Page 14 of The Billionaire’s Betrayal (Billionaires of Paris #2)

EVA

Leila set her lunch tray across from mine before taking a seat.

"Wasn't Satoshi supposed to join us?" I wondered.

"I tied him up and hung him from the ceiling of his bat-cave," she replied, eyes sparkling with mischief. I chuckled, perfectly visualizing the image.

"What did he do this time?"

"He hacked my computer and played a Star Wars video while I was in the middle of a meeting with my marketing team. Can you believe that? I was so embarrassed!"

I laughed, genuinely amused.

Leila and Satoshi's story was quite explosive. They had dated during our last year of studies and then separated. Since then, they continued to circle each other, playing the worst pranks.

"This time, he'll think twice before doing it again..." she snickered.

"Stop," I protested. "I don't want to know! I don't want to be an accomplice in your sadistic games!"

Leila giggled.

"Hello," Audrey interrupted us, stopping at our table with a radiant smile. "May I join you?"

Leila gave me a perplexed look, but propriety prevented us from refusing.

Since she had joined Community Pilot, this was the first time she had taken such an initiative.

Usually, she was surrounded by a court of men fascinated by her beauty and women seeking to benefit from her charisma and influence.

"Hello, Audrey," I replied with feigned cordiality. "No problem, have a seat."

She pulled out a chair and sat down with disconcerting ease.

"Thank you," she said, placing her bag nonchalantly.

Leila, breaking the uncomfortable silence that was settling in, took the initiative to restart the conversation.

"How's work going?" she asked with polite curiosity.

Audrey straightened slightly, visibly delighted by the attention.

"Very well, thank you. Tristan is an incredible boss," she marveled, her eyes sparkling. "He always has time for me. Thanks to his availability, I'm learning a lot. He's even started entrusting me with strategic files."

Leila nodded, sketching a facade smile.

"That's great," she felt obliged to comment.

"Isn't it?" Audrey continued enthusiastically. "I've barely been here four months, and he's already entrusting me with the implementation of the Australian branch!"

My heart skipped a beat before painfully racing in my chest.

The Australian branch?

Last I heard, we were supposed to work on it together... It was our project. Until now, we had always collaborated on the deployment of branches, spending entire evenings discussing and laughing, bent over plans and projections. And he was entrusting the project to Audrey? Without even telling me?

"Of course, he assured me he would be there to help," Audrey continued.

I clenched my jaw to stem the pain of betrayal.

I didn't understand. Why was he doing this?

The idea of questioning Audrey's words didn't even cross my mind.

There was too much satisfaction, too much arrogance in her tone.

She was jubilant, the bitch, because she knew this project mattered to me.

Certainly less than the Hope Foundation, but still.

Leila was giving me worried looks that I was trying to ignore. The slightest eye contact risked breaking the precarious dam holding back my emotions. I mechanically nodded, pretending to listen, while Audrey enthusiastically detailed her daily interactions with Tristan.

Each new revelation was like a stab. Our canceled meetings, the time they spent together... Everything suddenly took on a different meaning. Darker. More painful. The trust I had in Tristan, that certainty of being a united team, was cracking a little more with each word.

The minutes stretched like hours. My meal remained untouched on my plate, my stomach too knotted to swallow anything.

"What did I miss?" Leila asked, entering my office after lunch.

"I don't know any more than you do," I replied, trying to control the trembling in my voice.

Leila frowned, her concern palpable.

"The implementation of the Australian branch? Weren't you supposed to work on that with Tristan?"

I lowered my eyes to my hands, which I was nervously fidgeting with. The words remained stuck in my throat. How to admit that the man I loved, the one with whom I shared my life and dreams, seemed to be gradually erasing me from his projects? Shame mingled with pain.

"Hey, beautiful," Leila said, placing a comforting hand on my shoulder, her concern growing in the face of my silence. "Don't jump to conclusions, okay? Talk to him."

"He's coming home later and later at night, and he's canceled our work sessions to spend that time with her," I finally admitted, my voice barely audible.

The words burned my throat, making real what I had been trying to deny for weeks. Leila gently lifted my chin, forcing me to meet her gaze filled with fierce tenderness.

"Talk to him," she insisted.

I took a deep breath, drawing on the strength my friend offered.

"You're right," I whispered, my throat tight. "I'll talk to him."

But even as I spoke these words, I felt fear knotting my stomach. Fear of what this conversation might reveal, fear of the answers I might get.

The journey to Tristan's office seemed endless.

I felt feverish, and my heart was beating erratically in my chest. I needed to talk to Tristan, but I dreaded the confrontation.

There was no way this conversation would go well.

He had made his decision without talking to me, and I would have to make him understand how much that hurt me.

I didn't know how he would react, I didn't know if he would truly be able to listen or if once again, he would dismiss my arguments with a wave of his hand.

"Come in," he replied when I knocked on his door.

The smile that stretched across his lips faded at the sight of me. Was he expecting someone else? Had our relationship deteriorated so much that the mere sight of me made him lose his smile? This thought pierced me painfully.

"Eva, what can I do for you?" he asked, surprised.

"Is it true that you're working on the Australian branch project with Audrey?" I asked directly.

Tristan seemed taken aback by my direct question.

"Yes, she's handling part of the project. We're both swamped with work, and I think she can manage this part," he replied after a moment.

I felt frustration rising.

"And you didn't think to ask my opinion?" I said in a calmer voice than I felt.

"I was going to discuss it with you tonight, you beat me to it," he replied, visibly annoyed by the turn the conversation was taking.

"No, you hadn't planned to discuss it; you were simply going to announce your decision to me, and that's very different."

I took a deep breath, searching for words to express what was weighing on my heart.

"You know how much I love working with you on establishing new branches. I was so happy at the idea that we would lead this project together... and discover Australia with you."

My voice betrayed a deep regret. Tristan observed me, visibly disconcerted. His expression softened slightly.

"I hadn't seen things from that angle," he finally admitted, in a softer voice. "I'm sorry, Eva."

I nodded, overwhelmed by a wave of emotions.

"That's not all," I continued. "You've canceled several of our joint sessions to spend more time with Audrey. You know how much I appreciate working with you. It allows us to collaborate closely, to stay connected. But lately, I feel like I'm being sidelined."

He frowned, weighing my words.

"That wasn't my intention. You're overwhelmed by your responsibilities as CEO and the Hope Foundation. And I need to focus on the fundraising. Audrey is just helping me keep my head above water."

I gently raised a hand to interrupt him, fixing my gaze on his.

"I understand that the fundraising is important, but don't forget what makes us strong. We are partners both personally and professionally. Don't exclude me simply because Audrey is there. And before making decisions that affect me, talk to me."

He didn't respond, so I continued, refusing to leave this conversation hanging.

"Beyond my feelings, Tristan, I think entrusting a project of this magnitude to Audrey is a big risk. Establishing a branch requires a deep understanding of our economic model and our corporate culture, especially in the high-tech sector. She has no experience."

His expression instantly hardened.

"You had no experience when you started, and look where you are today."

His words hit me full force. Not only was the comparison unfair, but it completely denied my commitment.

How dare he put my journey in parallel with Audrey's?

When I joined Community Pilot, it was just a fragile idea.

We built this company together. I dedicated my intelligence, energy, and vision to it.

I sacrificed evenings, weekends, vacations alongside Leila, Steve, Satoshi, and him to transform our startup into a prosperous multinational.

And today, he dared to compare me to an opportunist who had been present for barely four months?

Is that the value he placed on all those years of fierce collaboration?

"How do you expect her to prove what she's worth if we never give her a chance?" he continued, indifferent to my distress. "My decision is made; I won't go back on it."

His way of imposing his authority to close the discussion made my irritation explode. I hated this arrogance in him. This implicit reminder that, in this company, he was the boss, and I... just an employee among others.

I had lost this battle; no use insisting. Yet there was still one thing I needed to tell him.

"Tristan, I don't know what's going on, but you need to wake up before it's too late."

He seemed disconcerted.

"What are you talking about?"

I took a long breath.

"Audrey."

He looked at me, incredulous, before protesting.

"Eva, you're imagining things. There's nothing more than work."

"Really? Your increasingly frequent lateness, our canceled meetings... None of that has anything to do with her?"

He sighed, visibly annoyed.

"I'm just trying to catch up on accumulated delays and manage the overload related to the upcoming fundraising. As for our meetings, I think they don't need to be as frequent. Our visions are aligned, so I preferred to focus on Audrey to make her autonomous."

He had an answer for everything, but his explanations didn't convince me. A doubt persisted, gnawing at me from within. I decided to test him.

"If I asked you to transfer Audrey to another department and take Maud as your assistant, would you do it?"

I stared at him, trying to catch a reaction. Tristan remained silent, surprised. His eyebrows furrowed as he weighed his words.

"Eva... why would I do that? Audrey is on the rise, she's handling strategic files, and she's already integrated. Transferring her would be counterproductive."

He paused, then his gaze hardened.

"Why this question? Don't you trust me?"

I took another breath before answering, my heart pounding.

"Your recent actions give me reasons to doubt."

He paled slightly, shocked by my words.

"That's insulting, Eva. No, I won't transfer Audrey. As long as she's doing her job, she stays in her position. Don't let your jealousy cloud your judgment."

Anger rose a notch.

"You can lie to yourself if you want, but I know what I see. You're giving in to attraction and making poor decisions."

"What you're saying is absurd!" he exploded. "Now, if you're finished, I have work to do."

I left his office, my legs trembling. The conversation I had dreaded had taken place, and yet, instead of relief, I felt only a growing emptiness. His denials, his way of dismissing my doubts... all of it only confirmed my worst fears.

I headed toward the restroom, seeking a moment of respite. Facing the mirror, my own reflection returned a worried gaze. Where was the strong, confident woman I was supposed to be? All I saw was the fear in my eyes. The fear of losing him. The fear that it might already be too late.

My argument with Tristan was several days ago, but at home, nothing seemed to have changed.

He still prepared my coffee in the morning, we still cooked together on weekends, and he still took me in his arms when we watched a movie in the evening.

At night, our embraces were as sensual and passionate as before.

Only our conversations, once so natural and complicit, sometimes filled with uncomfortable silences.

And certain subjects had now become taboo: his mother and Audrey.

I knew this when I tried to bring up our argument again and he cut me off abruptly:

"Listen, Eva, I've had enough of all these discussions that lead nowhere," he said wearily. "It's pointless. I don't have the energy for this right now. As long as you persist in wanting to deprive me of my assistant, we won't find common ground. I refuse to revisit this."

His words fell like cleavers, precise and deadly. And I understood that for him, the problem was no longer our relationship, but my "jealousy" of Audrey. This realization was painful.

I know I had my share of responsibility in this situation. Tristan is a proud and arrogant man; I shouldn't have confronted him head-on and challenged his choices with such vehemence. By pushing back, I had closed the door to any constructive discussion and pushed him to harden his position.

Despite this, I knew he loved me. We just needed to find our way back to each other. I just didn't know how.