He chuckles softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “You’ve always been a hard worker. It’s one of the things I admire about you.”

I freeze, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Don’t,” I say, not looking up.

“Don’t what?” he asks, his voice light but tinged with curiosity.

“Don’t say things like that,” I reply, finally meeting his gaze. “We agreed this was just business.”

He raises an eyebrow, setting his coffee cup down. “Did we? Because last night felt like a little more than business.”

My cheeks flush, and I quickly look away. “It was a mistake.”

“Was it?” he asks, his voice softer now. “Because it didn’t feel like one to me.”

I glare at him, my frustration bubbling over. “Of course it didn’t. You always get what you want, don’t you, Levi?”

His expression falters for a split second, and I immediately regret the words. But instead of snapping back, he simply nods, his gaze dropping to the floor.

“I’ll give you some space,” he says quietly, stepping away and leaving the room.

The silence he leaves behind feels heavier than it should.

I burymyself in work for the rest of the day, throwing every ounce of focus into client emails, marketing strategies, and upcoming campaigns. Jenna calls at one point to go over a pitch, and I force myself to sound upbeat, even though my chest feels tight.

“Are you okay?” Jenna asks after I stumble over my words for the third time.

“Yeah,” I reply quickly. “Just tired. It’s been a long week.”

“Tell me about it,” she says, sighing. “But hey, you’re doing great, Tania. Don’t let the stress get to you.”

I thank her, ending the call and leaning back in my chair. Jenna’s words are kind, but they do little to ease the turmoil inside me. I should feel accomplished after all the work I’ve done today, but instead, I feel... hollow.

Because no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about Levi.

The city lightstwinkle in the distance as I sit by the window, nursing a glass of wine. The penthouse feels too big, too quiet, and my thoughts refuse to settle.

I replay the events of last night over and over, analyzing every word, every touch, every look. The way Levi held me, the way he whispered my name—it felt real. Too real. And that’s what terrifies me.

I thought I could handle this arrangement, that I could keep my heart out of it. But now, I’m not so sure. The line between fake and real isn’t just blurred—it’s obliterated. And no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, I can’t deny the way my body aches for his touch, the way my heart races when he’s near.

This is dangerous territory. I’ve already been burned by Levi once, and I can’t afford to let it happen again. But even as I tell myself to stay focused, to stick to the plan, I know I’m lying.

Because the truth is, I want him.

I want the way he makes me feel, like I’m the only person in the world who matters. I want his hands on me, his voice whispering in my ear. I want the connection we had last night, even if it’s fleeting.

But I can’t. I can’t let myself fall for him again.

The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Levi standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.

“Everything okay?” he asks, his voice soft.

I nod, though my heart pounds in my chest. “Just thinking.”

“About work?” he asks, a faint smile playing on his lips.

“Something like that,” I reply, my voice quieter now.

He studies me for a moment, his gaze lingering, and I can feel the unspoken tension between us like a live wire. I should tell him to leave, to give me space. But instead, I find myself longing for him to stay.