Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Tania
The office hums with activity as I shuffle through a pile of proposals on my desk. The sound of phones ringing, keyboards clacking, and muffled conversations fill the air, grounding me in a familiar rhythm. After the whirlwind of emotions with Levi over the past few days, this feels like the only place where I still have some semblance of control.
I glance at my calendar, mentally ticking off tasks for the day. Meetings, deadlines, client pitches—it’s all a welcome distraction. If I can keep my focus here, maybe I can keep my heart from getting tangled up in the mess that is Levi Nichols.
Just as I’m about to dive into the next proposal, a soft knock on my office door pulls me from my thoughts.
“Come in,” I call, not bothering to look up.
“Tania Caldwell,” a familiar voice says, smooth and teasing. “As stunningly professional as ever.”
My head snaps up, and there he is, standing in the doorway like he owns the place. Levi.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, my voice sharper than I intend.
He steps inside, a bouquet of sunflowers in one hand and a to-go cup of my favorite coffee in the other. The sight is so unexpected, so out of character for him, that I momentarily forget how to speak.
“I thought I’d surprise you,” he says with a small smile, setting the coffee and flowers on my desk. “Figured you could use a pick-me-up.”
I blink at him, my brain struggling to catch up. Levi Nichols, billionaire and self-proclaimed workaholic, is standing in my office with flowers and coffee. It’s so absurdly sweet that it feels like a dream—or a trap.
“You came all the way here for this?” I ask, my tone wary.
“You’ve been working so hard,” he replies, leaning casually against the edge of my desk. “I wanted to remind you to take a breath. Besides, I missed you.”
The words hit me like a jolt, and I feel my cheeks flush. “Levi...”
“Don’t overthink it,” he says, his smile softening. “Just take the flowers, drink the coffee, and pretend I’m not throwing off your perfectly scheduled day.”
I let out a shaky laugh, reaching for the coffee. “You’re impossible, you know that?”
“So I’ve been told,” he says, his grin widening.
Levi’s presence turns my entire day upside down. He insists on sitting in on a brainstorming session, claiming it’s “good research” for his own business strategies. He charms my team effortlessly, his quick wit and easy confidence leaving everyone—especially Jenna—completely smitten.
By lunchtime, I’m ready to strangle him.
“You’ve caused enough chaos for one day,” I say as we walk back to my office. “Go back to your empire, Levi.”
“Chaos?” he repeats, feigning innocence. “I was helping.”
“You were distracting,” I counter, opening my office door. “And I have actual work to do.”
He steps inside, his expression shifting from playful to something more serious. “Tania, I’m not here to distract you. I’m here because I care about you.”
I stop in my tracks, his words sinking in like stones. “Levi...”
“I know this isn’t what you’re used to,” he says, his tone softer now. “But I’m trying. I’m trying to show you that this isn’t just about the deal or the merger. It’s about you. It’s always been about you.”
My chest tightens, and I look away, my thoughts swirling. “You say that now, but what happens when the deal is done? When the merger is finalized?”
He steps closer, his gaze unwavering. “I’m not going anywhere, Tania. Not when I finally have the chance to make this right.”
I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him. But the scars from our past run deep, and the fear of getting hurt again is hard to shake.
“Why are you doing this?” I ask, my voice trembling. “Why now?”
“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 sit at 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.