Claiming Leila

Chapter 2

Adrian Kincaid hated wasting time.

He stood in front of the floor-to-ceiling window in his office, looking down at the city below. Cars moved slowly through traffic. Crowds crossed busy streets. Everyone seemed to be rushing somewhere.

From up here, everything looked smaller.

More manageable.

That was how Adrian preferred things.

“Your six o’clock meeting is still confirmed,” Nathan said from behind him.

“Good.”

Nathan went quiet.

Adrian knew that silence. It meant there was more.

“What is it?”

“The magazine sent over the photographer's profile.”

Adrian glanced at the file sitting on his desk.

“And?”

Nathan shrugged slightly.

“Her name is Leila Okoye. She's talented.”

That caught Adrian's attention.

“Talented how?”

Nathan leaned against the desk.

“She doesn't just take pictures. She catches people when they forget they're being watched.”

Adrian picked up the file.

The first page showed a photo of Leila at another event. She held a camera in one hand and looked straight ahead. Her expression was calm but confident.

Her eyes stood out.

They were steady and fearless.

Adrian studied the picture longer than he intended.

There was something about her.

Not beauty alone.

Something stronger.

He turned the page.

Another photo.

This time she was laughing at something outside the frame. The smile looked natural, not posed.

Real.

He found himself wanting to know what had made her laugh.

Closing the file, he looked at Nathan.

“Anything else?”

“The board is watching you closely,” Nathan said.

“They're always watching.”

“Exactly. Don't give them a reason to think you're distracted.”

Adrian's expression didn't change.

“I don't make mistakes in public.”

Nathan almost laughed.

“That doesn't mean you never make them.”

Adrian ignored the comment.

He looked at his reflection in the glass.

Dark suit.

Perfect tie.

Calm face.

For years he had worked hard to build that image. People trusted control. They trusted confidence.

And Adrian made sure they saw both.

Tonight he would play his role again.

The gala was being held at the Avery Hotel.

It was the kind of place where wealthy people gathered to celebrate themselves while pretending it was about charity.

Adrian attended because appearances mattered.

The foundation needed donors.

The board expected him there.

The public expected him there.

So he went.

The ballroom glowed with warm lights and expensive decorations. Music played softly in the background.

People greeted Adrian as soon as he arrived.

He shook hands.

Answered questions.

Smiled when necessary.

He knew exactly what people wanted from him.

Confidence.

Charm.

Success.

Giving it to them was easy.

Then he saw her.

Leila stood near the edge of the room with her camera raised.

Unlike many women at the event, she wasn't trying to attract attention.

Her black dress was simple and elegant.

Her hair was neatly pulled back.

She looked focused on her work and nothing else.

Yet somehow she stood out more than anyone.

Adrian's eyes stayed on her.

He couldn't explain why.

He had met countless beautiful women.

None of them had held his attention like this.

Leila moved through the room confidently.

She photographed conversations.

Laughter.

Small moments most people missed.

She seemed to notice everything.

Then she looked up.

Their eyes met.

Most people would have looked away immediately.

Leila didn't.

She held his gaze.

Just for a second.

But it felt longer.

Something shifted inside him.

Not attraction.

Not yet.

Interest.

Strong interest.

Then someone called his name, and the moment ended.

Still, he kept noticing her throughout the evening.

Where she stood.

Where she moved.

Where she pointed her camera.

It irritated him.

More than that, it fascinated him.

Eventually it was time for his speech.

He stepped onto the stage and looked out at the crowd.

Faces turned toward him.

Waiting.

Adrian spoke about supporting young artists.

About investing in communities.

About building opportunities for the future.

The audience responded exactly as expected.

Nods.

Smiles.

Applause.

Yet even while speaking, he noticed Leila.

She kept taking photographs.

Watching him carefully.

Studying him.

At one point, he caught her camera pointed directly at him.

Instead of looking away, he gave her a small smile.

Not warm.

Not cold.

Just enough to let her know he had noticed.

She didn't react.

That made him smile even more.

When the speech ended, guests crowded around him.

One donor wanted a meeting.

Another wanted advice.

A third wanted a photo.

Adrian handled each conversation easily.

But every so often, he found himself looking for Leila.

Finally, he spotted her near the drinks table.

She was reviewing photographs on her camera.

A loose strand of hair had fallen near her cheek.

Without thinking, she brushed it back.

For some reason, Adrian found the simple movement impossible to ignore.

Before he could change his mind, he walked over.

Leila looked up as he approached.

Close up, her eyes seemed even sharper.

There was no nervousness in them.

No excitement.

If anything, she looked slightly annoyed.

The reaction amused him.

“Mr. Kincaid,” she said politely.

“Miss Okoye.”

A brief silence passed.

“You've been photographing me all evening,” Adrian said.

The corner of her mouth twitched.

“That's usually how these events work.”

“Fair point.”

For the first time, he saw amusement flash across her face.

“What do you think of the man in those photos?” he asked.

She tilted her head.

“I'm still deciding.”

His eyebrow lifted.

“That sounds dangerous.”

“Only if you don't like the answer.”

The reply surprised him.

Most people were careful around him.

Leila wasn't.

He found that refreshing.

“Do you always speak your mind?”

“Only when it helps.”

Adrian studied her for a moment.

She was confident.

Not arrogant.

Just unwilling to be intimidated.

He liked that.

“Your work is impressive,” he said.

For the first time, she looked slightly surprised.

“Thank you.”

“I'd like copies of the best photos before they're published.”

Her eyes narrowed.

“That sounds like an order.”

“It can be a request if you prefer.”

Leila folded her arms.

“Depends.”

“On what?”

“Whether I think you deserve them.”

For a second, neither of them spoke.

Then Adrian laughed quietly.

It was a genuine reaction.

Rare.

“And do I?”

“Not yet.”

The answer should have annoyed him.

Instead, it made him curious.

Very curious.

Before he could continue, one of his executives hurried over with a question.

Business.

Always business.

Adrian answered quickly.

When he looked back, Leila was already gone.

He scanned the room.

Nothing.

No sign of her.

The feeling of disappointment surprised him.

Nathan appeared beside him.

“You're staring.”

“No, I'm not.”

Nathan followed his gaze toward the exit.

“The photographer?”

“Yes.”

“She just left.”

Adrian watched the doors across the room.

For a moment, he imagined her walking out into the city.

Camera over her shoulder.

Moving with quiet confidence.

Unbothered by who he was.

The thought stayed with him.

“Get me her contact information,” he said.

Nathan looked at him carefully.

“For the photographs?”

Adrian kept his face expressionless.

“Yes.”

Nathan clearly didn't believe him.

But he nodded anyway.

“Of course.”

The doors closed behind Leila.

Adrian stared at them for another second.

He didn't like surprises.

He liked plans.

Control.

Predictability.

But Leila Okoye didn't feel predictable.

And somehow, after only one evening, she had become impossible to ignore.