Chapter 24
Chapter Twenty-Four
Levi
The restaurant is perfect. A cozy, tucked-away gem illuminated by flickering candlelight and warmed by the soft hum of a piano in the background. It’s intimate, romantic, and exactly the kind of place where I want Tania to feel like the most important person in the world—because she is.
When she steps through the door, my breath catches. She’s wearing a deep red dress, her hair falling in soft waves over her shoulders. Her gaze sweeps the room before landing on me, her expression cautious but curious. My heart tightens at the sight of her.
“Levi,” she says softly as she approaches the table. “This is... a lot.”
“You deserve a lot,” I reply, pulling out her chair. “Thanks for coming.”
She sits, her eyes flickering to the table set with fresh flowers and her favorite wine. “You didn’t have to go through all this trouble.”
“It’s not trouble,” I say, my voice steady but warm. “It’s you.”
Her cheeks flush slightly, and I fight the urge to reach across the table and take her hand. Tonight has to be perfect—not because I planned it that way, but because I need her to know how I feel. How much she means to me.
The dinner begins with light conversation, a slow unraveling of the tension that’s been hanging between us. I tell her about a mix-up during a recent investor meeting, and she laughs, the sound soft and genuine. It feels like the first real laugh I’ve heard from her in weeks.
“You’re terrible at admitting when you’re wrong,” she teases, her smile lighting up her face.
“Only because I’m rarely wrong,” I counter, smirking.
She rolls her eyes, but the sparkle in her gaze makes my chest ache. It’s a reminder of everything I’ve been missing, everything I’ve been too afraid to admit I still want.
As the main course is cleared, I take a deep breath, setting down my fork. “Tania,” I begin, my voice softer now. “There’s something I need to say.”
Her smile fades slightly, and she places her wineglass down carefully. “Levi, you don’t have to?—”
“I do,” I say gently, cutting her off. “Because I’ve spent so much time avoiding it, and I can’t anymore.”
Her brows knit together, her lips parting as she starts to speak again, but I reach across the table, my hand brushing hers. “Please,” I say softly. “Just let me finish.”
She nods, her gaze searching mine.
“I know I’ve made mistakes,” I say, my voice steady but thick with emotion. “And I know I’ve hurt you. Letting you walk away was the biggest mistake of my life, and I’ve regretted it every day since.”
Her breath catches, and I tighten my grip on her hand slightly, needing her to feel the sincerity in my words.
“When this started, I told myself it was just business,” I continue. “That it was about the merger, the deal—anything to avoid admitting the truth. But the truth is, it’s always been about you, Tania.”
“Levi...” she whispers, her voice trembling.
“I missed you,” I say, my own voice threatening to break. “More than I can put into words. And being with you again has made me realize just how much you mean to me. How much you’ve always meant to me.”
Tears glisten in her eyes, and she looks down, her free hand fidgeting with the edge of the tablecloth. “I don’t know if I can do this,” she says quietly. “You hurt me, Levi. And I’ve spent so long trying to protect myself from feeling that way again.”
“I know,” I say softly. “And I’m not asking you to forget the past. I’m just asking for a chance to prove that I’ve changed. That I can be the man you deserve.”
Her lips tremble, and she looks up at me, her eyes filled with a mix of vulnerability and something that looks a lot like hope. “You’ve always known how to say the right thing.”
“It’s not about saying the right thing,” I reply, my voice firm. “It’s about meaning it.”
The drive back to the penthouse is quiet, the tension between us a mixture of uncertainty and something softer, something unspoken. When we step inside, Tania walks to the window, her arms crossed as she stares out at the city lights.
“I don’t know what to do with this, Levi,” she says, her voice barely above a whisper. “You’ve always been so good at making me feel like I’m the only person who matters. But it’s hard to trust that it’s real.”
I approach her slowly, my hands brushing her arms as I turn her to face me. “It is real,” I say, my voice steady. “And I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it if I have to.”
Her breath catches, and I reach up, cupping her cheek. She leans into my touch, her eyes searching mine for what feels like an eternity.
“You’re impossible,” she whispers, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
“I know,” I reply, my own smile softening the moment. “But so are you. And that’s why we work.”
She lets out a shaky laugh, and I take it as my cue to lean in, brushing my lips against hers. The kiss is soft, tentative, but it quickly deepens, the barriers between us dissolving in the warmth of her touch.
“Tania,” I murmur against her lips, my voice filled with everything I can’t put into words.
“Don’t stop,” she whispers, her breath warm against my skin.
We lie tangled in the sheets, her head resting on my chest as I trace slow circles along her back. The room is quiet except for the sound of our breathing, and for the first time in years, I feel at peace.
“What now?” she asks softly, her voice drowsy but laced with curiosity.
“Anything you want,” I reply, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “As long as it’s with you.”
She doesn’t respond, but the way she nestles closer to me, her fingers lightly brushing my side, feels like the beginning of something real.