CHAPTER 76: [76] GIGOLO FOR HIRE

"I’m not eating that," Xavier said, staring at the colorful array of sushi rolls on the restaurant table. The five women looked at him with varying degrees of surprise and disappointment.

Naomi set down her chopsticks. "What do you mean you’re not eating it? This is premium-grade yellowtail and salmon from the Pacific Reserve."

"It’s raw fish wrapped in seaweed," Xavier countered, pushing his plate away slightly. "I don’t care if it was caught by mermaids and blessed by Poseidon himself."

Margaret’s mouth fell open. "You can’t be serious. This is Akira’s—they have a six-month waiting list for reservations!"

Xavier shrugged, unmoved by the restaurant’s apparent prestige. "Ashley made one phone call and suddenly they had a table for six. That doesn’t make the food any better."

"It’s an acquired taste," Selena said diplomatically, though her eyes betrayed amusement at his bluntness.

"I’ve acquired plenty of tastes," Xavier replied. "Some of them even illegal in certain countries. Raw fish just isn’t one of them."

Calypso, seated beside him, poked at her own colorful plate. "I think it’s pretty," she offered, though she hadn’t eaten much either.

"Pretty doesn’t equal tasty," Xavier said. "Besides, we had Japanese food and Thai last night." He turned toward a passing server. "Excuse me, do you serve burgers here?"

The server, a young man in an impeccable black uniform, looked physically pained by the question. "Sir, we are an authentic Japanese fusion establishment specializing in—"

"So that’s a no," Xavier interrupted. He glanced around the upscale restaurant with its minimalist decor and hushed atmosphere. "Is there anywhere nearby that serves actual food? Something with bread and meat cooked at temperatures that kill bacteria?"

Ashley pinched the bridge of her nose. "You’re embarrassing us."

"What kind of hunter doesn’t appreciate culinary diversity?" Naomi challenged, her gold bracelets clinking as she gestured emphatically.

Xavier leaned back in his chair. "The kind who knows what he likes. Look, when I get a girlfriend, she’ll have some input on what we eat. Until then, I’m getting a burger."

Margaret’s eyes widened. "Did you just say ’when’ you get a girlfriend? As in, you’re actively looking?"

Xavier realized his mistake immediately. Five pairs of eyes focused on him with new interest, like predators spotting wounded prey.

"Figure of speech."

"Didn’t sound like one," Selena observed, twirling a strand of blue-tipped blonde hair around her finger.

Xavier stood up, grabbing his new sunglasses from the table. "I’m going to find real food. Anyone who wants to join me can. Otherwise, enjoy your raw fish."

To his surprise, Calypso immediately stood up. "I’ll come. I’m not really feeling the sushi either."

"Traitor," Naomi muttered.

After a moment of hesitation, Margaret rose as well. "Fine. I could use some variety, I suppose."

One by one, the others joined, though Ashley made a show of reluctance. "This is ridiculous. We had reservations."

"And now they’ll have a table for the next people on their six-month waiting list," Xavier said. "We’re doing a public service."

The group left the restaurant, with Ashley pausing to press something into the maître d’s hand—likely enough money to smooth over any offense. Outside, the late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the upscale shopping district. Xavier put on his new sunglasses, immediately appreciating their quality as the world came into sharper focus without the glare.

"There’s a place called Grill 23 about two blocks from here," Selena said, checking her phone. "They have burgers."

"And vegetarian options," Margaret added, falling into step beside Xavier. "Not all of us want red meat."

"More for me," Xavier replied.

As they walked, Xavier became aware of the attention they were attracting. People stopped to stare at their group—particularly at Ashley, whose distinctive blonde hair and pink-purple eyes were apparently recognizable even in casual settings. He caught snippets of whispered conversations.

"That’s Ashley Martin..."

"Isn’t that the guy from the Thalia video?"

"Who’s the silver-haired girl?"

Xavier subtly adjusted his position to keep Calypso closer to his side.

"You’re doing it again," Calypso murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

"Doing what?"

"The bodyguard thing. I’m fine."

Xavier hadn’t realized how tense his shoulders had become. He forced himself to relax, though his eyes continued scanning their surroundings behind his sunglasses.

Grill 23 turned out to be a modern restaurant with exposed brick walls and leather booths. The hostess recognized Ashley immediately, her professional composure slipping for just a moment before she led them to a secluded booth in the back corner.

"Their signature burger has three types of cheese and bacon jam," Margaret read.

"See? American food can be sophisticated too," Xavier replied.

They placed their orders—a classic cheeseburger for Xavier, various other options for the women—and settled into conversation. Xavier relaxed slightly as they discussed classes and instructors rather than his personal habits.

That headache is finally gone.

"Phantom’s teaching style is unorthodox but effective," Ashley said. "His temporal manipulation demonstration was particularly impressive."

"I’m more interested in what Professor Rousseau said about gate types," Margaret replied. "The curriculum clearly omits significant information."

"Politics," Naomi said dismissively. "Corporations control what we learn because knowledge equals profit."

His phone vibrated in his pocket. Checking it discreetly, he saw a message from Beppo in their group chat:

"DUDE!!! You’re trending AGAIN! #ValentinePlayboy is in the top 10 local tags! 🔥🔥🔥"

Attached were several social media posts showing their group walking through the mall and entering the restaurant. The photos focused particularly on Xavier surrounded by the women, with captions ranging from speculative to outright salacious:

"First Thalia Sinclair, now Ashley Martin? He moves fast! 👀"

"Who’s the silver-haired beauty? Another conquest for Catalyst’s new playboy?"

These fucking losers have way too much time on their hands HOLY!

"Everything okay?" Calypso asked, noticing his expression darken.

Xavier showed her the phone screen, angled away from the others. Her eyes widened slightly before she suppressed a laugh.

"It’s not funny," he muttered.

"It kind of is," she whispered back.

"What are you two whispering about?" Naomi asked.

"We’re trending," Xavier said, deciding honesty was the simplest approach. He turned his phone to show the others. "Apparently I’m a gigolo now."

The reactions were mixed. Margaret looked horrified, Selena seemed amused, Naomi laughed outright, and Ashley’s expression turned calculating.

"Welcome to Catalyst," Ashley said after a moment. "Everything gets noticed, everything gets distorted."

"Doesn’t it bother you?"

Ashley’s perfectly manicured fingers tapped against her water glass. "My family has been in the public eye for years. You learn to use the attention rather than fight it."

"Use it how?" Xavier asked.

"People believing what they want to believe can be advantageous," Ashley said. "If they’re busy looking at a manufactured story, they miss what’s actually happening."

Their food arrived, momentarily diverting attention from the social media situation. Xavier took a bite of his burger and made an appreciative sound.

"This is actual food," he declared. "Cooked. Seasoned. Not pretending to be something it isn’t."

"Such high standards," Naomi teased, stealing one of his fries.

"I know what I like," Xavier replied simply.

"And what you don’t," Margaret added.

Xavier caught the implication but chose to ignore it. The dynamics at the table had shifted subtly, with the women exchanging looks that seemed to contain entire conversations. He’d been around enough manipulation in his previous life to recognize when he was being assessed and categorized.

"So," Selena said, changing the subject, "are you going to the Primal Exhibition next month? Dominic Black versus actual gate monsters."

"I would love to," Xavier replied, grateful for the topic shift. "Though I don’t have tickets yet."

"I have a private box," Ashley said casually. "You’re all welcome to join me."

Xavier met her eyes, trying to read her motivation. The invitation seemed genuine, but Ashley Martin didn’t strike him as someone who did anything without purpose.

"That’s generous," he said carefully.

Ashley shrugged one elegant shoulder. "Consider it a down payment for continuing fashion advice. Your perspective is... refreshingly honest."

"He called your white pantsuit boring," Naomi pointed out.

"He said it looked like something my father would approve of," Ashley corrected. "He was right."

By the time they finished eating, the social media storm had grown, with new photos and speculation appearing by the minute. Xavier resigned himself to his unwanted celebrity status. If people wanted to believe he was a playboy, let them. As Ashley had pointed out, misconceptions could provide useful cover.

What mattered was the mission—closing the gates, breaking the divine entanglement, and figuring out why Dominic Black had a soul that shouldn’t exist. Everything else, including his apparent new reputation as Catalyst Academy’s premier gigolo, was just noise.