The bid hall at Stratos Group's Bayhaven office could hold more than 100 people.
Layla entered beside Blake in a charcoal-gray suit, her hair swept neatly into a bun. She felt eyes turning toward her from every direction.
Some curious, some contemptuous, others openly dazzled.
"Nexora Technologies? Never heard of it. Must be a small company."
"I heard a woman wrote it—a homemaker who hasn't worked in 3 years."
"Seriously? So they're only here to make up the numbers?"
The whispers reached Layla, but she didn't flinch.
Blake glanced at her and lowered his voice. "Nervous?"
"No." Layla tapped the thumb drive in her hand. "Just the noise."
Blake raised a brow and smiled.
At the same moment, a commotion broke out on the other side of the hall.
Gavin had arrived.
He wore a custom bla
