Hired a Gigolo Got a Billionaire (Zoey and Christian) novel Chapter 9

I didn't think. I just grabbed Christian's wrist and dragged him out of the room before anyone decided to start throwing confetti at us. He was smiling the whole time, like he was actually enjoying this insanity.

I stormed down the hallway, ignoring my mom's and siblings' confused looks, shoved him into the kitchen, and slammed the door shut behind us.

"What the hell was that, Christian?!"

He adjusted the sleeve of his suit, totally relaxed, like proposing to a complete stranger was something he did every Thursday.

"A marriage proposal."

"I noticed!" I rubbed my forehead, a tingling starting behind my eyes. "What I want to know is, why?!"

He gave me a look of pure amusement, like he couldn't understand why I was having a meltdown.

"I thought we'd already established this. You asked me to be your fiancé at your ex's wedding. I just decided I want to keep playing the part."

He decided?!

"I didn't ask you to stalk me and show up at my house with an engagement ring, you lunatic! Not to mention you lied to me!"

"Well, technically, I didn't lie. You never asked if I was your gigolo."

"You let me think you were!"

He arched an eyebrow, looking way too entertained by my crisis.

"I just didn't correct you."

"Why?!"

He shrugged.

"You said I'd get to kiss you. Sounded pretty convincing to me."

I gawked at him, my face heating, my stomach twisting even though part of me wanted to punch him.

"Are you kidding me?!"

He laughed softly, but then his expression turned more serious.

"Zoey, listen. You might think all this is ridiculous right now, but believe me… I wasn't the one who started this mess. You were."

I blinked, stunned.

"Excuse me?"

"Your little scene at the wedding. The 'my rich, perfect fiancé' game. That, along with the photos, caused a stir in the media."

"So what? Do you care? It's the internet. They'll forget about us as soon as they find something else to talk about."

He let out a short laugh.

"I wouldn't care… if it wasn't for the fact that my grandfather saw it."

My eyebrow shot up.

"So what about him?"

For the first time, Christian looked a little frustrated. He ran a hand through his hair, and something in his expression shifted—a flicker of vulnerability I hadn't seen before.

"My grandfather is very traditional, Zoey. He thinks I'm a lost cause, that I'll never settle down or build something solid. And now, suddenly, he sees headlines saying I'm engaged?"

I swallowed hard, already feeling the weight of where this was going.

"And he believed it?"

Christian folded his arms.

"He wants to meet you."

My brain twisted into knots.

"Okay. This just passed the bizarre threshold."

He sighed, leaning back against the counter, watching me carefully.

"Zoey, you need to understand this isn't just about him being stubborn. My grandfather plans to leave me the majority of the inheritance—all the family businesses. But for that to happen, I have to be married."

I blinked, completely rattled.

"You're serious?"

He just stared at me. And that was the moment I realized he really was serious. I let out a short, disbelieving laugh.

"Well, then you'll have to find someone else to pretend to be your fiancée, because I'm out of this insanity."

Christian tilted his head.

"Are you sure?"

"Positive!" I crossed my arms, ignoring the flip in my stomach. "I'm allergic to marriage."

"Zoey…"

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