Chapter 33
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.
“Tania?” Levi’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, his green eyes meeting mine.
I blink, realizing the room is waiting for me. “Yes,” I say quickly, my fingers flying across the keyboard to pull up the report he needs. “One moment.”
When I find the document, I slide it across the table toward him. “Here. The projections you were asking for.”
“Thank you,” he says, his voice warm. His hand brushes mine briefly as he takes the document, and for a moment, the rest of the room fades away.
The meeting is a success. Levi’s presentation is met with nods of approval, and by the time the room clears out, there’s a palpable sense of victory in the air.
“You were amazing in there,” I tell him as we walk down the hall, my heels clicking softly against the marble floors.
“So were you,” he replies, his smile genuine. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
I laugh softly, shaking my head. “You didn’t need me. You had it handled.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he says, his tone quiet but firm. “Having you by my side—it changes everything.”
His words make my chest tighten, and I look away, my cheeks warming. “It was your moment, Levi. I was just here to support you.”
“And you did,” he says, stopping in his tracks. When I turn to face him, he reaches for my hand, his gaze steady. “I mean it, Tania. You make me better.”
I swallow hard, my heart pounding in my chest. “Levi...”
He squeezes my hand lightly, his voice softening. “Come with me. I have something planned.”
The drive to our destination is quiet but charged, the air between us humming with anticipation. When we arrive, Levi leads me to a secluded rooftop terrace overlooking the city. Soft string lights hang overhead, casting a warm glow over the intimate setting. A small table is set for two, complete with candles and a bottle of my favorite wine.
“Levi,” I whisper, my voice catching. “You didn’t have to do all this.”
“Yes, I did,” he replies, his smile soft. “Because I wanted to celebrate—with you.”
He pulls out my chair, and I sit, the warmth of the moment wrapping around me like a blanket. The night feels magical, the city lights below us twinkling like stars. We talk over dinner, laughing and reminiscing about old memories, the weight of the day’s tension melting away with every shared glance.
As the evening winds down, Levi takes my hand, guiding me to the edge of the terrace. The view is breathtaking, but it’s nothing compared to the way he’s looking at me.
“Tania,” he murmurs, his voice thick with emotion. “I don’t think I’ve ever been happier than I am right now. And it’s all because of you.”
His words make my heart ache in the best way, and before I can stop myself, I reach for him, my hands sliding up to his shoulders. “You always know what to say.”
“It’s not about what I say,” he replies, his hands settling on my waist. “It’s about how I feel.”
He leans in, his lips capturing mine in a kiss that’s soft and slow, filled with all the emotions we’ve been holding back. His hands move to my back, pulling me closer as the kiss deepens, the warmth between us igniting into something more.
“Levi,” I whisper against his lips, my voice trembling. “This... it feels different.”
“It is,” he says, his voice rough with emotion. “Because it’s real.”
His words send a shiver down my spine, and I kiss him again, unable to hold back the surge of emotion coursing through me. The passion between us reignites with an intensity that leaves me breathless, and I let myself get lost in him, in the way he touches me, the way he makes me feel.