The music in the ballroom slowly shifted again as the previous song ended.
Soft applause rose from several tables while couples stepped off the dance floor, laughing and returning to their seats. Waiters moved gracefully through the crowd with trays of champagne and sparkling water.
But Sofia Mirano still felt slightly breathless.
Not from dancing.
From standing so close to Leo Rivera.
They had just finished their dance, yet for a brief moment neither of them moved away. The quiet pause between them felt almost fragile, like something important was hanging in the air.
Then Sofia stepped back gently.
"Thank you for the dance," she said again, her voice softer now.
Leo nodded once.
"You did well."
Sofia laughed quietly.
"You're being generous."
Leo studied her for a moment longer before stepping slightly aside, allowing the space between them to return.
But the warmth of that closeness still lingered.
Around them, several employees were still watching.
Whispers had already begun spreading through the ballroom.
Across the room, Lucy Hemming leaned against the refreshment table with an expression of pure satisfaction.
"Oh, this is getting better."
A young woman standing beside her raised an eyebrow.
"Are you enjoying the show?"
Lucy smiled brightly.
"Very much."
The woman followed Lucy's gaze toward Sofia and Leo.
"They look… comfortable together."
Lucy laughed.
"That's one way to say it."
Meanwhile, Vanessa Clarke stood near the bar, swirling a glass of champagne slowly.
Her sharp eyes followed Leo and Sofia carefully.
The dance had confirmed something she had suspected for days.
Leo Rivera was paying too much attention to his secretary.
Vanessa tilted her head slightly.
It wasn't scandalous yet.
But it could become very interesting.
Back near the center of the ballroom, Sofia and Leo walked toward a quieter corner near one of the large windows.
The city lights outside glittered beautifully against the dark sky.
Sofia exhaled softly.
"That was less terrifying than I expected."
Leo raised an eyebrow.
"You expected it to be terrifying?"
"A little."
Leo's voice softened.
"You trusted me enough to try."
Sofia smiled faintly.
"Yes."
Before Leo could respond, another voice interrupted.
"Sofia."
They both turned.
Daniel Collins approached with a polite smile and a glass of champagne in his hand.
"Good evening."
Sofia nodded politely.
"Good evening, Daniel."
Daniel glanced briefly at Leo.
"Mr. Rivera."
Leo returned the greeting with a short nod.
Daniel turned his attention back to Sofia.
"I was hoping I'd see you tonight."
Sofia felt slightly awkward.
"I suppose everyone is here."
Daniel chuckled.
"That's true."
Then he gestured toward the dance floor.
"Would you like to dance?"
For a brief second, the room seemed to grow quieter.
Sofia blinked.
Daniel continued smiling casually, clearly unaware of the shift in atmosphere.
But Leo noticed.
His posture changed slightly.
Not dramatically.
Just enough for Sofia to sense it.
She hesitated.
"That's kind of you, but—"
Before she could finish, Leo spoke calmly.
"Mr. Collins."
Daniel turned.
"Yes, sir?"
Leo's voice remained polite.
"But firm."
"I believe the finance department was looking for you earlier."
Daniel frowned slightly.
"Finance?"
Leo nodded.
"They mentioned needing clarification on the marketing budget."
Daniel glanced between them uncertainly.
"Oh… right."
He looked back at Sofia.
"Maybe another time then."
Sofia nodded politely.
"Perhaps."
Daniel walked away toward another group of employees.
The moment he left, Sofia turned toward Leo.
"You didn't have to do that."
Leo looked at her calmly.
"Do what?"
"Send him away."
Leo shrugged slightly.
"I didn't."
Sofia raised an eyebrow.
"You absolutely did."
Leo remained quiet for a moment.
Then he said simply,
"You looked uncomfortable."
Sofia blinked.
"I could have handled it."
"I know."
Leo's voice softened slightly.
"But you didn't have to."
For a moment, Sofia didn't know how to respond.
Because his words felt unexpectedly… protective.
Across the ballroom, Lucy had watched the entire interaction.
She slowly lowered her champagne glass.
"Oh."
The woman beside her frowned.
"What happened?"
Lucy smiled knowingly.
"Jealousy."
Vanessa had also seen it.
The interruption.
The subtle tension in Leo's posture.
The way Sofia looked slightly flustered afterward.
Vanessa's expression became thoughtful again.
Because that wasn't how a CEO behaved with a secretary.
That was how a man behaved when another man showed interest in someone he cared about.
Vanessa took a slow sip of champagne.
Her mind was already turning.
Back near the window, Sofia folded her hands together nervously.
"You didn't need to rescue me."
Leo studied her expression carefully.
"Did it feel like a rescue?"
Sofia hesitated.
"Maybe a little."
Leo looked toward the dance floor for a moment.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I didn't like the way he approached you."
Sofia blinked.
"Why?"
Leo met her eyes.
The answer sat on the tip of his tongue.
But he stopped himself.
Instead he said simply,
"He was being persistent."
Sofia smiled faintly.
"You sound like Lucy."
Leo frowned slightly.
"Lucy?"
"My best friend."
"The designer."
Sofia nodded.
"She says things like that too."
Leo almost smiled.
"I imagine she says many things."
Sofia laughed softly.
"You have no idea."
For a moment, the tension between them eased again.
But something deeper still lingered.
A feeling both of them were slowly becoming aware of.
The music changed again as another slow song began playing.
Several couples stepped onto the dance floor once more.
Sofia watched them for a moment.
Then she turned back to Leo.
"You're not planning to rescue me from every dance tonight, are you?"
Leo's lips curved slightly.
"That depends."
"On what?"
"Who asks."
Sofia laughed quietly.
"You're impossible."
Leo didn't deny it.
But his gaze remained fixed on her.
And for the first time that evening…
He realized something clearly.
Watching another man ask Sofia to dance had bothered him more than he expected.
Much more.
Across the ballroom, Vanessa Clarke noticed the way Leo looked at Sofia.
And her smile slowly returned.
Because she could already see the story forming.
And in offices like Rivera Group…
Stories had a way of spreading very quickly.