Chapter 42
Chapter Forty-Two
Levi
The room buzzes with tension as reporters shuffle into the Nichols Corp media hall, their voices low but filled with anticipation. Cameras are being adjusted, microphones tested, and the soft hum of whispered questions fills the air. Normally, this is my arena—a space where I can take control, steer the narrative, and command the room.
But not today.
Today, it’s Tania’s turn.
She stands beside me at the podium, her calm demeanor masking the storm I know she must feel inside. Her navy dress is simple but elegant, exuding the perfect mix of professionalism and confidence. As the cameras start flashing, she glances at me, her eyes steady.
“You’ve got this,” I murmur, my voice low enough for only her to hear.
Her lips curve into a faint smile, and she nods. “I know.”
The room quiets as Tania steps forward, her presence commanding the attention of everyone in the hall. She begins with a clear, confident voice, her words cutting through the tension like a knife.
“Good morning,” she starts, her gaze sweeping over the audience. “As many of you are aware, Nichols Corp has recently been the target of false and malicious accusations. I am here today not only as a professional but as someone who deeply believes in this company and the integrity of the man who leads it.”
Her words hang in the air for a moment, the weight of them settling over the room. I can feel the shift—reporters leaning forward, their pens poised, their interest piqued.
“This document,” she continues, holding up a copy of the falsified report, “is nothing more than an attempt to undermine the hard work and transparency that Nichols Corp has always upheld. It is a fabrication, designed to sow doubt and distract from the truth.”
Her confidence is unwavering, each word delivered with precision. She doesn’t rush, doesn’t falter. She’s in complete control, and the room is hanging on her every word.
But it’s when she shifts gears that the impact truly lands.
“I’ve had the privilege of working closely with Levi Nichols,” she says, her voice softening just slightly. “Not just as his partner in this venture but as someone who has seen firsthand the dedication, honesty, and care he puts into everything he does. These accusations are not just an attack on Nichols Corp—they are an attack on his character. And I can tell you with absolute certainty that they couldn’t be further from the truth.”
My chest tightens as I watch her speak, the sincerity in her voice resonating through the room. She’s not just defending me —she’s defending us. And she’s doing it with a strength and grace that leaves me in awe.
As Tania fields questions from the press, her confidence never wavers. She dismantles each accusation with facts, weaving in just enough personal conviction to make the narrative impossible to ignore. By the time the conference ends, the energy in the room has shifted completely.
Reporters who entered with skepticism now nod in approval, their pens flying across their notepads as they capture her words. The applause that follows feels genuine, a rare moment of respect in a field often dominated by doubt.
As soon as we step off the stage, I pull her into a quiet corner, my hands resting on her shoulders. “Tania, that was incredible.”
She smiles, though I can see the tension still lingering in her eyes. “I just did what needed to be done.”
“No,” I say firmly. “You did more than that. You didn’t just defend the company—you defended me. And you were brilliant.”
Her cheeks flush slightly, and she looks away. “It’s my job, Levi.”
“It’s more than that,” I reply, my voice softening. “You’re more than that.”
She glances back at me, her expression shifting to something I can’t quite name—relief, maybe, or gratitude. “We’re a team, right?”
“Always,” I say, pulling her into a brief hug. “And I’m going to spend the rest of my life thanking you for today.”
She laughs lightly, stepping back. “You don’t have to thank me, Levi. Just... keep fighting for us.”
“Deal,” I say, my lips curving into a smile.
Later that evening, as I sit in the penthouse, replaying the press conference in my mind, I realize something that’s been quietly building in the background. I’ve always admired Tania—for her intelligence, her strength, her drive. But seeing her today, standing in front of that room, defending everything we’ve built with a fire I didn’t know I needed, made me realize something deeper.
I don’t just love her—I’m in awe of her.
And as I glance at the plans for her surprise getaway sitting on my desk, I know I need to do more than thank her. I need to show her, in every way I can, just how much she means to me.
Because Tania Caldwell isn’t just my partner or my fiancée.
She’s everything.