CHAPTER 5

I woke up to sunlight leaking through the slats of navy-blue curtains. For a second, I panicked. The ceiling wasn't mine, the bed was too soft, and the smell… fresh linen and something vaguely woodsy.

Then it hit me—I was in Levi Banks' guest room.

God.

The night before came flooding back: the keys, the hallway, my things dumped like trash, the quiet ride, the tea, the way he'd looked at me without prying. He hadn't tried to fix me. He'd just… made space.

I sat up, running a hand through my hair, and exhaled.

Time to leave before this got any more complicated.

I freshened up quickly, thankful for the clean towel and neatly placed toothbrush by the sink (which made me suspicious—was he always this prepared for overnight guests?).

When I stepped into the living room, he was already there, dressed down in a hoodie and joggers, typing away on his laptop with a mug in hand.

He glanced up.

"You sleep okay?"

His voice was rough from sleep, but not unkind.

"Yeah," I replied, pulling my jacket tighter around me. "Thanks again. For… everything."

Levi stood, walking to the kitchen. "You're not leaving without breakfast."

I opened my mouth to argue, but he was already pouring orange juice into a glass and pulling bread from the toaster. It felt domestic in a way that made my stomach flutter. And I hated that it did.

We sat in near-silence, chewing toast and sipping juice, the only sound coming from the soft hum of the fridge.

"You going straight to work?" he asked casually.

I nodded. "Can't afford another late day."

"Then I'll drop you off."

I hesitated. "You don't have to—"

"I know," he cut in smoothly. "But I want to."

He looked at me then, not as my boss, not as the stranger who'd helped me once—but something in-between. Something unsettling and quiet and kind.

I looked away, brushing a crumb from my lap.

"Alright," I murmured. "Just this once."

As we left the apartment, I knew I was walking a tightrope.

And Levi Banks? He wasn't just trouble. He was the kind that came slowly… wrapped in comfort, wrapped in charm—and way too easy to fall into.

*****

The city moved past in a blur of gold morning light and half-opened storefronts. I sat in the passenger seat of Levi's sleek black car, clutching my bag like it held the answers to every question spinning in my head.

He hadn't spoken much since we got in, and neither had I. The silence wasn't awkward though—it was… loaded. Like both of us had something to say but neither wanted to be the first to break whatever this calm was.

My eyes stayed fixed on the road ahead, but my mind wandered.

What now, Amelia?

You've lost your apartment. You've slept under your boss's roof. And now you're being chauffeured to work like some… VIP. It didn't feel real. None of it did.

This wasn't part of the plan.

My goal had always been clear: work hard, stay invisible, build stability. But Levi Banks saw through that. Or maybe he saw *me* before I could hide. That thought alone made my throat tighten.

"You okay?"

His voice pulled me back. I glanced over at him, the morning light softening his sharp features.

"Yeah," I said, nodding. "Just tired."

He hummed, one hand on the wheel, the other resting lazily against the window.

"If you need time off to sort your housing, I can make that happen."

I shook my head. "No. I need work. I need… structure. Distraction."

He gave me a brief look, unreadable as always, but didn't push.

I appreciated that more than I could say.

The car slowed as we neared the building. I straightened up, pushing my emotions down like I'd been trained to do.

"You didn't have to do all this," I said quietly.

"I didn't *have* to," he replied. "But I did."

And with that, he parked, turned off the engine, and stepped out without waiting for a response.

I sat there a second longer, gathering what little resolve I had left. Then I followed him.

Whatever happened next… I had to handle it.

Even if it meant pretending like last night—and this morning—meant nothing at all.

***

The moment I stepped into the office, I knew.

The shift in energy was subtle—but sharp. Heads turned just a second too long, conversations paused mid-sentence, and eyes flicked between me and the elevator Levi had just disappeared into.

 "Girl," Nina's voice came low and sharp as I passed. "Tell me I'm not crazy—you pulled up in Mr. Banks' car?"

I gave her a practiced smile. "You are crazy."

But my heart was already betraying me—pounding like it wanted to escape through my chest. I dropped my bag, sank into my chair, and opened my laptop like I had *any* intention of focusing.

My phone buzzed.

Levi: My office. Now.

No "hi," no "please," just two words. And yet my stomach did a little somersault. I swallowed the nerves, smoothed my skirt, and stood.

The office eyes followed me again, burning little holes through my blouse as I headed to the glass door with his name etched in gold.

He didn't look up when I entered. Just gestured with two fingers toward the door behind me.

"Close it."

"I wasn't planning to," I replied, sitting opposite him. "But I guess I can lower myself to your peasant-level cuisine."

He chuckled. "Feisty. I was starting to miss that."

We ate. Talked. Nothing deep—just jabs about coffee preferences, annoying coworkers, and which Marvel movie was criminally underrated . For a moment, it didn't feel like boss and assistant. It felt… normal. Easy.

Then, just as I was about to pack up, the door open.

Nina.

She froze.

"Oh—sorry. I didn't know this room was—"

"It's fine," Levi said quickly, his expression unreadable now. "We're done here."

She gave me a quick look—half apology, half suspicion—and backed out, shutting the door behind her.

I sighed.

"That'll fuel another week's worth of rumors."

Levi leaned forward, elbows on the table. "Then give them something worth whispering about."

My heart started beating faster

He didn't say it playfully. He didn't smirk.

He just… watched me.

Waiting.

But I wasn't ready to fall into that fire—not yet.

"I'd rather give them silence," I said, standing and gathering my things.

He nodded, and for once, said nothing.

As I stepped out of the conference room, the weight of his stare still lingered.

And I hated how much I wanted to turn back.

I did. Slowly. Click.

"You took your time," he murmured, still not looking at me.

"I walked at a normal pace."

"Normal's boring."

Now he looked up. And God… that look.

It was the same one he gave me last night, when he leaned back in his car, his voice softer than whiskey and twice as intoxicating.

"People are talking," I said, crossing my arms, trying not to crumble.

He tilted his head. "Let them. You should be used to attention by now."

I stepped forward, ignoring the way the heat flared between us. "This is my job, Levi. I worked to be here. I don't need your name messing that up."

"You think it's my name that's messing with you?" he asked, stepping around his desk. Now he was too close. Dangerous-close. "Or is it what happened the night we met?"

I froze.

He smirked, eyes dragging across my face like he was reading my thoughts. "I remember that look. Same one you had when I stood up for you."

My mouth opened. Nothing came out.

"I haven't touched you, Amelia," he said lowly. "But don't think for a second I haven't imagined it."

My pulse spiked

"I should go," I whispered.

He stepped back, like he was giving me air—except the room still felt suffocating.

"Go," he said. "But don't pretend the tension's only on my side."

My hand was on the doorknob before I remembered how to breathe.

His voice followed me out.

"Oh—and Amelia?"

I turned, barely.

"That coffee better be good today."

I had just returned to my desk, hoping to get a few emails cleared before the day spiraled again, when my phone lit up. Myra. I smiled, expecting her usual dramatic good morning rant.

I answered cheerfully. 

"Hey, you caught me before the chaos kicks in—"

Her voice cut through me. 

"Amelia. What the hell?!"

I froze, eyes flicking around as I quickly placed the phone closer to my ear. "What's going on?"

"I just got to your building… to surprise you. You didn't tell me anything, not even a hint—and your stuff? It's out, Ames. Just dumped outside like trash. Are you serious right now?!"

I blinked hard, the sting behind my eyes immediate.

"Myra, I— I didn't want you to worry…"

"Are you actually okay?" Her voice cracked now. "Because I'm here, standing in front of your life, packed in bags and tossed like you don't matter. And you didn't think to tell me?"

Silence.

"I've been your best friend since forever, and I had to find out this way?" she whispered.

"I just thought I had it under control…" My voice trailed off, weak and paper-thin.

"Amelia. You don't always have to have it together. Not with me." Then, after a pause—"But I'll give you space, since that's obviously what you want."

The line went dead.

I lowered the phone slowly, staring at the screen, her name still burning at the top. The weight of everything — my apartment, Myra's heartbreak, pretending I was okay — finally crashed on me.

And for the first time in a long time, 

*I didn't feel strong.* l

I felt… like crap.