Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
Tania
The tension between Levi and me has been growing like a storm cloud, dark and heavy, threatening to break. I can’t let it sit any longer. I find him in the library after dinner, standing by one of the tall windows, a glass of whiskey in his hand. The soft glow of the chandelier casts a golden light over his figure, highlighting the tension in his shoulders.
He doesn’t hear me at first. For a moment, I watch him, searching for the right words. But the truth is, I’m too angry, too confused to say anything eloquent.
“Why are you doing this?” I blurt out, stepping further into the room.
He turns at the sound of my voice, his expression unreadable. “Doing what?”
“This,” I say, gesturing between us. “The fake engagement, the way you act around me, the almost-kiss in the garden. What are you trying to do, Levi?”
He sets the glass down slowly, his eyes narrowing. “I thought that was clear from the beginning. This is about the merger.”
“Don’t lie to me,” I snap, taking a step closer. “Not now.”
His jaw tightens, and for a moment, he looks like he’s debating what to say. “What do you want me to tell you, Tania? That I’m doing this for you? For us?”
“I want the truth,” I say, my voice rising. “Because right now, I don’t know what to believe.”
He moves closer, his green eyes piercing. “The truth?” he repeats, his voice low. “The truth is, I thought I could keep this simple. I thought I could keep it about the deal. But then you showed up, and everything got complicated.”
I cross my arms, trying to keep my voice steady. “You mean I ruined your perfect little plan?”
“No,” he says, shaking his head. “I mean you reminded me of everything I tried to forget.”
His words hit me like a punch to the chest, and I take a shaky breath. “You don’t get to do this, Levi. You don’t get to confuse me like this.”
“Confuse you?” he says, his voice sharp. “Tania, you’re the one who agreed to this arrangement. You knew what it was.”
“I thought I did,” I snap. “But then you started acting like it’s something more.”
He’s close now, his voice quieter but still intense. “Maybe it is.”
The words hang between us, heavy and unspoken until now. My heart pounds in my chest, and I don’t know whether to step back or step closer.
“You don’t get to do this,” I say again, my voice trembling. “You don’t get to act like you care and then pull away when it suits you.”
His eyes darken, and he moves even closer, close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from him. “And what if I do care? What if I’ve cared this whole damn time?”
I stare at him, my breath catching. The air between us feels charged, crackling with everything we’ve been avoiding. He reaches up, his hand brushing against my cheek, and my resolve begins to crack.
“Levi—” I start, but he cuts me off, his lips crashing into mine.
The kiss is electric, fueled by anger and longing and every unspoken word between us. His hands slide to my waist, pulling me closer, and I melt against him despite myself. It’s everything I’ve been trying to deny, everything I thought I’d buried.
But just as quickly as it starts, I pull back, my breathing ragged. “I can’t,” I whisper, shaking my head. “I can’t do this.”
His hands stay on my waist, his gaze locked onto mine. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t trust you,” I admit, the words breaking something inside me. “I can’t trust you, Levi. Not after everything.”
His grip tightens slightly, not enough to hurt but enough to hold me in place. “I’m not the same man I was back then,” he says, his voice steady. “I made mistakes, Tania. I know that. But I care about you. More than I can put into words.”
I want to believe him. God, I want to believe him. But the scars from our past are too deep, the fear of getting hurt again too strong.
“I don’t know if I can,” I whisper, my voice trembling.
“You don’t have to decide right now,” he says, his tone softer now. “But don’t shut me out, Tania. Please.”
His vulnerability takes the wind out of my anger, leaving me feeling raw and exposed. I look into his eyes, searching for any hint of insincerity, but all I see is the man I once knew—the man I fell for, flaws and all.
“I’m not walking away,” I say finally, my voice barely above a whisper. “But I need time, Levi.”
He nods, his hands falling from my waist, though he doesn’t step back. “Take all the time you need. I’ll be here.”
The sincerity in his voice makes my chest ache, and as I look at him, I realize I don’t know who I’m more afraid of—Levi or myself.
The silence between us stretches, heavy but not uncomfortable. And for the first time in years, I feel like we might have a chance—if I can find the courage to let him in.