Page 33 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

“Because I’m tired of pretending I don’t feel the way I do,” he says simply. “I lost you once, Tania. I’m not losing you again.”

His words hang in the air, heavy with sincerity, and I feel my resolve cracking. He’s standing so close now, his green eyes searching mine, and I can see the vulnerability he’s trying so hard to hide.

Before I can respond, Jenna pokes her head into the office, her timing as impeccable as ever. “Tania, the client is here for the two o’clock meeting.”

I blink, snapping back to reality. “Right. I’ll be right there.”

Jenna nods, shooting Levi an appreciative smile before disappearing down the hall.

I grab my notebook, avoiding Levi’s gaze as I head for the door. “I need to get to this meeting.”

“Tania,” he says, his voice stopping me in my tracks. “We’re not done talking about this.”

I glance back at him, my heart pounding. “Maybe we are.”

The look on his face is a mix of frustration and determination, but he doesn’t push. He simply nods, stepping aside to let me pass.

As I sitat my desk, long after everyone else has gone home, I find myself staring at the bouquet of sunflowers Levi left on the corner of my desk. The vibrant yellow petals seem to mock me, their cheerfulness a stark contrast to the storm inside me.

Is this real? Could it be real? Or is Levi just saying the right things, doing the right things, because he’s good at getting what he wants?

I let out a sigh, pressing my hands to my temples. I don’t have the answers, and for the first time in a long time, I’m not sure if I want them.

Because if this is real—if Levi truly means what he says—it changes everything.

And that terrifies me more than I’d like to admit.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Levi

The restaurant is perfect. A cozy, tucked-away gem illuminated by flickering candlelight and warmed by the soft hum of a piano in the background. It’s intimate, romantic, and exactly the kind of place where I want Tania to feel like the most important person in the world—because she is.

When she steps through the door, my breath catches. She’s wearing a deep red dress, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her gaze sweeps the room before landing on me, her expression cautious but curious. My heart tightens at the sight of her.

“Levi,” she says softly as she approaches the table. “This is... a lot.”

“You deserve a lot,” I reply, pulling out her chair. “Thanks for coming.”

She sits, her eyes flickering to the table set with fresh flowers and her favorite wine. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”

“It’s not trouble,” I say, my voice steady but warm. “It’s you.”

Her cheeks flush slightly, and I fight the urge to reach across the table and take her hand. Tonight has to be perfect—not because I planned it that way, but because I need her to know how I feel. How much she means to me.

The dinner beginswith light conversation, a slow unraveling of the tension that’s been hanging between us. I tell her about a mix-up during a recent investor meeting, and she laughs, the sound soft and genuine. It feels like the first real laugh I’ve heard from her in weeks.

“You’re terrible at admitting when you’re wrong,” she teases, her smile lighting up her face.

“Only because I’m rarely wrong,” I counter, smirking.

She rolls her eyes, but the sparkle in her gaze makes my chest ache. It’s a reminder of everything I’ve been missing, everything I’ve been too afraid to admit I still want.

As the main course is cleared, I take a deep breath, setting down my fork. “Tania,” I begin, my voice softer now. “There’s something I need to say.”

Her smile fades slightly, and she places her wineglass down carefully. “Levi, you don’t have to?—”

“I do,” I say gently, cutting her off. “Because I’ve spent so much time avoiding it, and I can’t anymore.”

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