Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 356

Chapter 356

Madeline’s POV

The first thing I noticed when I settled into the first-class seat was how completely at ease Apollo looked, surrounded by all that luxury. While I was still trying to figure out how the seat controls worked, he had already ordered an expensive wine from the flight attendant. Not just any wine, but something specific like he knew it

heart.

“Champagne?” he offered when the attendant returned with a bottle I didn’t even know existed.

“Please,” I replied, watching how naturally he handled the glass, as if drinking Dom Pérignon at thirty thousand feet were part of his everyday routine.

I had thought he was just some random biker who showed up at the right place at the right time. But the way he moved in this environment, like he belonged here, made me wonder if I’d completely underestimated who this man really was.

“So…” I let slip, watching him chuckle genuinely at something he was reading in the airline magazine. “I’m guessing you’re used to traveling like this.”

He looked up at me, a playful glint in his eyes.

“Didn’t we agree on no personal questions?” he countered, his tone teasing rather than defensive.

“It’s not a question,” I insisted, leaning slightly toward him. “It’s an assumption. Am I right?”

He studied me for a moment, as if carefully calculating his answer. Then he simply smiled enigmatically and took another sip of his wine.

“Maybe,” he said. It wasn’t an answer. It was bait.

“Maybe?” I repeated. “That’s basically a confession.”

“Is it?” He turned fully toward me. “And what else are you assuming?”

I took the challenge. If he wanted to play, we would play.

“I’m assuming you didn’t work Monday through Friday, nine to five.”

“Interesting theory.”

“I’m assuming your passport was full of stamps.”

“Go on.”

“And I’m assuming you didn’t live in a two-bedroom apartment in the suburbs.”

This time he laughed for real, and the sound was far more attractive than it had any right to be.

“You’re good at this,” he admitted.

“At what?”

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“Coming up with theories without asking direct questions.”

“And you’re good at not answering without completely killing the game,” I shot back.

“Touché.”

The flight continued like that. I threw out assumptions, and he replied with half-answers and mysterious iles. It was frustrating and thrilling at the same time. With every maybe and could be he gave me, my curiosity grew. And judging by the way he steered the conversation, I was pretty sure that was exactly the reaction he wanted.

When the plane finally landed at our destination, my heart was racing not because of the trip, but because of what was waiting for us. Seven days with a man who was a walking enigma, in one of the most paradisiacal places on Earth.

The transfer to the resort was by seaplane, and once again I noticed how completely comfortable Apollo seemed with the situation. While I gripped the seat during takeoff, he calmly took in the view through the window, like this was something he did every other week.

“First time?” he asked, noticing my tension.

“Is it that obvious?”

“Your fingers are about two seconds away from piercing the leather seat.”

I forced myself to relax my hands, not realizing just how nervous I was. Despite my family’s history with theme parks, it had been years since we’d traveled with this level of luxury. The business had started declining long before I moved out to live with my cousin Olivia who was basically a sister. Since then, I’d gotten used to a simpler life. We were still well-off, sure, but nothing even close to this kind of extravagance.

“And you?” I ask. “First time?”

“Isn’t that a personal question?”

“Well, I suppose it’s not,” I say, making him laugh.

When the resort finally came into view, I had to admit I was breathless. Overwater bungalows stretched across water so blue it looked unreal, connected by wooden walkways that wound gently over the surface. It was exactly like the photos I stared at while planning the honeymoon, but the real thing was somehow even better.

“Wow,” I murmured without meaning to.

“Impressive,” he agreed, though he didn’t look surprised.

The moment we stepped onto the resort’s deck, we were greeted by a smiling staff who treated us like VIPS.

“I’ll check us in,” I told Apollo. He nodded and wandered off to admire the view while I headed to the reception desk.

That was the plan. We stuck to our rule of not learning each other’s real names. And since everything was under my name anyway…

“Good afternoon, ma’am,” the receptionist said with a warm smile. “Under what name is the reservation?”

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“Sullivan,” I replied. “For two people. But I have a special request…” I smiled conspiratorially. “We’d like to be called Mr. and Mrs. Cronus during our stay. It’s a honeymoon joke.”

The receptionist smiled, clearly used to guests’ quirks.

“Of course! That’s adorable,” she said, typing into the system. “Mr. and Mrs. Cronus it is. I’ll make sure the entire staff knows.”

When I returned to where Apollo was waiting, a cheerful staff member was already standing with us, ready to escort us to our bungalow.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cronus,” the young man said with a smile. “Welcome. I’ll take you straight to the presidential bungalow.”

I saw Apollo hold back a laugh and shoot me an amused look.

“Cronus?” he whispered in my ear as we were guided along one of the wooden walkways.

“I had to say something,” I murmured back, trying not to laugh. “And I figured we could stick with the Greek theme…”

“Creative,” he admitted. That was when he did something that completely caught me off guard. He slipped an arm around my waist, so naturally that for a second I almost believed we really were a couple.

“You’re going to love the view,” the staff member continued. “And we’ve prepared a special surprise to celebrate this unique moment.

Apollo gave my waist a gentle squeeze and pulled me a little closer, replying that he couldn’t wait to enjoy every moment with his “wife.” The forced intimacy made my head spin, and it definitely wasn’t because of the ocean breeze.

Who the hell was this man?

The question echoed in my mind as he kept playing the role of the devoted husband flawlessly. There was no hesitation, no awkwardness. It was as if he’d been born for this.

When we finally reached our bungalow-and it truly was breathtaking, with a panoramic ocean view, a private pool, and a bed big enough to fit an entire family-the staff member bid us farewell with a warm smile.

“Welcome to the Maldives. We hope you have an unforgettable honeymoon.”

We were left alone on the deck, and for a moment we simply took in the view in silence. The sun had begun to set, painting the sky in shades of orange and pink that reflected across the crystal-clear water.

“So…” I started, but I was interrupted by two staff members arriving with our luggage.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cronus,” one of them said politely. “Would you like us to unpack your bags now, or would you prefer a moment of privacy first?”

‘A moment of privacy would be perfect,” Apollo replied, and there was something in his voice that made my stomach flip.

When they left the luggage by the door and walked away, we were alone again. But this time, the air felt different

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charged with an anticipation that hadn’t existed on the plane.

“Well,” I said, trying to break the tension, “I guess we should-

I didn’t finish the sentence because he was already walking toward me.

Before I could ask what he was doing, he simply picked me up. Literally lifted me off the ground and held me the

y a groom carried his bride over the threshold.

“Apollo!” I protested, laughing despite myself. “What are you doing?”

“Committing to the role,” he replied, heading toward the bungalow door. “We’re a honeymooning couple, remember?”

“This is ridiculous,” I said, but my heart was racing-and not from the surprise.

“It’s tradition,” he shot back, crossing the threshold and gently setting me down on the bed.

When our eyes met, we were dangerously close. I could feel the warmth of his body, the faint trace of the

perfume I’d worn on the flight still clinging to his clothes. For a brief moment, the world around us seemed to disappear.

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