Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 340

Chapter 340

Marcus’ POV

The café in Mayfair had the perfect level of activity for our conversation. It was not empty enough to draw attention, not crowded enough for us to be overheard. I arrived a few minutes early and chose a table toward the back, where we could talk without interruption. The place carried that quiet, understated elegance typical of London’s elite: dark wooden tables, comfortable leather chairs, and a clientele speaking in low voices about important deals.

I ordered a coffee while I waited, mentally reviewing everything I knew so far. Lunch with Tori had been revealing, but I needed confirmation before committing to any real course of action.

Alexandra arrived precisely at three, dressed in an impeccable gray suit, a leather portfolio tucked under her arm. Her movements were sharp and deliberate. This was the Alexandra I’d known for years. Calculated. Always in control. When her eyes met mine, she walked straight over with the confidence that had intimidated more than a few powerful men in her time.

“Marcus,” she said, sitting down with practiced elegance. “Thank you for accepting my invitation so quickly.”

“Your message was… intriguing,” I replied, signaling the waiter. “Something about us having shared interests?”

She ordered a double macchiato while studying me closely. There was a contained energy in her posture, like she was measuring exactly how much she could trust me. I knew Alexandra well enough to understand that she never acted on impulse. Every move was designed to maximize her advantage.

“I had a very enlightening conversation with Tori Carter yesterday,” she began, lowering her voice and leaning slightly forward. “She told me about the situation with the organic wine launch. Some very… troubling details.”

I nodded, waiting. Alexandra liked to control the rhythm of a conversation, revealing information in carefully measured doses to maintain the upper hand.

“The technical reports showed severe pesticide contamination,” she said, her eyes gleaming with predatory intensity. “Levels far above what’s legally acceptable for products marketed as organic. And here’s the most interesting part…”

She paused to take a sip of her coffee, clearly savoring the moment.

“Annabelle Bennett suggested going ahead with the launch anyway to protect her sister’s career. She put personal family interests above the integrity of the company.”

“Tori was right to come to you,” I said carefully. “And she was right about us having the same goal. Separating Nathaniel and Annie.”

Alexandra leaned in closer, her interest unmistakably sharpened.

“Nathaniel took your position in Euradia,” she said coolly. “And your little toy too, didn’t he?”

“If you’re referring to Annie… yes. I want her back,” I replied evenly. “And when this is over, her only real option will be to accept a position at my side. The rest… I know exactly how to make happen.”

“Excellent. Then you confirm you have access to the documents? Tori said you’d handle that part.”

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“More than access,” I said, reaching for my own leather portfolio and placing it on the table. “I have the documents with me.”

The smile that spread across Alexandra’s face was pure satisfaction. It was the look of someone whose suspicions had just been confirmed in the best possible way.

“You work fast, Marcus. I’ve always admired that about you.’

11

“When something interests me, I don’t like wasting time,” I said, opening the folder slowly, deliberately building suspense. “Original lab reports showing severe contamination. Emails between Christian and the technicians who provided the falsified versions. And here…” I pointed to a specific page, “…an email from Annie explicitly suggesting they move forward with the launch to protect Zoey.”

Alexandra flipped through the documents quickly, her eyes absorbing every detail with the speed of someone long accustomed to processing high-stakes information in seconds.

“Perfect,” she said at last, closing the folder carefully. “If we leak this information at the right moment, we can cause enough damage to cancel both the launch and that ridiculous wedding. And we can profit nicely from it, too.”

“Profit how?” I asked, even though I already suspected the answer.

“We sell our shares before the scandal breaks, then buy them back once the price crashes,” she explained as casually as if she were talking about the weather. “An old strategy, but eternally effective. With the right timing, we can triple our investment. On top of that, I know Christian is trying to push me off the board. If I use a proxy, I can maintain my influence regardless.”

There was a ruthless logic to her plan that I couldn’t deny.

“Sharp as always,” I said.

“Annabelle made her choice when she decided to put her sister’s interests above the integrity of our company, Alexandra replied coolly. “She set the precedent. We’re simply responding in kind. And Kensington… Kensington is going to pay dearly.”

“Christian is too smart not to survive whatever crisis comes,” I said with conviction. “He always finds a way. He adapts. And we’re not attacking him directly, we’re exposing an irresponsible decision. He might even thank us later, once he’s thinking clearly again and not under the spell of the Bennett sisters.”

“Even so,” Alexandra countered, “the fallout could be bigger than expected. We’re talking about destroying reputations built over years. So the question is: are you in, or are you out?”

“I’m in,” I said without hesitation, sealing the deal.

“Excellent,” Alexandra said, smiling with genuine satisfaction. “I’ll prepare the channels to leak the information at the right time. I have contacts in the specialized press who would love a story like this.”

We spent the next several minutes discussing timing, strategy, and how to coordinate the stock sales. Alexandra was clearly energized, her mind already calculating the multiple rewards she could extract-revenge against Annie, substantial financial gain, and the personal satisfaction of watching her targets fall publicly.

When she stood to leave, there was something predatory in her movements, like a panther that had just locked onto its prey.

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“It’s always productive working with someone who understands how things really work,” she said, kissing my cheek theatrically before walking away.

After she left, I stayed where I was, watching through the window as she climbed into her red sports car and drove off. Then I picked up my phone and dialed a familiar number, waiting only two rings before the voice I expected answered.

“Christian? Tori and I did it,” I said. “The shark took the bait. This time, we’ve got her right where we want her.”

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