being done with letting Alexandra push me into corners.

“No,” I said firmly, rising from the bed. “We’re not leaving.”

Nate looked at me, startled.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re staying,” I repeated, my voice gaining strength with every word. “If Alexandra thinks she has some place in this family because she’s your sister’s friend, she needs to understand that the spot reserved for your girlfriend is already taken.”

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I saw something flash in Nate’s eyes. Surprise, admiration, and maybe a hint of concern.

“Annie, are you sure?” he asked. “Alexandra can be… complicated.”

“I know exactly what she can be,” I said, walking toward the mirror to start removing my makeup. “And that’s exactly why I’m not going to let her think she can intimidate me or chase me off.”

I looked at myself in the mirror and saw something different reflected back. I wasn’t the insecure Annie who felt out of place at Alexandra’s party months ago. I was someone who had found her footing, who knew what she wanted, and was ready to stand her ground.

“Besides,” I added, turning to face Nate, “your family welcomed me beautifully. Your mother gave me a ` handmade gift, your father treated me like a daughter from the moment I walked in, Oliver included me in

everything, and even Tori gave me something thoughtful. I’m not going to let Alexandra ruin that or make me feel like an intruder.”

Nate stepped closer, placing his hands gently on my shoulders.

“Are you absolutely sure?” he asked again. “Because once we decide to stay, there’s no backing out. We’ll have to face whatever she brings.”

I looked straight into his green eyes, seeing a mix of worry and admiration there.

“I’m sure,” I said, with a steadiness that surprised even me. “Alexandra better be ready. Because this time, I’m not going anywhere.”

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