Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Levi
The sound of Damon Hardwick’s voice grates on my nerves before I even spot him. He’s standing at the edge of the ballroom, talking to a small group of investors, his easy charm on full display. But it’s the way his eyes keep darting toward Tania, who’s engrossed in a conversation near the bar, that sets my teeth on edge.
I know Damon. He’s not the kind of man to let things go easily, especially when he sees an opportunity to stir the pot. And ever since he met Tania, he’s been circling like a predator.
I excuse myself from the conversation I’m in and make my way across the room, intercepting Damon before he can slither any closer to her.
“Damon,” I say, forcing a neutral tone. “Enjoying yourself?”
His smirk widens, the kind of expression that makes me want to knock the scotch out of his hand. “Immensely. And you?”
“Can’t complain,” I reply evenly, though my patience is wearing thin.
His gaze flicks past me, landing on Tania. “Your fiancée is quite the presence, Levi. I can see why you’re so... protective.”
My jaw tightens. “Tania is off-limits, Damon.”
“Off-limits?” he repeats, his tone mockingly incredulous. “Come on, Levi. You can’t expect me not to be curious. After all, she’s a fascinating woman.”
The deliberate emphasis on the word “fascinating” sets off every alarm bell in my head. Damon isn’t just playing games—he’s digging. And knowing him, he’s already found something.
The event winds down, but the tension brewing inside me only grows stronger. Back at my penthouse, I find Tania in the living room, scrolling through her phone. She looks up when I enter, her brows furrowing at the look on my face.
“What’s wrong?” she asks, setting her phone down.
“Damon,” I say, the name coming out like a curse. “He’s been asking questions about you.”
Her expression hardens, a flicker of something unreadable crossing her face. “And?”
“And he knows too much,” I reply, pacing the length of the room. “He’s digging into your past, trying to find something he can use.”
Tania crosses her arms, her posture defensive. “I don’t have anything to hide.”
“That doesn’t matter to Damon,” I snap, running a hand through my hair. “He doesn’t care if it’s true or not. He’ll twist whatever he finds to suit his narrative.”
She narrows her eyes at me, her voice steady but sharp. “Why do you care so much?”
I stop pacing, turning to face her. “Because he’s trying to hurt you.”
“No,” she says, stepping closer. “He’s trying to hurt you. Don’t act like this is about protecting me, Levi. This is about your deal, your investors, and your precious reputation.”
The accusation stings more than I expect, and for a moment, I can’t find the words to respond. She’s not wrong—Damon’s meddling puts everything I’ve been working toward at risk. But that’s not the only reason I’m angry.
“Tania,” I say, my voice quieter now. “This isn’t just about the deal.”
“Isn’t it?” she fires back, her eyes blazing. “Because from where I’m standing, everything you do seems to come with a price tag. Including me.”
“That’s not fair,” I say, taking a step toward her. “You agreed to this, Tania. You knew what it was.”
Her laugh is bitter, her arms falling to her sides. “I knew it was a business arrangement. What I didn’t know was that you’d use it as an excuse to bulldoze over my life.”
“I’m trying to protect you,” I say, my voice rising despite myself.
“I don’t need your protection,” she snaps, her hands clenched into fists. “I can take care of myself, Levi. I always have.”
The fire in her eyes, the strength in her voice—it’s the same spark that drew me to her in the first place. And for a moment, all the frustration, the anger, the tension between us boils over into something else entirely.
Before I can stop myself, I close the distance between us and pull her into a kiss.
It’s not calculated or controlled. It’s raw, desperate, a clash of emotions that neither of us seems able to contain. Her hands press against my chest, but instead of pushing me away, her fingers curl into the fabric of my shirt, pulling me closer.
The world around us blurs, the weight of our argument giving way to something deeper, something neither of us can deny. Her lips are warm and soft, her breath mingling with mine as the kiss deepens, and for a moment, nothing else matters.
But then she pulls back, her breathing uneven, her eyes searching mine.
“This doesn’t change anything,” she says, her voice trembling.
“I know,” I say, though the words feel hollow. Because for me, it changes everything.
She takes a step back, putting distance between us. “I need space, Levi. You need to figure out what you really want—because I’m not going to keep playing this game with you.”
“Tania,” I start, but she shakes her head, her expression resolute.
“Goodnight, Levi,” she says, turning on her heel and walking out of the room.
I watch her go, the weight of her words settling heavily in my chest. She’s right—I need to figure out what I want. Because if I keep pushing her away, I might lose her for good.