Page 50 of A Billionaire's Second Shot

“Are you expecting a call?” Tania asks, her brows furrowing as she glances at the phone.

“No,” I reply, my voice cautious. “Not at this hour.”

I grab the phone and answer it, my heart sinking when I hear the voice on the other end.

“Levi Nichols?” The tone is sharp, clipped, and businesslike.

“This is he,” I reply, straightening in my chair.

“This is Cynthia Marshall with Nichols Corp’s PR team,” she says. “We’ve received reports that Damon Hardwick has been speaking to media outlets and select investors, claiming your engagement to Ms. Caldwell is fabricated.”

My grip on the phone tightens. “Excuse me?”

“It appears Mr. Hardwick has been suggesting that your relationship with Ms. Caldwell was staged to secure the merger,” Cynthia continues. “We’ve managed to keep the rumors contained for now, but it’s gaining traction.”

Beside me, Tania’s eyes widen as she catches the gist of the conversation. Her hand rests on my arm, grounding me even as my blood boils.

“Thank you for alerting me, Cynthia,” I say, my voice steady despite the rage bubbling beneath the surface. “I’ll handle this.”

“We’re here to assist if needed,” she replies. “But I recommend taking swift action.”

“I will,” I say before ending the call.

I set the phone down,my jaw tight as I try to process the information. Damon’s been playing games for years, but this is a new low, even for him. He’s not just coming after me—he’s coming after Tania, too.

“What was that about?” Tania asks, her voice calm but edged with worry.

“It’s Damon,” I say, running a hand through my hair. “He’s telling people our engagement is fake. That it’s just a ploy for the merger.”

Her face falls, and I can see the hurt flicker in her eyes before she schools her expression. “I should’ve known he’d do something like this.”

“This isn’t on you,” I say firmly. “This is Damon being Damon—trying to undermine me and hurt you in the process.”

She crosses her arms, her gaze drifting to the floor. “But he’s not wrong, Levi. That’s how this started.”

“That’s not how it is now,” I say, stepping closer and taking her hands in mine. “You know that.”

She meets my gaze, her expression uncertain. “Do I? Because if people believe him?—”

“They won’t,” I cut in, my voice steady. “Because I’ll make sure they know the truth.”

Her lips press into a thin line, and I can see the doubt swirling in her eyes. She’s always been strong, but Damon’s words have clearly struck a nerve.

“Tania,” I say softly, brushing my thumb over her knuckles. “This doesn’t change anything between us. We’ve worked too hard to let someone like Damon tear us apart.”

She exhales slowly, nodding. “Okay. What’s the plan?”

We spendthe next few hours contacting Nichols Corp’s PR team and key investors, crafting a response to Damon’s accusations. Tania insists on being involved, her voice steady and calm as she speaks to the team, but I can see the strain in her posture, the way her hands clench into fists when she thinks I’m not looking.

“You’re handling this better than I expected,” I say when the calls are done, trying to lighten the mood.

She gives me a faint smile. “I’ve been in PR long enough to know how to deal with crises. But this one feels... personal.”

“Because it is,” I reply, my voice low. “But Damon doesn’t get to dictate our story. We do.”

Her smile widens slightly, and for a moment, the tension between us eases. “That was almost poetic, Nichols.”

“Stick around,” I tease. “I have a few more tricks up my sleeve.”

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