Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 32

Chapter 32

[Three months later]

Three months can change a lot.

I adjusted the tie of one of the promoters who’d be handing out samples of Sunvale Winery’s new Merlot, making sure the logo was perfectly aligned.

“Remember to mention the cherry notes and the time in the barrel when guests ask,” I instructed, moving on to the next promoter in line.

The hotel lobby where the tasting would take place was almost ready. The tables had been positioned strategically to create a natural flow, the crystal glasses lined up with precision, the information displays elegant without being over the top. I’d spent the last two weeks planning every detail of this event. It wasn’t as big as Kensington’s, but it was mine. Entirely mine.

“Zoey, these floral arrangements are in the wrong place!” shouted Lisa, my twenty-two-year-old assistant fresh out of college. “The plan said they should be near the fountain, not the entrance!”

I took a deep breath and smiled. Three months ago, I’d been a bridal shop salesgirl with an unused degree in Public Relations. Now I was the event coordinator at Sunvale Winery, with my own assistant who constantly needed direction.

“We’ll keep them at the entrance,” I decided. “The color contrasts better with the main panel.”

My phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Edward Mendez, my boss and Sunvale’s Marketing Director. I answered while walking toward a quieter corner.

“Zoey, how are we doing?” His voice was as cheerful as always.

“Everything’s on schedule. The catering team just arrived, and the promoters are being briefed. We’ll be ready an hour ahead of time.”

“Excellent!” I could practically see his smile through the line. “I knew I made the right choice when I hired you.

That phrase always gave me a strange feeling. Edward had hired me just two weeks after I’d started a refresher course in PR, with an offer that had seemed too good to be true. Above-average pay for a beginner, attractive benefits, and the promise of fast growth.

“I recognize talent when I see it,” he’d said in the interview. “And I remember perfectly how you handled those influencers at the Kensington event.”

I’d been too flattered to question how a smaller winery like Sunvale could afford to offer such good conditions to someone with no formál experience in the field.

“Any last-minute confirmations?” I asked, checking my clipboard.

“Yes, about that…” Edward paused. “I just got confirmation from the Association of Wineries. They’re sending representatives from all the biggest producers in the country.”

My stomach turned.

“All of them?”

“Yes, including Kensington.” His voice took on a tone of forced casualness. “Looks like they’ll be sending one of their directors. Or maybe even the CEO.”

Christian. The name echoed in my mind, even though Edward hadn’t spoken it. For three months, I had worked hard not to think about him. Not to remember that last look on his face as he drove away in the Porsche. Not to imagine what would have happened if he’d stepped inside that morning.

“Zoey? You still there?”

“Yes,” I answered quickly. “No problem. We’ll treat all the representatives with the same hospitality.”

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