Page 34 of Billionaire Wolf Needs a Fixer

As I stepped away from the podium, the noise behind me reached a fever roar, but I tuned it out.My focus was on Krista, who met me halfway.Her expression was a mix of pride and relief.

"You did it," she said softly, her hand finding mine."You were perfect."

I let out a shaky breath, the weight of the moment finally hitting me."I don't know about perfect, but it's a start."

She smiled, her thumb brushing against my knuckles."A damn good one."

Garrett appeared at my side, his usual stoic demeanor cracked by a faint smirk."That was a hell of a speech, Storm.Didn't know you had it in you."

I shot him a look, though there was no real heat behind it."Thanks, Garrett.I'll take that as a compliment."

Zane joined us, his tablet in hand and a grin plastered across his face."The internet's already exploding.People are calling you a hero, Levi.And the hashtag #JusticeForSelene is trending worldwide."

I glanced at Krista, who squeezed my hand reassuringly."It's what she deserved," I said quietly."What they all deserve."

The next few days were a whirlwind of media coverage, legal proceedings, and public scrutiny.The evidence we'd gathered against Dante was indisputable, and his arrest sent shockwaves through Hollywood.The public's reaction was overwhelmingly supportive, with many praising Selene and calling for systemic change within the industry.

But not everyone was on my side.There were still those who questioned my motives and who painted me as a self-serving opportunist.And then there were the vultures, the ones who'd latched onto my relationship with Krista, twisting it into a narrative of scandal and intrigue.

I tossed the tabloid onto the coffee table, my jaw tight."They're relentless," I muttered, running a hand through my hair.

Krista sat down beside me, her presence instantly calming the storm brewing inside me.She picked up the tabloid, flipping through it with a look of mild amusement rather than anger."Let them talk," she said, her tone light but firm."They're going to spin whatever story sells.But we know the truth.That's what matters."

I turned to look at her, my frustration softening at the sight of her composure."I just hate that they're dragging you into this.You don't deserve to be a headline."

She shrugged, setting the tabloid aside."I knew what I was signing up for when I decided to stand by your side.I'm not naive, Levi.I knew the scrutiny would come.But I also knew it would be worth it."

Her words hit me with a kind of quiet intensity, and I reached for her hand, lacing my fingers through hers."You're something else, you know that?"

She smiled, her eyes crinkling at the corners."I've been told."

The next morning, I woke to an avalanche of texts and missed calls.I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, groaning as I scrolled through the notifications.Most of them were from my agent, and a quick glance at the timestamp told me she'd been trying to reach me since the crack of dawn.

"What now?"I muttered, sitting up in bed.

Krista stirred beside me, her hair a wild halo around her face."What's going on?"she asked, her voice thick with sleep.

"Not sure yet," I said, opening the latest text from my agent.My eyes widened as I read the message."Oh."

"Oh?"Krista propped herself up on one elbow, her brow furrowing."Is that a good 'oh' or a bad 'oh'?"

I handed her my phone, unable to hide the grin spreading across my face."It's a very good 'oh.'"

Her eyes scanned the screen, and then she was sitting up, her smile lighting up the room."The studio's moving forward with the franchise?That's amazing, Levi!"

I nodded, a mix of relief and excitement coursing through me."They're officially announcing it this afternoon.They're keeping me on as the lead."I read the message twice, my heart pounding in my chest.It wasn't just a win.It was a second chance.

Krista's smile widened, and she threw her arms around me, nearly knocking me back against the headboard."I knew it!I told you they wouldn't let you go.This is huge!"

Her words hit me harder than the news itself.I pulled her into a hug, burying my face in her hair."I couldn't have done this without you," I said, my voice muffled."You're the reason I'm still standing."

She pulled back slightly, her gaze soft but teasing."Don't go getting all sappy on me, Storm.You're still the one who took down Dante.You're the one the public rallied behind.I just helped clean up the mess."

"You did more than that," I said, my tone serious now."You believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself.You fought for me, Krista.That's not something I'll ever forget."

Her eyes softened, and for a moment, the weight of everything we'd been through seemed to hover between us.She reached up, brushing a strand of hair from my forehead."You're worth fighting for, Levi."

The studio's announcement later that day was met with a mix of excitement and skepticism.The headlines were split.Some celebrated my return to the franchise, others questioning whether I could carry the weight of such a high-profile role after everything that had happened.But for the first time in a long time, I didn't let the noise get to me.I had Krista by my side, and together, we'd weathered the storm.We'd emerged stronger, and I wasn't about to let anyone tear us apart now.

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