Page 29 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

“I’m acting like someone who cares about you,” I snap, the words spilling out before I can stop them.

She freezes, her arms falling to her sides as her expression shifts from anger to something softer, something uncertain. “Levi...”

The silence that follows is deafening, the tension between us stretching so taut it feels like it might snap. Her lips part like she’s about to say something, but then she shakes her head, her resolve hardening again.

“You don’t get to do this,” she says quietly, her voice trembling. “You don’t get to act like you care when it’s convenient for you.”

“It’s not convenient,” I say, my voice rough. “It’s the truth.”

She stares at me, her gaze searching mine for what feels like an eternity. Finally, she exhales sharply, turning away.

“I need some air,” she says, her voice tight. “Don’t follow me.”

I watch her walk away, my chest tight with frustration and something I can’t quite name. The room feels too loud, too crowded, and all I can think about is the look in her eyes—the mix of anger, confusion, and something else. Something that makes me want to tear down every wall she’s built.

But as I stand there, frozen in place, I realize that tonight, I might have pushed her too far.

Chapter Twenty-One

Tania

The sun streams through the large windows of Levi’s penthouse, painting the sleek surfaces with a warm glow. I’ve been pacing for what feels like hours, pretending to work on my laptop while Levi remains in his office for a conference call. The muffled sound of his voice filters through the slightly ajar door, calm and commanding as always.

I shouldn’t be straining to hear him, but I can’t help myself.

Last night’s argument left me raw. Levi’s words, his anger, his vulnerability—it’s all been playing on a loop in my mind, disrupting the walls I’ve worked so hard to build. Walls I swore I wouldn’t let him breach again. But he’s making it harder with every passing moment, every stolen glance, every whispered word that feels more real than this arrangement ever should.

I’m snapped out of my thoughts by the scrape of his chair against the floor. His voice grows louder, more distinct, and I tell myself to walk away. To respect his space, his privacy.

But my feet stay rooted to the spot.

“I know it’s unconventional,”Levi says, his tone steady. “But the board needs to see stability. They need to see that I’m invested in more than just the numbers.”

There’s a pause, a low hum of agreement from someone on the other end of the line. Then Levi continues, his words clear and deliberate.

“That’s why Tania is perfect for this. She’s poised, intelligent, and exactly the kind of partner I need to make this merger happen.”

My stomach clenches, my breath catching in my throat.

Perfect for this. A partner. For the merger.

I know this arrangement is just business, but hearing him say it—reducing me to a cog in his carefully constructed plan—it stings in a way I didn’t expect.

“She knows the role,” Levi adds. “And she’s playing it flawlessly.”

Something twists in my chest, and I force myself to step back, away from the door. My vision blurs as I retreat to the living room, the sound of his voice still echoing in my ears.

Flawlessly.

I don’t know what I expected. This was always supposed to be fake. But the way he’s been looking at me, the way he’s been acting—like I’m more than just a piece of his strategy—it’s made me wonder. Made me hope.

And that’s the part that hurts the most. Because I let myself believe, even for a moment, that this might be real.

I sit on the couch,staring blankly at the skyline, my chest heavy with the weight of my own foolishness. I knew better. Iknew Levi Nichols didn’t change overnight. He’s still the same man who prioritizes his empire above everything else.

So why does it feel like I’m the one who broke my own heart?

“Tania?”

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