A Billionaire’s Second Shot (Burning For You Again #1)
Chapter 1
Chapter One
Tania
The room is a glittering sea of expensive suits and couture gowns, an unrelenting reminder that I don’t belong here. The gala is held in one of Manhattan’s most exclusive venues, its vaulted ceilings dripping with crystal chandeliers, each one likely worth more than my entire apartment. I smooth my hand over the sleek black dress I borrowed from my best friend, Emma, and paste on my most professional smile.
This isn’t about me. It’s about closing a deal that could save my PR firm.
As I weave through the crowd, clutching a flute of champagne I don’t dare drink, I scan the room for my target: Charles Lennox, the media mogul whose company I’ve been pitching for weeks. If I can get him to sign on as a client, it would not only keep my firm afloat—it would cement our reputation among the elite.
Just as I spot him near the bar, my breath catches in my throat. Not because of Lennox, but because of someone else.
Levi.
He’s standing less than twenty feet away, a vision of sharp suits and effortless arrogance. The same man who shattered my heart three years ago is now holding court among a group of power players, his dark hair artfully tousled, his tailored suit hugging his broad shoulders like a second skin. He’s laughing at something one of them says, the sound carrying over the hum of conversation and soft jazz.
I freeze.
I shouldn’t be surprised. Levi’s a billionaire now, one of the most powerful men in New York. A gala like this is his natural habitat. But I hadn’t expected to see him tonight—or ever again.
I tell myself to move, to walk away before he notices me, but my feet stay rooted to the marble floor. My pulse pounds as memories I’ve fought to bury flood back. The late-night phone calls. The heated arguments. The way he looked at me the last time we saw each other—like I was the one walking away, even though he’d been the one who let me go.
“Tania?”
His voice hits me like a freight train. I turn, and suddenly he’s right in front of me, his piercing green eyes locking onto mine. The playful smirk he always wore is gone, replaced by something more serious, more deliberate.
“Levi,” I manage, my voice trembling despite my best efforts. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“And I didn’t expect to see you,” he replies, his tone smooth but edged with something I can’t quite place. “What brings you to this side of town? Let me guess—work?”
I bristle at his tone, the same one he used to wield like a weapon during our arguments. “Not that it’s any of your business, but yes. I’m here for work.”
His gaze drops to the champagne flute in my hand, then flicks back up to my face. “Still working too hard, I see.”
I grit my teeth, forcing myself to stay calm. “Not all of us have billions to fall back on.”
The jab lands, but Levi doesn’t flinch. Instead, he steps closer, his presence as commanding as ever. “If you’re working this hard, that must mean things aren’t going well.” He tilts his head, studying me like I’m an equation he’s trying to solve. “What’s going on, Tania?”
I take a step back, needing space to breathe. “Why do you care?”
“I care,” he says simply, his voice softer now. “I always have.”
Before I can respond, a man approaches us, interrupting the charged moment. He claps Levi on the shoulder, grinning like they’re old friends. “Levi, my man! Who’s the stunning woman?”
Levi doesn’t hesitate. “Tania Caldwell,” he says smoothly. “My fiancée.”
The word hits me like a slap.
“What?” I snap, turning to glare at him. “I’m not?—”
“She’s shy,” Levi cuts in, his smile never wavering as he speaks to the man. “But she’s brilliant. Best PR strategist in the city. You should see her work.”
The man raises his eyebrows, clearly impressed. “Well, congratulations! You’ve got a keeper.”
He wanders off, leaving me seething. I whirl on Levi, my fists clenched at my sides. “What the hell was that?”
Levi’s smirk returns, infuriatingly smug. “I need a fiancée,” he says, as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world. “And you’re perfect for the role.”
I stare at him, stunned. “You can’t be serious.”
“I’m completely serious,” he replies, his voice steady. “I have a deal in the works—a merger that could change everything for my company. But the investors are old-school. They think a man in my position should be settled down.”
“So find someone else,” I snap. “I’m not playing house with you.”
“Think about it,” he says, leaning in slightly. “You’d get a generous payout—enough to save your firm and then some. And all you have to do is put up with me for a few weeks. It’s a win-win.”
I narrow my eyes, searching his face for any sign that he’s joking. But Levi is nothing if not pragmatic, and the intensity in his eyes tells me he’s dead serious.
“You can’t just buy me, Levi,” I say, my voice low.
“I’m not buying you,” he counters. “I’m hiring you. There’s a difference.”
I glare at him, torn between outrage and the nagging realization that he might actually have a point. My firm is drowning, and the payout he’s offering could be the lifeline I desperately need.
But agreeing to this would mean letting Levi back into my life—letting him close enough to hurt me again.
“I’ll think about it,” I say finally, my voice clipped.
Levi smiles, the kind of smile that says he’s already won. “That’s all I ask.”
As he walks away, disappearing into the crowd, I can’t help but wonder if I’ve just made a deal with the devil.