Chapter 5

Levi.

"I... I just got something in my eye," Kenya lied, her voice shaky. I didn't press her, though it was obvious she had been distressed.

"May I come in?" I asked. She nodded and stepped aside. Her apartment was a reflection of her—elegant and warm, decorated in soothing pastels.

"Sorry, it's a bit untidy... I was just eating," she murmured, glancing at her table.

"It’s a beautiful home, Kenya," I said sincerely. She seemed surprised by the compliment. She offered me a drink, and I settled for a glass of water.

She moved gracefully across the room, though I noticed her slight discomfort with her attire. She quickly grabbed a blanket from the sofa to wrap around herself. There was a palpable tension in the air—not just of my presence, but a strange, magnetic pull between us.

When she handed me the water, her hands were trembling slightly. "How did you find me, Sir?" she asked.

"I asked at the theater," I confessed. "I wanted to see you again."

I stood up, closing the distance between us. Kenya looked up at me, her gaze locked on mine. "Your eyes..." she whispered, seemingly mesmerized by the deep green.

I leaned in slightly, captivated by her beauty and the intelligence I saw in her hazel eyes. She seemed to waver for a moment, caught in the same haze of attraction I felt. But then, she caught herself and stepped back, creating a safe distance.

"Why are you here, Mr. Ruthford?" she asked, her voice regaining its strength. "You have a campaign to run. This... this isn't where you should be."

"I needed a distraction from the politics," I admitted, watching her closely. "And I couldn't stop thinking about you."