Page 30 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

His voice startles me, and I look up to see him standing in the doorway, his expression cautious. He takes a step toward me, his eyes searching mine.

“Are you okay?” he asks, his voice soft.

I laugh bitterly, shaking my head. “Don’t pretend to care, Levi.”

He frowns, coming closer. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means I heard you,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended. “Your little speech about how perfect I am for this merger. How I’m playing the role flawlessly. Is that what you see when you look at me? A role?”

He freezes, his green eyes widening slightly. “Tania, that’s not?—”

“Save it,” I cut in, my voice trembling. “I get it now. All of this—the looks, the words, the... moments—it’s all just part of the performance, isn’t it?”

“No,” he says firmly, his voice rising slightly. “It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it like, Levi?” I demand, my chest aching. “Because from where I’m standing, it feels like I’m just another strategy to you.”

His jaw tightens, and he takes another step closer, his tone softer now. “You’re not. You’re so much more than that.”

“Then why did you say it?” I whisper, my voice breaking. “Why did you make me feel like this could be real when it never was?”

He reaches for me, his hand brushing mine, but I pull back, shaking my head. “Don’t.”

“Tania,” he says, his voice pleading. “You have to let me explain.”

“I can’t,” I say, tears stinging my eyes. “Because every time I start to think there’s something more here, you remind me why I can’t trust you.”

“That’s not fair,” he says, his tone raw. “You put those walls up, Tania. Not me. And I’ve been trying?—”

“To what? Break them down?” I interrupt, my voice cracking. “You don’t get to do that, Levi. You don’t get to make me feel this way and then use me to sell your merger.”

“I’m not using you,” he says, his voice trembling now. “You’re more to me than this deal. More than I can put into words.”

“Then why does it feel like I’m the only one risking anything?” I whisper, tears spilling over.

He looks at me, his expression pained, but he doesn’t say anything. The silence between us is heavy, and I can feel the distance growing, even though we’re only a few feet apart.

“I need space,” I say finally, my voice barely audible. “Please, Levi. Just... let me breathe.”

He hesitates, his hand twitching slightly as if he wants to reach for me again. But then he nods, his shoulders slumping as he steps back. “Okay,” he says quietly. “But I’m not giving up, Tania. Not on you.”

The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache, but I can’t let it sway me. I turn away, wrapping my arms around myself as I stare out at the skyline. His footsteps fade as he leaves the room, and when the door clicks shut behind him, the tears come in full force.

This was supposed to be simple. Professional. Safe.

But nothing about Levi Nichols has ever been safe.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Levi

The night feels too quiet. The city lights twinkle through the penthouse windows, but the room is heavy with the tension Tania and I left unresolved. She asked for space, and I gave it to her. But every second apart feels like a chasm widening between us, and I can’t let it grow any further.

I find her sitting by the window, her knees pulled to her chest as she stares out at the skyline. Her face is bathed in the soft glow of the city, and my chest tightens at the sight of her. She’s beautiful, even when she’s angry, even when she’s hurting.

Especially when she’s hurting.

“Tania,” I say softly, stepping into the room.

---