Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 37

Chapter 37

The company car wound along the twisting roads of Highridge Valley, each curve revealing landscapes that made my stomach tighten. Not because of the beauty-though the sunlit vineyards were breathtaking-but because of the memories every green hillside awakened.

Three months ago, I had traveled these same roads in Christian’s Porsche, anxious and nervous for completely different reasons. The memory of his hands on the wheel, his focused profile while driving, the light conversation punctuated by comfortable silences… it all felt like another lifetime.

“The view is amazing,” Lisa commented from the back seat, snapping photos nonstop with her phone. As my assistant, she was far more excited about the trip than was appropriate for a professional. “I’ve never been to Highridge before!”

“Wait until you see the event complex,” I replied, forcing an enthusiastic tone. “Crestview Complex is one of the best convention centers in the region.”

“And they say the Kensington winery is just twenty minutes from here, right?” she went on, completely oblivious to my discomfort. “We could stop by after?”

I pressed my lips together, turning to the window to hide my expression.

“We’re here for work, Lisa. Not sightseeing.”

She must have picked up on something in my tone, because she fell silent for the rest of the ride.

Crestview appeared ahead of us, a sleek modern structure perfectly integrated into the mountainous landscape. Large glass panels reflected the blue sky, and the outdoor area was being decorated with white tents and elaborate floral arrangements.

We had barely parked before I was bombarded with messages and calls from the Sunvale team. Problems with the delivery of samples, questions about exhibitor layouts, doubts about the schedule. Exactly the kind of chaos I needed to keep my mind busy-away from thoughts of Christian, of what my father had revealed, of what might have been.

Soon I was in full command, delegating tasks, solving emergencies, negotiating with suppliers. This was where I excelled. This was where I felt safe, competent. Zoey Bennett, PR professional-not the fake ex-fiancée of Christian Kensington.

“The booth is looking amazing,” Roger, Sunvale’s designer, commented as we watched the structure being assembled. “It’s going to grab a lot of attention.”

“As long as it’s the right kind of attention,” I replied, checking the placement of the interactive displays. “We want people talking about our wines, not flashing lights or loud colors.”

“Zoey Bennett?”

The unfamiliar voice made me turn. A middle-aged man wearing a badge from the Wine Association was watching me curiously.

“Yes?”

“Henry Sawyer, Wine & Art Magazine.” He extended his hand. “A pleasure to finally meet the famous fiancée of Kensington-who’s now revolutionizing Sunvale.”

My smile froze. Of course. No matter how much time passed, no matter how hard I worked professionally, to some people I would always just be ‘Kensington’s fiancée.’

“Ex-fiancée,” I corrected politely, shaking his hand. “And I appreciate the interest, but the spotlight here should be on Sunvale’s exceptional wines, not my personal life.”

Henry looked mildly embarrassed but recovered quickly.

“Of course, of course. Actually, I’m interested in your innovative approach to the winery’s marketing. The influencer event was brilliant.”

We spent the next few minutes discussing digital marketing strategies and how Sunvale was trying to attract a younger audience. It was a professional conversation-exactly what I wanted. But I couldn’t help noticing how his eyes occasionally flicked to my ring finger (bare, of course) and how he seemed to be probing for openings to slip in more personal questions.

It was a relief when our coffee break was cut short by the arrival of more boxes of promotional materials that needed organizing.

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