The private elevator hummed quietly as we ascended. My hands clutched my clutch bag so tightly my knuckles turned white. Ming Xu stood beside me, tall and silent, his sharp profile lit by the golden reflection of the city lights outside.
I told myself to breathe. It's just a business party.
But my heart clearly hadn't gotten the memo—it was racing like I had just run a marathon.
The elevator doors slid open, revealing a luxurious hotel suite converted into an exclusive private gathering. Soft jazz music played in the background, and crystal glasses clinked. Investors in expensive suits laughed and chatted while waiters carried trays of champagne.
"Ming Xu, my boy!" One of the investors greeted him warmly. "Let's toast to our future partnership!"
Before I could even protest, a tall glass of champagne was placed in my hand. I took a small sip—just to be polite. Sweet. Bubbly. Dangerously addictive.
One sip became two. Two became… well, I lost count.
The night blurred into a dizzy mix of laughter, clinking glasses, and Ming Xu's voice—deep, low, and oddly gentle whenever he spoke to me. I had never seen him like this before… or maybe it was just the champagne making me braver.
At some point, the party melted away. It was just the two of us, standing by the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, the city glittering below us.
"You're… not always this scary," I mumbled, leaning slightly toward him.
His lips curved—not quite a smile, but softer than I'd ever seen. "And you… talk too much when you drink."
My heart stumbled at the way he was looking at me—like I was the only person in the room.
The next moments were a blur—his hand on my waist, his breath warm against my ear, the way the world seemed to spin slower when he leaned in.
The lights of the city faded. The only thing I remembered was the heat of his touch and the sound of my own heartbeat.
When I woke the next morning, sunlight streamed into the suite. I was tangled in crisp white sheets. My head throbbed, my cheeks burned—
And Ming Xu was right beside me, still asleep, his arm resting possessively around my waist.
I froze. Oh no… what did we do last night?