Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 376

Chapter 376

Marcus’ POV

I arrived early and parked a short distance from the yoga studio, keeping a discreet watch. The place was small an inviting, with a glass front that let in plenty of natural light. At 10:15 a.m., a group of women stepped outside, most of them carrying yoga mats and chatting animatedly.

It was easy to spot Olivia among them, thanks to the photos I’d been sent. She had the same eyes as Madeline, but her hair was shorter and darker, cut into a long bob that swung as she walked. She wore simple workout clothes-black leggings and a gray top. However, there was something about her posture that stood out to me. She was more grounded and more practical than Madeline. Even as she laughed with the others, her eyes kept scanning the surroundings, like she was always on alert.

When the group broke apart and Olivia started walking on her own, I decided to approach.

“Excuse me,” I said as she slipped the studio key into her bag. “Do you take beginners?”

She turned, giving me a quick assessment from head to toe. There was a cautious look in her eyes, like she was weighing whether I was just another curious guy, or something else entirely.

“Of course,” she replied, polite but reserved. “We have classes for all levels. Have you practiced before?”

“Never,” I lied. “But a friend recommended it. Said yoga helps with stress.”

“It really does,” she said, though her posture stayed slightly tense. “What times are you interested in?”

I asked a few basic questions about pricing and class options, noticing how professional she was-friendly, but not fully engaging. I clearly didn’t fit the usual profile of people who wandered into that studio, and she’d already picked up on it.

“There’s a café on the corner,” she said finally. “I usually grab a coffee after class. If you want to talk more about the options…”

“That’d be great,” I said, pleased she’d offered. Robert’s intel about her routine had been spot-on.

We walked side by side down the sidewalk. I kept the conversation light. I commented on Belmonte’s morning traffic, how Brickwillow had changed over the years. Still, I noticed how she kept her body slightly angled away, always watching me out of the corner of her eye.

The café was small and filled with plants, wooden tables creating a cozy atmosphere. Olivia ordered a latte and a crepe. I went with a simple espresso. We sat at a table in the back, away from the others.

“So,” she said, stirring sugar into her coffee, “do you work around here?”

“Not exactly,” I replied. “I’ve been a little… off track lately. Trying to get my priorities straight.”

She nodded, but her gaze stayed sharp. I decided to move slowly, test the waters.

“It’s funny…” I began casually. “You have the same look as someone I once knew.”

I caught the smallest reaction. A slight lift of her eyebrow, a barely-there pause before she took a sip. Still, she didn’t give me anything.

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“Oh yeah?” she said. “Belmonte can be a small world sometimes.”

“It can,” I agreed. “Especially when it comes to people… from the same family.”

This time, the reaction was unmistakable. She set her cup down harder than necessary, the porcelain clinking agnst the saucer.

“Where are you going with this?” she asked, her voice controlled but suddenly cold.

I knew I was at the edge of subtlety. Time to take the risk.

“Madeline,” I said softly, letting her name fall between us.

The air shifted instantly. Olivia dropped the cup completely, coffee spilling onto the saucer. Her expression hardened and before I could react, she grabbed the fork beside her plate and aimed it straight at the hand resting on the table in front of me.

I reacted on instinct, yanking my hand back a split second before the fork slammed into the wooden table.

“Did Dominic send you?” Her voice was sharp, low enough not to draw attention, but packed with restrained fury. “Does he think he can watch me too?”

The moment stretched in slow motion-the tension radiating off her in waves, the silver prongs of the fork catching the café’s soft light, the deadly silence that fell between us.

“No,” I said, keeping my voice calm. “My name is Marcus. Marcus Kensington.”

I paused, holding her gaze.

“And I only want to help Madeline.”

The fork was still raised, but I saw her hand tremble for the briefest second. The way she held her breath told me more than words ever could. She knew exactly who I was.

Slowly, she lowered the fork back onto the table. She didn’t relax, though. Her body stayed tense, ready to react, her eyes locked on mine with a mix of recognition and deep mistrust.

“Marcus,” she repeated, and I watched the exact moment the pieces fell into place. “Marcus from the Maldives.

It wasn’t a question. It was confirmation. “She told me about you,” she said simply. “Everything.”

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“Then you know—”

“I know you mean more to her than she’ll ever admit,” she cut in. “And I know she’s tearing herself apart pretending you never existed. But if she’s doing that, there must be a reason she wants you far away.”

“But you also know she can’t marry him, and we’re running out of time,” I said quietly. “If I walk away now, there may not be another chance to protect your cousin.”

Olivia didn’t answer right away. She just stared at me, measuring me, weighing options I couldn’t see. Her fingers toyed nervously with the handle of her cup, but her eyes never left mine.

The silence stretched between us like a chasm. I knew I was walking a razor’s edge. One wrong word, one wrong move, and I’d lose the only link I had to Madeline. The only chance to reach her before it was too late.

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“And what’s your plan?” she finally asked.

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