Chapter 19
Chapter Nineteen
Tania
The morning light filters through the expansive windows of Levi’s penthouse, casting soft shadows across the room. I sit at the kitchen island with my laptop open, scrolling through emails and trying to focus on work. But no matter how hard I try, my mind keeps drifting back to last night.
To Levi.
To the way he touched me, the way he whispered my name like it was the only thing that mattered.
I shake my head, my fingers tightening around my coffee mug. Get it together, Tania. This isn’t what you’re here for.
Last night was… a mistake. It had to be. I agreed to this arrangement to save my firm, not to rekindle something that was supposed to stay buried. And yet, the memory of his hands on my skin, his lips on mine—it lingers like a flame I can’t extinguish.
“Tania?”
Levi’s voice pulls me from my thoughts, and I look up to see him leaning casually against the doorway, his dark hair still slightly tousled from sleep. He’s wearing a plain white T-shirt and gray sweatpants, and somehow, he looks impossibly good.
Great. Just great.
“Morning,” I say, keeping my tone brisk as I return my attention to my laptop.
“Morning,” he replies, his voice softer now. He moves to the counter, pouring himself a cup of coffee before leaning against the island across from me. “You’re up early.”
“I had work to do,” I say, my tone clipped. “Unlike some of us, I can’t afford to lounge around.”
He chuckles softly, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “You’ve always been a hard worker. It’s one of the things I admire about you.”
I freeze, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. “Don’t,” I say, not looking up.
“Don’t what?” he asks, his voice light but tinged with curiosity.
“Don’t say things like that,” I reply, finally meeting his gaze. “We agreed this was just business.”
He raises an eyebrow, setting his coffee cup down. “Did we? Because last night felt like a little more than business.”
My cheeks flush, and I quickly look away. “It was a mistake.”
“Was it?” he asks, his voice softer now. “Because it didn’t feel like one to me.”
I glare at him, my frustration bubbling over. “Of course it didn’t. You always get what you want, don’t you, Levi?”
His expression falters for a split second, and I immediately regret the words. But instead of snapping back, he simply nods, his gaze dropping to the floor.
“I’ll give you some space,” he says quietly, stepping away and leaving the room.
The silence he leaves behind feels heavier than it should.
I bury myself in work for the rest of the day, throwing every ounce of focus into client emails, marketing strategies, and upcoming campaigns. Jenna calls at one point to go over a pitch, and I force myself to sound upbeat, even though my chest feels tight.
“Are you okay?” Jenna asks after I stumble over my words for the third time.
“Yeah,” I reply quickly. “Just tired. It’s been a long week.”
“Tell me about it,” she says, sighing. “But hey, you’re doing great, Tania. Don’t let the stress get to you.”
I thank her, ending the call and leaning back in my chair. Jenna’s words are kind, but they do little to ease the turmoil inside me. I should feel accomplished after all the work I’ve done today, but instead, I feel... hollow.
Because no matter how hard I try, I can’t stop thinking about Levi.
The city lights twinkle in the distance as I sit by the window, nursing a glass of wine. The penthouse feels too big, too quiet, and my thoughts refuse to settle.
I replay the events of last night over and over, analyzing every word, every touch, every look. The way Levi held me, the way he whispered my name—it felt real. Too real. And that’s what terrifies me.
I thought I could handle this arrangement, that I could keep my heart out of it. But now, I’m not so sure. The line between fake and real isn’t just blurred—it’s obliterated. And no matter how much I try to convince myself otherwise, I can’t deny the way my body aches for his touch, the way my heart races when he’s near.
This is dangerous territory. I’ve already been burned by Levi once, and I can’t afford to let it happen again. But even as I tell myself to stay focused, to stick to the plan, I know I’m lying.
Because the truth is, I want him.
I want the way he makes me feel, like I’m the only person in the world who matters. I want his hands on me, his voice whispering in my ear. I want the connection we had last night, even if it’s fleeting.
But I can’t. I can’t let myself fall for him again.
The sound of footsteps pulls me from my thoughts, and I turn to see Levi standing in the doorway, his expression unreadable.
“Everything okay?” he asks, his voice soft.
I nod, though my heart pounds in my chest. “Just thinking.”
“About work?” he asks, a faint smile playing on his lips.
“Something like that,” I reply, my voice quieter now.
He studies me for a moment, his gaze lingering, and I can feel the unspoken tension between us like a live wire. I should tell him to leave, to give me space. But instead, I find myself longing for him to stay.
“Let me know if you need anything,” he says finally, his voice gentle.
He turns to leave, but I stop him without thinking. “Levi.”
He pauses, looking back at me, his green eyes filled with something I can’t quite name. “Yeah?”
I open my mouth to say something—anything—but the words catch in my throat. Instead, I shake my head, a faint smile tugging at my lips. “Never mind.”
He nods, a small smile of his own flickering across his face before he disappears down the hall.
As the door clicks shut behind him, I let out a shaky breath, my chest tightening with the weight of everything left unsaid.