Page 14 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

Tania

The lights in the ballroom seem brighter now, the glittering chandeliers casting a golden glow over the sea of investors and high-profile guests. My heart pounds as I stand beside Levi at the podium, feeling every pair of eyes in the room trained on us.

This was not part of the plan—or at least, it wasn’t part of the plan he shared with me.

Levi stands tall, his posture relaxed, as if he’s completely in control of the situation. But the firm set of his jaw and the tightness around his eyes tell a different story. He’s nervous. And for some reason, that doesn’t make me feel better.

“I want to thank you all for being here tonight,” Levi begins, his deep voice cutting through the hum of the crowd. “Your support for the foundation means the world, not just to me, but to the countless lives your contributions will touch.”

There’s polite applause, the kind that’s more about etiquette than genuine enthusiasm. Levi glances at me, his green eyes softening ever so slightly.

“And on a personal note,” he continues, his tone shifting, “tonight is especially meaningful for me because I have someone here who’s made my life infinitely better.”

My stomach plummets.

No. He wouldn’t.

“I’d like to introduce all of you to my fiancée, Tania Caldwell.”

The room erupts into applause, the polite kind giving way to something more enthusiastic as heads turn to look at me. I feel the heat creeping up my neck, my palms suddenly clammy. Levi steps aside slightly, gesturing for me to step forward.

I freeze.

“Tania?” Levi murmurs under his breath, his voice low enough that only I can hear.

I glare at him, the kind of glare that saysyou’re going to pay for this later.But I force my feet to move, plastering on a smile as I step up beside him.

“Thank you,” I manage, my voice louder than I expect. “It’s, um, an honor to be here tonight.”

The crowd chuckles politely, and I want to melt into the floor.

The applause eventually dies down,and the guests return to their conversations, leaving Levi and me at the mercy of a never-ending line of well-wishers. Each one shakes my hand, offering congratulations and unsolicited advice about married life. I smile and nod, my responses automatic, but my brain feels like it’s running on fumes.

“You must be thrilled,” says a woman in a glittering silver gown. Her diamond necklace catches the light as she leans in conspiratorially. “Levi’s quite the catch.”

“Lucky me,” I say through clenched teeth, my smile rigid.

Levi, who’s been charming the guests effortlessly, glances at me out of the corner of his eye. I can feel his amusement radiating off him, and it only fuels my irritation.

“You’re handling this beautifully,” he murmurs when we have a brief moment alone.

I whirl on him, keeping my voice low but sharp. “What the hell was that? ‘Introduce my fiancée’? Are you insane?”

He smirks, the picture of unbothered confidence. “It needed to be done. The investors were waiting for an announcement.”

“And you couldn’t have warned me?” I snap. “You just threw me into the spotlight without so much as a heads-up.”

“You handled it perfectly,” he says, his tone calm. “Better than I could’ve hoped.”

Before I can respond, Damon appears, his smug grin already setting me on edge.

“Levi,” Damon says, clapping him on the shoulder. “You do love a grand gesture, don’t you?”

Levi’s jaw tightens, but he keeps his tone light. “I’m not here for the theatrics, Damon. That’s more your style.”

Damon ignores the jab, turning his attention to me. “And Tania,” he says, his tone overly familiar. “You’re positively glowing tonight. I can see why Levi wanted to make sure everyone knows you’re his.”

The possessive edge in his words makes my stomach twist, and I can feel Levi tense beside me.

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