Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 328

Chapter 328

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Chapter 328

The Kensington lobby had never felt as imposing as it did that Monday morning. The polished marble walls and crystal chandeliers that once impressed me now felt like silent witnesses to my return to the corporate world after weeks of upheaval. My fingers tightened automatically around Nate’s hand as we walked through the main entrance, exactly as he’d promised. Together. Hand in hand. Through the front door.

The buzz started almost immediately. I could feel eyes turning toward us, hear the low murmur of conversations that cut off abruptly as we passed, only to restart in even quieter tones once we moved on. Some employees tried to disguise their curiosity by pretending to check their phones or review documents, but the tension in the air was unmistakable. Everyone knew who we were. Everyone knew our story. And everyone had an opinion about us walking in side by side as an openly acknowledged couple.

I felt stronger with Nate beside me, of course. His presence was an anchor, keeping me steady whenever anxiety threatened to take over. But I also knew with an almost painful clarity that we couldn’t stay glued together forever. Sooner or later, I’d have to face my coworkers’ judgment on my own, and that reality hung over me like a dark cloud on the horizon.

When we stepped into the elevator, we finally had a moment of relative privacy. Nate squeezed my hand and turned to face me, his green eyes full of genuine concern.

“You okay?” he asked softly, his tender tone clashing with the formal setting around us.

“I am,” I said and to my own surprise, it was true. Despite the nerves, I felt a growing sense of determination. ” It’s strange being back, but… I’m okay.”

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“Are you sure?” he pressed, studying my face carefully. “Because if anyone says anything out of line-”

“Nate,” I interrupted gently, touching his arm. “I can do this. I need to do this.”

He nodded, though I could tell he’d stay alert all day, ready to step in at the first sign of trouble.

The elevator doors opened, and Nate walked me to the entrance of my department. A few coworkers paused what they were doing to watch us, and I felt my cheeks warm under the attention. Nate greeted a couple of employees politely before leaning down to press a soft kiss to my forehead-a gesture that was intimate yet respectful, perfectly appropriate for the workplace.

“See you at lunch,” he murmured, just for me.

“See you later,” I replied, trying to sound casual even though my heart was racing.

Gwen was already at her desk when I walked in, and her face lit up with a genuine smile the moment she saw me.

“Romantic,” she teased, her eyes sparkling. “So, how’s life in the new house?”

“The move was so exhausting that so far all we’ve really enjoyed is… the bed,” I answered honestly, letting out an exaggerated sigh.

Gwen burst out laughing, shaking her head in obvious amusement.

“I’m pretty sure I know exactly how you two enjoyed that bed,” she said with a teasing lilt.

“Probably the same way you and my brother enjoyed your vacation,” I shot back, crossing my arms and fixing

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her with a challenging look.

Gwen immediately grabbed a pencil from her desk and tossed it at me, her face flushing slightly as she tried to look indignant.

“That is not what happened!” she protested, but the smile she was trying to hide gave her away completely.

“Of course it isn’t,” I said sarcastically, dodging the flying stationery. “That’s why you’re red as a tomato right now.”

The morning passed surprisingly fast. I managed to focus on work, reviewing reports that had piled up during my time off and getting up to speed on ongoing projects. A few coworkers greeted me with genuine smiles; others kept a polite, respectful distance. Overall, the atmosphere felt far more normal than I’d feared.

It was during the coffee break that something unexpected happened.

I was alone in the cafeteria, absently stirring my cappuccino and enjoying a few quiet minutes, when Margaret walked in. She spotted me immediately and headed my way, her expression a mix of determination and something that looked a lot like nerves.

“Annie,” she said, stopping beside my table. “May I sit?”

“Of course,” I replied, gesturing to the empty chair across from me.

Margaret sat down and immediately placed the flowers and box of chocolates she was carrying on the table between us. Almost at the same time, several other employees began filing into the cafeteria, far more than usual for that hour.

“This is from all of us,” she said, her voice steady but kind. “On behalf of everyone at Kensington.”

I stared at the gifts, then at the people gathering around us, completely confused.

“I… I don’t understand,” I murmured.

Margaret took a deep breath, her expression turning serious.

“No woman should ever have to go through what you went through at that party,” she said clearly, her voice carrying a conviction that caught me off guard. “And this isn’t just about what almost happened with that awful man. It’s about having your intimate photos exposed. About having your privacy violated like that.”

Tears pricked at my eyes, a rush of gratitude and relief I hadn’t expected to feel.

“All of the employees are on your side,” Margaret continued, briefly glancing at the group around us. They nodded in agreement. “We even went to the police to give statements. Rachel Williams was fired and is facing legal action for spreading those images. The photos have been completely deleted from all our devices. They won’t be shared again.”

“And we want you to know,” added a female voice I recognized from HR, “that we all know you got where you are because of your competence and dedication. Nothing else.”

The tears finally spilled over, sliding down my cheeks as I accepted the gifts with trembling hands. I stood and wrapped Margaret in a tight hug, a wave of relief so deep it nearly knocked me off my feet.

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“Thank you,” I managed to say against her shoulder. “Thank you, all of you.”

“You can count on us for anything,” Margaret said softly, hugging me back. “We’re a family here. And no one messes with our family.”

As the group slowly dispersed, each person stopping to shake my hand or offer a quiet word of support, I felt something shift inside me. Of all the things I’d imagined for my return to work, this scene of solidarity and kindness had never crossed my mind.

For the first time, I was being seen for my work. For my competence. For my dedication. Not for my relationships, my body, or my connections.

And that was everything I could have asked for.

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