Page 43 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

“Damon,” I reply curtly, my jaw tightening. “What do you want?”

He chuckles, his gaze flicking to Tania. “I just thought I’d say hello to your... fiancée. She’s been the talk of the evening, you know.”

Tania raises an eyebrow, her voice calm but firm. “I didn’t realize I was so fascinating.”

“Oh, you are,” Damon says, his smile widening. “People can’t help but wonder how someone like you ended up with someone like Levi. After all, you’ve been in some... interesting situations, haven’t you?”

My blood runs cold. The room seems to quiet, as if everyone is holding their breath, waiting for the spectacle to unfold.

“What are you trying to say, Damon?” I ask, my voice low and steady, but laced with warning.

“Oh, nothing,” he replies innocently, though the malice in his tone is unmistakable. “Just that reputations are so fragile. One wrong move, one wrong... relationship, and they can crumble.”

The insinuation is clear, and I see the flicker of hurt in Tania’s eyes before she schools her expression. It’s enough to make my vision blur with rage.

“That’s enough,” I say, stepping in front of Tania. My voice carries across the room, drawing the attention of the nearby guests. “If you have something to say, Damon, say it to me. Leave her out of it.”

Damon raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the scene. “I’m just pointing out the obvious, Levi. Not everyone is who they seem.”

“And yet you seem to think you’re the authority on character,” I snap, my tone sharp. “Tania is twice the person you’ll ever be. She’s smart, compassionate, and everything you pretend to be but never will.”

The room falls silent, all eyes now on us. Damon’s smirk falters, and for the first time, I see a flicker of uncertainty in his gaze.

“You think you can tear her down to get to me,” I continue, my voice steady but fierce. “But all you’ve done is show everyone here exactly what kind of person you are. And believe me, Damon, that’s not someone worth listening to.”

There’s a ripple of murmurs through the crowd, the weight of the moment sinking in. Damon’s face hardens, but he doesn’t say another word. Instead, he turns and walks away, his defeat clear in the stiffness of his movements.

Tania isquiet as we leave the ballroom, her hand resting lightly on my arm. The tension from earlier still lingers, but there’s something else in her expression—something softer.

“Thank you,” she says quietly as we step into the car. “You didn’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I did,” I reply, turning to face her. “No one gets to talk about you like that. Not Damon, not anyone.”

She looks at me for a long moment, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Levi...”

“I meant every word,” I say firmly. “You’re incredible, Tania. And if Damon or anyone else can’t see that, it’s their loss.”

Her breath catches, and she reaches for me, her hand resting lightly against my cheek. “You’re impossible,” she whispers, a faint smile tugging at her lips.

“Only for you,” I reply, my voice soft.

She leans in, her lips finding mine in a kiss that’s slow and deliberate, filled with all the emotions we’ve been holding back. Her hands slide to my shoulders, pulling me closer as the kiss deepens, and I feel every wall, every barrier, dissolve between us.

The passion doesn’t stopwhen we get home. It builds, slow and intense, every touch, every kiss a declaration of everything we feel but can’t put into words. The night is electric, raw and emotional, and by the time we collapse into each other’s arms, I feel like the world has shifted.

As she rests against me, her breathing soft and even, I press a kiss to her hair, my chest full of something I can only describe as peace. For the first time, I feel like we’re truly in this together.

And I know I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way.

Chapter Thirty-Three

Tania

The conference room hums with quiet tension, a blend of anticipation and professionalism that seems to vibrate in the air. Levi sits at the head of the long table, his shoulders squared, his posture commanding. Around him, the room is filled with investors, lawyers, and board members, all leaning forward as he speaks with calm authority.

I sit beside him, my laptop open but barely touched. My role here is mostly symbolic, a show of support for the man leading the merger. Yet, despite knowing this, I can’t stop myself from watching him in awe.

This is the Levi I remember—the confident, determined man who can sway a room with nothing more than his words. But there’s something different about him now, too. Something softer. His focus has shifted, his priorities realigned in a way that makes my chest ache with quiet admiration.

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