Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 306

Chapter 306

The magical moment of locking eyes with Nate was cut short before I could fully process what I’d felt. I had barely taken two steps toward the terrace when a man approached me with a confident, charming smile, subtly blocking my path.

“Impressive how unpredictable English weather can be-even indoors,” he said in a refined Eisenwald accent, gesturing toward the windows where rain had just begun to tap softly against the glass. “Outside it’s pouring, yet in here you’ve managed to create a perpetual summer.”

I couldn’t help a genuine laugh.

“That’s true,” I replied with an easy smile. “I think the English have perfected the art of completely ignoring their own weather. If we depended on it to celebrate, London would be a much quieter city.”

“Exactly!” he laughed, clearly pleased that he’d made me smile. “Klaus Reinhardt, by the way.”

The last name made me pause instantly. Reinhardt. As in Reinhardt Industries, the largest buyer of Kensington’s organic line in Euradia, responsible for a significant share of our profits in that segment. I’d studied the reports on that account extensively. They didn’t just buy in large volumes; they influenced other distributors across the region, acting as a gateway to the entire Eisenwald market.

“Annabelle Bennett,” I replied, shaking his hand while my mind rapidly processed the importance of this encounter. “It’s great to finally put a face to the name. I see you mentioned in emails and contracts all the time.”

“Oh, so you work for Kensington?” he asked, suddenly more interested.

“Yes. The organic line is part of my portfolio,” I said, then added with a conspiratorial smile, “And don’t tell anyone, but it’s my favorite one to work with.”

Klaus smiled broadly.

“Then we already have something in common,” he said, his eyes lighting up. “Which makes me wonder… what else we might discover we have in common tonight.”

The tone shifted subtly, and I was just about to steer the conversation back into professional territory when a server passed nearby carrying a tray with the last two glasses of a wine I recognized immediately.

“How lucky,” Klaus said with a smile that felt almost too perfectly timed to be a coincidence. He intercepted the server, took both glasses, and handed one to me.

I accepted it, using the moment to bring things back to work.

“Perfect,” I said, examining the wine. “This comes from our own organic vineyard. This particular label was a bit of a risk when we launched it, but it’s become very popular in Euradia. The fully natural fermentation process creates some distinctive notes-”

“What’s truly impressive,” Klaus interrupted gently, lifting his glass, “is finding someone so passionate about their work. And who, coincidentally, looks absolutely stunning while talking about organic winemaking.”

There it was the shift I’d anticipated. Klaus clearly wasn’t interested in fermentation processes or market strategies. His gaze lingered longer than appropriate at my neckline, and it was obvious his attention was far more focused on me than on any professional discussion.

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“Thank you,” I said carefully, taking a sip of wine to buy myself a moment to think.

“That dress looks incredible on you,” he continued, abandoning any pretense that this was still a business conversation. “White suits your skin tone perfectly.”

“Thank you,” I repeated, a flicker of discomfort settling in as I tried to keep my tone light.

“You must be used to events like this in London,” he went on, stepping a little closer. “But a night like this deserves to be enjoyed properly. Perhaps we could continue this conversation somewhere a bit more… private?”

I found myself in a familiar position-one women in corporate roles faced all too often. Balancing important business relationships while setting clear personal boundaries. Klaus Reinhardt represented a critical account ` for Kensington, but his intentions were no longer even pretending to be professional. I could feel other guests’

eyes occasionally drifting toward us, and I wondered how many other women had stood exactly where I was now, trying to navigate the thin line between professionalism and self-preservation.

“That’s very kind of you,” I said carefully, searching for a polite way to decline without creating any friction that could spill over into business. “But I already have other commitments tonight.”

“What a shame,” he replied, though his smile didn’t fade. “Perhaps another time. I’ll be in London for a few more days.”

That was when I noticed Tori near the buffet, chatting animatedly with a group of guests. The perfect excuse.

“Excuse me,” I said, subtly gesturing in her direction. “I need to speak with a colleague.”

Klaus followed my gaze and nodded in understanding, though I caught a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.

“Of course,” he said gallantly. “It was a pleasure speaking with you, Annabelle. I hope we’ll have many more opportunities.”

I walked away with a polite smile and headed straight for Tori, relief washing over me at having escaped the situation without causing any issues.

“Annie!” Tori greeted me with genuine enthusiasm. It was a refreshing contrast after my conversation with Klaus. “You look absolutely stunning! That dress is perfect. And have you used my gift yet? The shoe store gift card?”

“Not yet,” I replied, smiling at her excitement. “But since we’re talking about gifts, I have something for you.”

Tori looked at me curiously as I opened my small evening clutch and pulled out an elegant business card.

“What’s this?” she asked, taking the card and frowning slightly.

“It’s your contact at Christie’s,” I explained, watching her expression shift from confusion to surprise. “On the back, I wrote down the date and time of your interview.”

Tori flipped the card over, her eyes widening as she read the handwritten details.

“How-Annie, how did you do this?” she asked, clearly stunned.

I smiled, a quiet sense of satisfaction settling in.

“Apparently, my pedigree isn’t so bad after all…”

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