Levi's POV
I slowly reached out and touched her hand with my little finger. To my surprise, she reciprocated, intertwining her small pinky with mine. She closed her eyes and exhaled softly, and in that moment, it felt like all the tension drained from my body. It was a simple gesture, but it meant the world to me.
"Tell me you're not resigning," I pleaded gently, trying not to sound desperate, although I knew my voice betrayed my anxiety.
Her eyes widened slightly, hesitating before she answered carefully, "No, sir. I'm just... hoping for the best but preparing for the worst."
She released my hand abruptly, as if realizing the intimacy of the moment. A lump formed in my throat, and for a brief, dangerous second, I imagined wrapping my hands around her throat. Desire surged through me like a tidal wave, and I had to swallow hard to control myself.
"Nonsense!" I responded firmly, trying to regain my composure. "You're the most important asset to this company, Isabella. We... I value your dedication immensely, and I assure you, we're not letting you go." I stumbled over my words slightly, clearing my throat to mask my emotions. Did I almost reveal too much? Damn.
A faint blush colored her cheeks, and a genuine smile spread across her face. It was a rare sight, one that resonated deeply with me—her passion for her work, her unwavering commitment. Isabella was unlike any woman I had known, and I considered myself extraordinarily fortunate to have her by my side. As my team member and perhaps, just perhaps my love interest.
Just then, the driver and Mark approached, breaking the momentary intimacy. I refocused on the task at hand, my demeanor shifting back to business. "Mark will accompany me. Aaron, please drive Isabella back to the hotel and ensure she arrives safely," I instructed, turning to my driver who nodded in acknowledgment.
"Thank you, boss," Isabella replied graciously, her eyes meeting mine for a fleeting second before she followed Aaron towards the waiting Rolls-Royce. I inhaled deeply, trying to imprint her lingering presence in my mind.
Settling into the backseat as Mark opened the door, my thoughts drifted back to the day's challenges and the remaining business matters that required my attention.
I attended to them as quickly as possible before returning to my penthouse suite at the hotel. Exhaustion weighed heavily on me, and I loosened my tie with a weary sigh, hoping to unwind before the day's end.
As I began to relax, a message from Elena interrupted my thoughts. Normally, I wouldn't have bothered, but she had been persistent with her texts all day, and curiosity got the better of me.
I picked up my phone and stared incredulously at the message, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle deeper into my bones.
Elena: If you don't take my calls now, I'm going to kill myself.
I hissed in frustration. Elena's melodrama was the last thing I needed after a grueling day managing Ferrari's affairs, especially given the recent setbacks we had experienced.
What's wrong with this woman? I thought. I can't deal with her incessant calls and messages right now!
With a resigned exhale, I reluctantly pressed the call button, bracing myself for her response.
"Hello, darling..." Her voice flowed through the line immediately upon answering. "Glad to see you finally came back to your senses."
"Don't ever send me a message like that again. I have no patience for drama right now, understand?" I snapped, my voice tinged with both exhaustion and irritation as I tossed my tie aside. Had she not been following the news? Why would she think this was the right time for such antics?
"Sorry. You don't have to shout. I just wanted to get your attention. Stop being mean!" Her voice shifted to a plaintive whine.
"How about you stop acting like a spoiled brat for once?" I retorted, sinking onto the edge of the bed and rubbing my temples.
"I'll try," she giggled. "But I can't promise anything."
"What do you want, Elena?" I asked impatiently, already dreading the conversation.
"Now you're finally speaking my language. Guess where I am?" She giggled mischievously, clearly enjoying herself despite my obvious distress. I'd had a rough day, and all I wanted was some peace. Maybe blocking her number would be the easiest solution at this point.
I blamed my father for this. And her father! And everyone! Damn!
"I'm tired and not in the mood for guessing games. What is it?" I spat, my impatience growing.
"Ohh! You're such a mood killer!"
I rolled my eyes, feeling the tension in my shoulders build.
"Anyway, I'm on my way to see you."
"You're on your way to what?!" I exclaimed incredulously.
"To see you and watch the race," she giggled.
"Look, Levi," her tone turned serious. "I've realized how much I care about you. And I've been watching the news. I can help you. What you need is an alliance. My family's company is large enough to keep yours afloat and improve its reputation. We're a perfect match, Levi. Stop fighting it."
Her words hit me like a slap in the face. Elena, always viewing everything as a transaction, even emotions. I sighed deeply, trying to collect my thoughts amidst the whirlwind of emotions and exhaustion I felt right now. Also trying to kill the rage building up in my chest.
Isabella makes me happy; then there's Elena complicating things.
"I appreciate the offer, Elena," I began, my voice calmer but tinged with frustration, "but this isn't the time. Ferrari is going through a critical phase, and my focus is on stabilizing our operations, not forming alliances based on convenience."
"Oh, Levi," she cooed softly, "don't be so stubborn. Think about what we could achieve together."
"There's nothing to think about right now," I replied firmly. "I need to go. We'll talk later." Without waiting for a response, I ended the call and tossed my phone onto the bed, running a hand through my hair in exasperation. The last thing I needed was Elena complicating an already difficult situation.
If she tells my father about this, then I might be in even deeper shit.