CHAPTER TWO

“Crap, I’m late!”. Leila screamed to no one in particular. She had an important meeting with Mr. Hasters this morning by 9am and she just waking up by 8:50am. There was no way she would dress 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 to the adjoining office and Gavin Hasters was seated, his face buried in his tablet. She broke the silence

“I’m very sorry sir. I had a family emergency this morning. It won’t happen again”. She said in a low voice.

“Miss Baker, this is your first strike. We had an important meeting in order to go over and seal our deal with the Bancrofts”.

“Is there anything I can do to make this up sir.”

Leila had already decided to do anything to make this right

Gavin Hasters set his tablet down slowly, his piercing blue eyes locking onto Leila as she stood awkwardly near the door.

“You want to make this up?” he said. “The Bancrofts are attending a charity gala tonight. I’ll need someone by my side who understands the terms of the deal we’re proposing. Can you handle that?”

A gala? She wasn’t exactly prepared for something like that. She had never even been in that kind of setting before, But she couldn’t afford to mess this up any further. “Of course, sir. I’ll be there.”

“Good.” His voice was cold, dismissive. “Be ready by seven. And dress appropriately.”

Leila nodded quickly, excused herself, and practically ran back to her desk. She texted Frank in a panic.

Leila: I need a gown for tonight. Urgently. Something that screams “I’m not a complete disaster.”

Frank: What happened?

Leila: Long story. Just help me, please

By 6:30 p.m., Leila was standing in front of her mirror. Frank had come through with a sleek, black floor-length dress that hugged her figure in all the right places. Her hair was swept into an elegant bun, and a pair of silver earrings added complimented her high face and long neck. She barely even recognized herself.

Her phone buzzed with a message from Gavin’s driver, informing her that the car was waiting downstairs. With a deep breath, she grabbed her clutch and headed out.

The gala was held at one of the city’s most luxurious venue, a ballroom adorned with glittering chandeliers and known for important events. The moment she stepped inside, Leila felt completely out of place. This was not her kind of gathering at all. The room was filled with executives, celebrities, and socialites, all dressed to the nines. She wondered why her boss did not invite his fiancée.

Gavin was already there, standing near the bar with a glass of whiskey in hand, looking devastatingly handsome in a tailored 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. He pressed her against the wall, his lips crashing onto hers with a hunger that made her knees weak. She clung to him, her fingers tangling in his hair as the world outside the elevator ceased to exist.

They barely made it to the hotel room. The second the door clicked shut, Gavin had her pinned against it, his hands exploring her as if he couldn’t get enough. Clothes were discarded in a blur, and when they finally reached the bed, Leila was lost in him—his touch, his scent, the way he whispered her name like it was the only thing that mattered. Each thrust made her feel like it was only both of them that mattered.

When Leila woke up the next morning, the sun was peeking through the curtains, Her head pounded, and for a moment, she wasn’t sure where she was. Then the events of the night before came rushing back.

She turned her head to find Gavin lying beside her, his expression peaceful in sleep. Her heart raced as reality set in. What had she done?

Quietly, she slipped out of bed, gathering her clothes and dressing as quickly as she could. She couldn’t face him, not now, not like this. As she reached for the door, Gavin’s voice stopped her.

“Running away, Miss Baker?”

Her breath caught, and she turned to see him propped up on one elbow“I—” She struggled to find the words, “I don’t know,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “This… this was a mistake.”

He stepped closer, his gaze never leaving hers.

“Was it?”

Leila swallowed hard, the intensity of his stare making her feel as though he could see straight into her soul. “I—”

Before she could finish, her phone buzzed in her bag. She pulled it out, grateful for the distraction, but her blood ran cold when she saw the message from Frank.

Frank: You’re all over the news. Call me ASAP.

“What is it?” Gavin asked, his expression darkening.

Leila turned the phone toward him, her hand trembling.

On the screen was a headline accompanied by a blurry photo of the two of them leaving the party together: “CEO Gavin Hasters Spotted With Mystery Woman After Gala—Is He Cheating On Adele Cooper?”

Her heart sank. This wasn’t just a mistake. This was a disaster.