Chapter 103

Isabella

I started to follow him, but he was walking so damn fast, it was like he wanted to piss me off.
“Levi,” I hissed, breathless. “I’m not a runway model. These shoes are killing me. Why are you making me chase after you? Is this your idea of being a gentleman?”
That stopped him.
He turned slowly, his expression unreadable. I planted my feet, gasping slightly. My heels stabbed into the floor like punishment. I wasn’t going to take another step until he promised to walk slower. I was already breathing too hard. What was wrong with him?
“Now I’ve waited for you,” he said, voice calm—too calm—cut sharp like a blade. “And you’re the one refusing to walk?”
I glared at him. “If you had a heart, you’d give me a second to catch my breath. I’ve been chasing you through hallways like a lost intern.”
Even when I was your intern, I didn’t chase you like this, I wanted to say. But I swallowed the words.
He glanced at his watch. “I have an appointment. This delay might make me late. Do you understand that?”
“Don’t you dare put this on me,” I snapped, stepping closer.
His jaw flexed. “Do you realize how much time I’ve already wasted waiting for you? You dressed like a model—you might as well move like one.”
“Oh,” I scoffed, eyebrows raised. “Now you’re being sassy.”
He blinked—genuinely caught off guard. That made me almost laugh. Levi, king of cold control, didn’t expect sass back. Of course not. He was obsessed with punctuality, always had been. His life probably ran on alarms, color-coded spreadsheets, and hourly audits. I pitied him. I really did.
Back when he was Mr. L… he used to live a little more. Did he still do that now?
The thought curled jealousy tight around my chest.
“I see your life is ruled by timetables,” I muttered, brushing past him. “Tell me, Levi—do you ever do anything spontaneous? Anything that isn’t scheduled to the second?”
He didn’t look at me when he replied.
“The day I went to Ford’s,” he said, quiet now, “I hadn’t planned to be there. I was just driving by. Should’ve been somewhere else. Should’ve been productive. But instead, I met you.”
I faltered. That… caught me off guard.
“You should try more unplanned outings then,” I said lightly, masking the tight pull in my chest.
He turned to me sharply, eyes unreadable. “To meet more women? Is that what you’re suggesting?”
“No,” I replied at once. The thought made my stomach twist. “To meet more people. It’s not always about women, Levi.”
He started walking again, but this time… he slowed his steps. Just enough for me to follow without limping behind like an afterthought. Eventually, he turned into an office I didn’t recognize—elegant and bright, with fresh flowers on the windowsill and a tranquil aquarium humming in the corner.
He walked to the desk like he owned the place and sat.
“Are we… not meeting someone here?” I asked, frowning. “What are you doing?”
He opened a drawer, pulled out a file, and smiled faintly. Then he motioned to the chair across from him.
“Sit. I’ll explain everything. Will you?”
I hesitated, then complied. My arms rested against the polished mahogany as my eyes wandered to the fish. Peaceful. Mindless. Lucky.
Then he tapped my hand.
“Stop daydreaming. Listen.”
I met his gaze. “So, no one’s coming? No papers to sign?”
“No,” he said. “Everything’s already signed. But I got the impression you didn’t fully understand what you were signing. You barely listened to the lawyer. You just nodded along.”
I stood, smoothing my dress. “I didn’t come all the way here for a lecture, Levi. I’m not your student.”
I glanced toward the door, daring him to stop me. He didn’t move.
“I’m your boss,” he said coolly. “This is your job. You should expect conversations like this.”
I sat again, this time with a smile tugging at my lips.
“Funny. I was starting to wonder why you never asked anything about me. Like whether I’ve been convicted of a crime.”
The words slipped out before I could stop them.
My heart froze.
Damn it.
The news had been buried—scrubbed clean, thanks to Antonio. Levi would probably never find out. Not unless someone dug deep, asked the right questions, and refused to stop.
Would he?
Would Levi really go that far before the wedding?
God, just hold him off. That’s all I need. Just let him stay in the dark a little longer. After the wedding… everything can come to light. I’ll deal with it then.
Please.
He didn’t even flinch.
“What’s your favorite color?” he asked instead, flipping open a file on his desk and clicking a pen. Was that a checklist?
I blinked. “What?”
“I don’t like repeating myself. Mine’s black. What’s yours?”
“I don’t have one,” I said. “Whatever appeals to me in the moment, that’s what I go with.”
He muttered under his breath. “You could make this easier by just picking one.”
“I won’t lie to satisfy your checklist.”
He moved on, visibly annoyed.
“Fine. What’s your favorite meal?”
“Same story, Levi. No favorites. I enjoy what I enjoy.”
He stared at me like I’d just declared war on basic preferences.
“That’s absurd,” he muttered. “What woman doesn’t have a favorite anything?”
He let out a breath and leaned back in his chair, eyes locked on mine.
“I see you want to make this difficult,” he said, his voice dipping lower. “Two can play that game.”