up and make it to the office in ten minutes. She was cooked! Leila stepped into the office and the mood in there was close to make her panic. Scrap that, she panicked!.She opened the door t

black tuxedo. When he saw her, his gaze swept over her from head to toe, lingering just long enough to make her cheeks flush. "You clean up well, Miss Baker," he said, handing her a glass of champagne. "Thank you," she said, trying not to sound too happy. The night was a blur of introductions, small talk, and negotiations. Leila was surprised at how Gavin moved through the crowd, charming everyone he spoke to. She did her best to keep up, chiming in when necessary and making mental notes of everything she observed. When the event officially ended, Gavin turned to her, "There's an afterparty upstairs," he said, his voice low. "Care to join me?" Leila hesitated. She should probably go home and call it a night, but there was something about the way he was looking at her that made her pulse race. "Sure," she said, her voice barely audible. The afterparty was a more intimate affair, held in a private suite. The crowd was smaller. "You're full of surprises, Miss Baker," Gavin said, his voice smooth. "How so?" she asked, sipping her drink. "You handled yourself well tonight," he said, his eyes locked on hers. "I'm impressed" "Is that a compliment?" she teased, the alcohol giving her a boost of courage. "It is." His gaze dropped to her lips, lingering for a fraction of a second. "Don't let it go to your head." She opened her mouth to respond, but the words never came. Gavin leaned in, his hand brushing against her cheek as he closed the distance between them. The kiss was slow at first, testing, but it quickly deepened. Leila's head was spinning and she wasn't sure if it was the champagne or the way Gavin was pulling her closer, his hand settling on the small of her back. Everything in her was screaming for her to stop but she couldn't. She was too addicted to the way he was kissing her. "Let's get out of here," he murmured against her lips. Her heart pounded as she nodded, unable to find her voice. Gavin stood, taking her hand and leading her out of the suite. The hallway was quiet, their footsteps the only sound as they made their way to the elevator. When the elevator doors closed, Gavin wasted no time.