Page 11 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

I shake my head, banishing the thought. Levi Nichols is a master manipulator, a man who knows how to get what he wants. Whatever his reasons for bringing me into this plan,they have nothing to do with us and everything to do with his precious merger.

But as I turn to go back inside, the warmth of his lips and the way his eyes softened when he looked at me linger in my mind, refusing to let go.

Chapter Eight

Levi

The room feels colder without her in it.

I sip my whiskey, leaning against one of the polished marble pillars near the bar, my eyes scanning the crowd. Tania’s absence shouldn’t bother me. She’s probably cooling off somewhere, trying to reconcile her irritation with me pulling her into that kiss. I know it was bold, maybe too bold, but it was necessary.

That’s what I tell myself, at least.

But the truth? That kiss wasn’t just for Damon, or the investors watching us. It was for me. And that terrifies me more than I’d like to admit.

I set the glass down harder than I mean to, the sharp clink snapping me back to the present. I shouldn’t be thinking about her this much. This was supposed to be simple: play the part, close the deal, and move on. But now, with Tania back in my orbit, everything feels far from simple.

Three YearsAgo

Tania sat across from me in my penthouse, her laptop open, the glow from the screen casting a soft light on her face. She was working late—again—her brow furrowed in concentration.

“You’ve been staring at those numbers for hours,” I said, setting down the files I’d been reviewing. “Take a break.”

She glanced up, a small smile playing on her lips. “Says the guy who hasn’t stopped working since 6 a.m.”

“That’s different,” I said, leaning back against the couch. “I’m used to it.”

“So am I,” she countered, turning her attention back to her screen. But I didn’t miss the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight she carried every time she thought about building her firm from the ground up.

“Tania,” I said, my tone softening. “You don’t have to do this alone. Let me help you.”

Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, and for a moment, I thought she might say yes. But then she shook her head, her resolve hardening. “I appreciate it, Levi. I really do. But I need to do this my way.”

That was Tania for you—independent to a fault, always determined to prove she could handle anything the world threw at her. It was one of the things I loved most about her.

But it was also the thing that drove us apart.

I drainthe rest of my drink, the memory leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. I didn’t leave her because I stopped caring. I left because I thought it was what she wanted, what she needed. I thought I was giving her the freedom to chase her dreams without me holding her back.

But standing here tonight, watching her move through this room with the same quiet confidence she’s always had, I can’t help but wonder if I was wrong.

The problem wasn’t her ambition—it was mine. I was so focused on building my empire, so obsessed with proving myself, that I didn’t see what I was losing until it was too late. And by the time I realized what I’d done, she was gone.

And now, Damon’s watching her like a wolf circling prey.

I spot them across the room, his smooth smile in full force as he leans closer to her, his body language oozing practiced charm. Tania doesn’t look entirely comfortable, but she’s polite, her professional mask firmly in place.

I hate it.

Without thinking, I set my glass down and start toward them, my steps deliberate. I’m halfway there when I catch the faintest hint of a smile on Tania’s lips, something Damon says pulling it out of her.

Jealousy flares in my chest, sharp and hot. It’s irrational—I know that—but I can’t stop it. I know Damon too well, know exactly how he operates. He’s not interested in Tania beyond what she can offer him. And that’s what infuriates me most. She deserves more than to be someone’s pawn in a power play.

“Damon,”I say, my voice calm but firm as I approach. “Enjoying yourself?”

He straightens, turning to face me with that infuriating smirk of his. “Levi. Always a pleasure.”

“Hardly,” I reply, my gaze flicking to Tania. “Everything okay here?”

---