Page 3 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

I sighed, leaning against the desk. “You know how much I care about you, but I can’t be everywhere at once.”

Her voice dropped, the hurt bleeding through despite her attempt to sound composed. “It’s not about being everywhere, Levi. It’s about being here. With me.”

“I’m doing this for us,” I argued, trying to ignore the ache in my chest.

“No,” she said softly. “You’re doing it for you.”

I didn’t fight her on it. I didn’t fight for her at all.

The valet pulls upwith my car, snapping me back to the present. I nod my thanks and slide into the driver’s seat, gripping the steering wheel as I sit in silence for a moment.

I shouldn’t have left the way I did. But the way she looked at me—like she could still see every part of me, the good, the bad, and the broken—was too much. It’s been three years, and yet Tania still has the power to strip me bare with one glance.

I know I shouldn’t have blindsided her with the fake engagement plan, but it wasn’t just a spur-of-the-moment idea. It’s something I’ve thought about for weeks, ever since the merger talks began. Damon has been circling like a shark, trying to find cracks in my image. And as much as I hate to admit it, the board is old-fashioned. They want stability. A partner. A life beyond the billion-dollar deals.

When I saw Tania tonight, the plan solidified in my mind. She’s the only person I trust to pull this off—and the only person I can’t seem to let go of.

BackThen

“You’re incredible, you know that?” I said, watching Tania across the table at one of our favorite hole-in-the-wall restaurants. She was reviewing notes for a presentation, her brow furrowed in concentration.

She glanced up, her lips curving into a smile. “I’m just trying to keep up with you.”

“You don’t have to try,” I said. “You’re already miles ahead of everyone else.”

Her cheeks flushed, and she reached across the table, lacing her fingers with mine. “You always know what to say.”

Only with you, I thought, though I didn’t say it out loud.

I gripthe steering wheel tighter, the weight of those memories pressing down on me. I had it all once—Tania, my ambitions, the future we both dreamed of. And I let it slip through my fingers because I didn’t know how to share the load.

When I lost Tania, I lost more than just a relationship. I lost my balance, the person who made me feel grounded in a world where everything else was in constant motion.

And now, I have a chance to bring her back into my life, even if it’s under the guise of a business arrangement. It’s selfish, I know. But if this is the only way to be close to her again, I’ll take it.

For years, I’ve told myself I left her because I wanted her to be happy. Because she deserved someone who could give her the time and attention I couldn’t. But the truth is, I left because I was afraid. Afraid of failing her, of falling short, of being vulnerable.

Not anymore.

This time, I’m not walking away without a fight.

Chapter Three

Tania

The morning sunlight streams through the windows of my tiny office, catching the dust motes in the air. I stare blankly at the financial spreadsheets open on my laptop, the numbers blurring together. No matter how many times I go over them, the conclusion is the same: Caldwell PR is sinking.

My assistant, Jenna, knocks softly on the doorframe, her expression hesitant. “Tania, the printer’s acting up again, and the client wants those mockups by noon.”

I nod, forcing a tight smile. “I’ll take care of it.”

She lingers for a moment, her brow furrowed. “You okay? You seem... distracted.”

I wave her off, grateful she doesn’t press. “Just a lot on my mind. Thanks, Jenna.”

When she leaves, I sink back into my chair, running a hand over my face. Distracted doesn’t even begin to cover it. I didn’t sleep at all last night, thanks to Levi Nichols and his insaneproposition. A fake engagement? What kind of person even suggests that?

I shut my laptop and stare out the window at the bustling streets of Manhattan below. The truth is, I know exactly why Levi proposed the idea. His world is full of appearances and power plays, and he’s always been good at playing the game. What I don’t understand is why he picked me. After everything that happened between us, why come back now?

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