Chapter 66

Kenya.

I didn't want to be at war anymore.

I wanted us to find a middle ground. I had never been the type of person who enjoyed causing others pain; even with Hank, my reluctance to report him had stemmed from a misplaced sense of empathy. But with Levi, the pain was different. It was a mutual destruction.

"Any other questions, Mrs. Ruthford?" Levi’s voice broke through my thoughts. The warmth in his tone felt like a ghost of the past.

"When are we going to Miami? You promised me, remember?"

I felt him step closer, the air between us suddenly electric. I knew he felt it too—the magnetic pull that defied all our logic.

"Next Wednesday," he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

"I’d like to go with you." I finally turned to face him, our lips only inches apart. I saw the strain in his emerald eyes, the internal battle he was fighting.

"Good night, Kenya," he said, his voice tight. He turned and walked away, leaving me alone in the vast, quiet hall.

My phone chimed with a text from Katie.

Katie: Hi Kenya. Please, can we meet in my office at 9 am tomorrow?

Me: I’ll be there.

I arrived at the law firm the next morning, my nerves frayed. Levi had been gone before I even woke up, leaving no word.

When Katie entered her office, she looked haggard. Her usual perfect chignon had loose strands, and there were dark circles beneath her eyes that no amount of makeup could hide.

“Good morning, Mrs. Ruthford...” she stuttered.

"Katie," I said gently, concerned by her jittery demeanor. "I asked you to use my name. In here, I just want to be me."

She nodded frantically, avoiding my gaze as she shuffled through a stack of documents.

"Kenya... I have some developments for you," she started. "An investor has shown significant interest in the ballet school. They saw our preliminary filing and want to be fully involved in the financial obligations. It’s a substantial offer."

An investor? Already? "That’s incredible news. Who is it?"

"That’s the thing," Katie replied, her voice gaining a bit of professional distance. "The investor wishes to remain silent. No direct contact with you. I would act as the sole intermediary for all dividends and reporting. It’s a common arrangement for high-net-worth individuals who value privacy."

I paused, a flicker of doubt crossing my mind. "How did they even find out about the school? We haven't gone public with the new branding yet."

“I listed a placeholder on my firm’s portfolio website. That must have been the point of contact,” Katie explained quickly.

I pulled out my phone and checked the firm's site. Sure enough, a silhouette of the J'aime building was there, buried in a list of ongoing projects.

I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. If this investor could provide the capital I needed, I could finally step out from under Levi’s financial shadow. "Alright, let’s proceed. I need this school to be a success on its own merits."

Levi.

The office was draped in shadow, the only light coming from the moon reflecting off the glass towers of midtown. It was 9 pm. My nerves were on edge, the wait becoming unbearable.

I sat in the leather chair, reflecting on the day. Staying away from Kenya was becoming a torture of its own making. I was short with my staff, irritable with my advisors. But I couldn't face her yet—not until I had secured every avenue to protect her. She didn't understand that her 'independence' had made her a target for my enemies.

I smiled—my first in days. She had outsmarted me with her legal maneuvers, a move I hadn't anticipated. I was proud of her, even as it made my job ten times harder.

The door to the private suite opened. Two people entered, their laughter echoing in the quiet room. It was Alan, looking disheveled and clearly distracted by the woman in his arms—someone who was decidedly not his wife, Amanda.

The lights flickered on, catching them in the sudden glare.

"Who’s there?" Alan asked, his voice sharp with sudden fear. The woman with him let out a small cry of surprise.

I stepped out from the shadows, watching them with a cold, detached gaze. Alan’s face turned a sickly shade of grey as he realized who was sitting in his private office.

"I have security downstairs, Levi. You can't just—"

"Your security is on my payroll tonight, Alan," I interrupted, my voice devoid of emotion. Behind me, my team stood ready, holding folders filled with the evidence I had spent the last forty-eight hours gathering. "We need to talk about your recent 'investments' and the future of your career. And I suggest you listen very carefully, for Amanda’s sake."