Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 299

Chapter 299

The hot water in Nate’s marble bathtub was exactly what I needed after the last few chaotic days. I eased myself into the water, scented with the essential oils he always kept stocked–lavender and eucalyptus, the perfect mix for unwinding. The tub was big enough for two, with hydro-massage jets placed like they’d been designed for sin, and a breathtaking view of the city through the panoramic window. A detail that always made me smile, because it was so obvious he’d invested in comfort… and intimate moments.

I rested my head on the cushioned edge and closed my eyes, finally letting my mind process everything that had happened. Steam curled softly around me, wrapping me in a warm, fragrant haze that seemed to melt away every last bit of tension.

Despite Alexandra and every calculated little attempt she’d made to stir trouble, the whole trip had been shockingly perfect. Christmas with the Carter family had been warmer and more welcoming than anything I could’ve dreamed up. Elizabeth treated me like a daughter from the moment I stepped through the door, Richard pulled me into his stories and conversations with easy, fatherly charm, and Oliver had me laughing nonstop with that relaxed, genuine personality of his.

And even Tori—who at first seemed determined not to like me, with her sharp comments about my background and my “pedigree”-I thought I’d managed to soften her at least a little. Our conversation in the library had revealed a kind of vulnerability behind all that social armor, and I felt like we’d found a tiny patch of common ground, even if it was fragile.

And even if I hadn’t won her over completely, I had a very specific plan in mind.

I reached for my phone on the marble side table, careful not to drip water on the screen, and typed a message to Zoey:

“I need a favor.”

I knew she’d answer fast as she always kept her phone close in case Matt needed something, and with the time difference it was still morning in Verdania. Sure enough, her reply came almost instantly, like it always did with

us:

“If it’s not money, you can ask.”

I laughed quietly in the tub, picturing her sprawled on the giant sofa in the Kensington mansion, Matt asleep on her lap or Christian working beside her.

“What??? You’re a billionaire now! I’m allowed to ask for all the money in the world. Historical reparations for putting up with you.”

“Force of habit, sorry. Although I’m pretty sure I’m the one who deserves compensation,” she shot back, and I could practically hear her laughing. “But you’re not doing too badly over there yourself, are you?”

I grinned widely, unable to stop myself from thinking about how unbelievably different our lives were from just a couple of years ago. It still felt surreal when I paused long enough to take it all in.

Only two years ago, my siblings and I were juggling crappy underpaid jobs just to help at home while our family drowned in debt. My mom worked extra hours whenever she could, my dad picked up odd jobs on weekends on top of his regular work, and the three of us scraped together every cent we could to keep the house running and stop everything from collapsing.

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I remembered the nights we stayed up recalculating bills over and over, trying to stretch the money until the end of the month. All while hiding it from our parents, because Dad was too proud to admit we were struggling.

And now? Look at the plot twist life threw our way.

My sister, married to a billionaire and raising a beautiful son surrounded by more love and comfort than any child could ever need. My parents living in a mansion straight out of an architecture magazine, with staff and a garden and a bank account that would never again keep them up at night. My brother working at a multinational in the Imperial City, traveling the world and making more in one month than our entire family used to see in a year.

And me… here in the marble bathtub of the hottest Englishman this country has ever produced, planning New Year’s parties for one of the most powerful companies in the world.

Life really did have a peculiar sense of humor-and an impressive talent for surprising us when we least expected it.

I typed again, steering the conversation back to the real point:

“Actually, it’s a favor for Christian.”

“Okay, now I’m curious. Spill!”

So I told my sister the idea I’d come up with. I laid out the details, how it could work, why I thought it would be a good solution for what we were dealing with right now. It was something that depended on Christian’s help, but if it worked, it could solve a few of the complications looming over us.

I waited, nerves buzzing, hoping she’d think the idea made sense.

“Interesting,” Zoey wrote back after a few minutes. “I’ll talk to him today. I think he can do it.”

“The most powerful man alive? I’m sure he can!”

“The most powerful man alive is changing our son’s diaper right now, can you picture that?”

Her message made me smile in a way that warmed my entire chest. Zoey and Christian were the kind of couple that always inspired me-the way he, even while running a global corporate empire, still made it a point to be present for every small part of their daily life. Christian Kensington might be feared in boardrooms around the world, but to Zoey and Matt he was just the attentive husband and devoted father who changed diapers, warmed bottles, and hummed lullabies.

That was exactly what I wanted. A family. Someone who’d be my partner in every part of life, not just the glamorous moments. I wanted to wake up at three in the morning to a crying baby and see my partner getting up with me. I wanted debates about what school to choose, silly arguments about who forgot to buy milk, all those tiny everyday things that turned two people into a real family. And when I pictured the face of that person… I saw Nate.

“I can. Honestly, I really can! Thanks, sis! Love you.”

“Love you too.”

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