Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Tania
The stage lights are too bright, the air thick with the scent of floral arrangements and expensive perfume. The charity event is in full swing, the kind of high-society gathering where everyone is dressed to impress and more interested in being seen than in the cause they’re supposedly supporting.
I stand near the edge of the ballroom, clutching a glass of sparkling water and scanning the crowd. Levi is across the room, talking to someone I vaguely recognize from a magazine article—another billionaire with a name that carries weight in circles I’ve never wanted to be part of.
He looks as poised and confident as ever, his tailored suit fitting like a second skin, his easy smile drawing the kind of attention that makes people hang on his every word. It’s infuriating how natural he is in this world. And it’s even more infuriating how my eyes keep drifting back to him, no matter how hard I try to focus elsewhere.
I take a sip of my water, hoping the cool liquid will calm the heat rising in my chest. This is just a job, I remind myself. Just a performance. And Levi is playing his part to perfection.
So why does it feel like I’m the one who’s losing control?
An hour later, the event is still in full swing, but I’ve slipped away to catch my breath. The constant buzz of conversation and the weight of too many eyes on me have left me feeling frayed, like a string pulled too tight. I lean against the wall backstage, the distant hum of the crowd muted by the heavy curtain separating me from the ballroom.
I close my eyes, letting the quiet settle over me. But my moment of peace is short-lived.
“Tania.”
His voice cuts through the silence like a blade, and my eyes snap open. Levi is standing a few feet away, his expression unreadable, the light behind him casting his features in shadow.
“What are you doing back here?” I ask, my voice sharper than I intend. “Shouldn’t you be out there charming your investors?”
He steps closer, his movements slow and deliberate. “I noticed you were gone.”
I cross my arms, leaning back against the wall. “And? I’m not your responsibility, Levi.”
“I didn’t say you were,” he replies, his voice low. “But you looked like you needed a break.”
I narrow my eyes, his concern only fueling my irritation. “Why do you care?”
His gaze locks onto mine, the intensity in his eyes making my breath hitch. “Because I do.”
The air between us feels charged, the quiet hum of the ballroom fading into the background. He takes another step closer, and I suddenly feel like a cornered animal, trapped by the weight of his presence and the memories swirling in my mind.
“This isn’t part of the plan,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
“What if it was?” he asks, his tone softer now, almost hesitant.
I stare at him, my heart pounding. This isn’t the Levi I remember—the confident, controlled man who always knew exactly what he wanted. This version of him is different, his walls cracked just enough to let something raw and vulnerable slip through.
“I don’t know what game you’re playing,” I say, my voice trembling. “But I’m not doing this.”
I start to step around him, desperate to escape, but his hand shoots out, gently gripping my arm. The touch is light, almost cautious, but it stops me in my tracks.
“Tania,” he says, his voice barely more than a whisper. “Stop running.”
The words hit me like a punch to the chest, and before I can think better of it, I turn to face him. His eyes are searching mine, and for a moment, the world feels like it’s holding its breath.
“This is a mistake,” I say, but the conviction in my voice is gone.
“Maybe,” he admits, his lips quirking into the faintest hint of a smile. “But it doesn’t feel like one.”
I don’t know who moves first. Maybe it’s him, maybe it’s me. All I know is that one moment, we’re standing there, the tension between us crackling like a live wire, and the next, his lips are on mine.
The kiss is nothing like the one from earlier. This isn’t calculated or staged—it’s raw and unrestrained, a clash of frustration and longing that steals the air from my lungs. His hands frame my face, his touch firm but gentle, and for a moment, I forget how to breathe.
I hate him for this—for the way he can still make me feel like this, even after everything. But I hate myself more for the way I melt into him, my fingers gripping the front of his jacket like it’s the only thing keeping me upright.
When we finally pull apart, I’m gasping for air, my heart hammering in my chest. Levi’s forehead rests against mine, his breath warm against my skin.
“This isn’t real,” I whisper, more to myself than to him.
“Feels real to me,” he murmurs, his voice low and rough.
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I push him away, the reality of the moment crashing over me like a wave. “We can’t do this, Levi.”
“Tania—”
“No,” I say, cutting him off. “This is just business, remember? Nothing more.”
The pain in his eyes is brief, almost imperceptible, but I catch it before he masks it with his usual calm facade. He steps back, giving me space, and I immediately feel the loss of his warmth.
“You’re right,” he says quietly. “Just business.”
The words sting, even though I know I should be relieved. Without another word, I turn and walk away, my hands trembling as I push through the curtain and back into the crowded ballroom.
But as I rejoin the sea of glittering gowns and tailored suits, my lips still tingling from his kiss, I can’t shake the feeling that I’ve just crossed a line I’ll never be able to come back from.