Page 10 of The Billionaire’s Betrayal (Billionaires of Paris #2)
TRISTAN
Steve arrived at the office the following week for our quarterly work session. I assigned Audrey to other projects so I could fully enjoy the presence of my friend and collaborator. Together, we reviewed his financial projections for the upcoming funding round.
At the end of the day, we joined the rest of the team in our former headquarters, nestled in the heart of the Latin Quarter. Eva and Leila were already seated at our usual table, leaning toward each other in deep conversation. Satoshi was supposed to join us later, after his technical meeting.
The place hadn't changed: the same hushed atmosphere, the same exposed stone walls that had witnessed our first entrepreneurial dreams.
Luigi, the owner of the bar who had watched us grow, welcomed us with his characteristic Italian exuberance. To preserve our privacy, he had reserved the entire back room for us, with Lorenzo and Marco discreetly standing guard at the entrance.
The girls stood up to greet Steve.
"Hey Steve," Leila said with a smile. "How have you been since last time?"
"To be honest, the pace is pretty intense right now," Steve replied, taking a seat next to her, while I sat down beside Eva. "The days are packed, so I try to exercise and get out a bit to decompress. And you, I hear you've been dating someone recently. How's that going?"
"It's pretty recent; only time will tell if it works out."
"She refuses to introduce him to us," Eva pouted. "She's afraid we'll scare him away."
"Of course I'm afraid! With the reputation we all have, you'd have to be a little crazy to want to join our group!"
"Speak for yourself," Eva replied, laughing. "I never appear in the press."
"Yes, but Tristan is in it practically every week!"
"Hey, don't drag me into this!" I protested with a laugh while putting my arm around Eva's shoulders.
I pulled her close and planted a kiss on her temple, intoxicated by her perfume. She nestled naturally into my embrace, her body fitting perfectly against mine.
"Let us know if we're bothering you," Steve said with a smirk.
We burst out laughing, savoring the simplicity of this moment among friends.
The atmosphere subtly changed when Satoshi entered the room. Leila's warm laughter softened, and I noticed how she straightened slightly, absently running a hand through her hair. Satoshi paused almost imperceptibly when he saw her, his smile spontaneously widening before he caught himself.
"Hello Steve!" Satoshi called out as he approached.
"Good to see you," Steve replied, standing up to embrace him.
When Satoshi sat next to Leila, he was careful to maintain a polite distance, but I didn't miss how their gestures seemed unconsciously synchronized, like a familiar dance they had learned to master.
They exchanged a quick but intense look before focusing a bit too attentively on the general conversation.
Steve and Eva, absorbed in their discussion, didn't seem to notice this silent ballet.
"How's the Watson project going?" Leila asked, her soft voice betraying an interest that went beyond mere politeness.
"Good... We finally solved the bug I told you about," Satoshi replied, adjusting his glasses.
Their exchange, though seemingly professional, vibrated with contained intimacy.
Leila's eyes lingered a second too long on his profile as he explained the technical details, and I saw a slight smile form on her lips when he got carried away in his explanations, as he always did when passionate about a subject.
Luigi's arrival broke this moment of silent complicity. He placed before us a plate overflowing with Italian charcuterie accompanied by generous chunks of Parmesan.
"Here you go, my friends! Smoked ham, spicy salami, and delicately flavored coppa, straight from Tuscany," he announced proudly.
Satoshi regained his usual enthusiasm as Luigi briefly stepped away, returning with a bottle of red wine promising sunshine.
"A wine from Tuscany, a real treat for the taste buds!" he told us as he filled our glasses.
We thanked him warmly before beginning our tasting.
The evening flowed to the rhythm of laughter and anecdotes. Soon, perhaps too soon, it was time to part ways.
Steve returned with Eva and me to the penthouse. Once inside, Eva left us men alone, understanding our need for this one-on-one moment.
"The guest room is ready, Steve," she told him. "You'll find clean towels on the bed."
"Thanks, Eva," Steve replied. "Good night."
"Good night," she added, disappearing into our bedroom.
I went behind the bar, chose two cognac glasses, and poured the amber liquid. I handed a glass to my friend before slipping into an armchair facing him. A sip of cognac gently burned my throat as I savored this moment of calm.
"What's bothering you?" he asked me. "You barely said anything all evening."
"Sorry," I apologized. "I hadn't realized."
"Tell me!"
I remained silent for a moment, searching for words, then I began.
"It's my parents..."
"Things still aren't better between them?" he asked sympathetically.
"It's getting worse. It kills me to see them like this, especially with Lily caught between them. It's horrible."
"You know you can't do anything about it. When love is gone, you end up becoming bitter and blaming the other for every flaw or failing."
I took a deep breath before continuing.
"My mother is becoming increasingly bitter, and I admit I don't know how to help her anymore."
Steve nodded, his gaze filled with understanding.
"I understand this situation is wearing you down, but you can't carry this burden for her. It's up to her to decide what she wants to do with her life. Has she considered seeing a psychologist for her depression?"
"No, she refuses to hear about it."
"That's too bad because it could help her."
"I know, I keep talking to her about it."
I took another sip of cognac, letting silence settle before daring to formulate the question that haunted me.
"What if this happens to Eva and me?"
"Why are you asking that?" he asked cautiously.
"It's hard to explain," I sighed. "Most of the time, everything is fine between us, and then, without warning, tension sets in, palpable, suffocating.
We argue over details that shouldn't even matter.
Some days, I feel completely helpless in the face of our conflicts.
Over time, frustration and resentment build up.
I admit I don't know how to defuse these tensions.
We talk, but we don't understand each other.
I don't know how to find the natural connection that once united us. "
I paused, searching for words, my gaze lost in space.
"It's as if my parents' pattern is repeating itself. Their all-consuming love at the beginning, then their increasingly toxic relationship over the years... I refuse to live that. I think it would destroy me. I couldn't bear to see everything I've built with Eva collapse in the same way."
Steve looked at me for a long time, carefully choosing his words to ease my fears.
"Arguments in a couple are common," he finally replied.
"What matters is not saying, in anger, words that hurt the other beyond repair, to the point of no return.
Each hurtful word is like a knife cut; there's a limit to the pain each person can take.
Then, you need to talk. Not during the crisis, but afterward, when calm has returned.
You need to express what you truly feel, without accusing the other.
If you both want it, you'll always find solutions to your conflicts. "
He paused, searching for words.
"The important thing, I believe, is to never take love for granted.
That's the mistake Samantha and I made. We were too busy with our work and various obligations to take care of our relationship, and when we realized our marriage was drifting apart, it was too late.
We had grown too distant from each other.
But it's not too late for Eva and you. I see a lot of love, respect, and kindness between you.
If you both decide to fight for your relationship, I don't see what could separate you. "
I nodded, absorbing his words, but part of me remained plagued by doubts.
"What if, despite all that, it's not enough?" I asked in a whisper.
Steve placed a comforting hand on my shoulder.
"Then you'll know you did everything to preserve what unites you."