Page 4 of The Billionaire’s Betrayal (Billionaires of Paris #2)
EVA
At noon, I met up with Leila for our lunch break.
She and I went way back to high school. Specifically, to the first day of our senior year.
We both wanted to avoid the troublemakers in the back, so we grabbed seats in the front row, right by the window and the radiator.
Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually one of the best spots to stay under the teachers’ radar.
That day, she gave me a granola bar, and I lent her a pad, which I always carried for emergencies.
That kind of exchange seals a lifelong friendship.
"What do you think of Audrey?" I asked Leila as we sat at an isolated table in the cafeteria with our trays.
"She seems very serious and professional. Why?" Leila replied, taking a bite of her food.
"She was all over Tristan this morning. Her chest was practically brushing against him. And when she saw me notice her little game, she flashed me a triumphant smirk that made me want to shove her out of the way."
Leila stopped eating and gave me a perplexed look. Then, I saw the realization dawn on her.
"Oh… You think she’s trying to seduce Tristan?"
"I’m sure of it."
"Did you talk to Tristan about it?"
"Yeah, but he thinks I’m imagining things. He’s so desperate for an assistant that he refuses to question her suspicious behavior."
"What worries you?"
"That Tristan might fall into her trap without even realizing it. She’s got everything going for her, a stunning body, a sharp mind, and unshakable confidence. You saw her at the meeting this morning. Every guy in the room was craning his neck to get a better look."
"Yeah, except Tristan."
"He was fascinated too; he just hid it better. At times, I wanted to kick him where it hurts to snap him out of it and remind him that I exist too."
Leila nearly choked on her food.
"I’d pay to see that," she laughed, totally unsympathetic. "So, what’s your plan?"
"Nothing for now. I need to choose the right moment to avoid pushing Tristan away. Right now, he puts her on a pedestal, and the slightest criticism could backfire, making me look like some jealous, insecure woman. I’ll wait for the right time."
Leila shook her head in amusement.
"You are impressive, Eva. If I were in your shoes, I’d have already scratched my boyfriend’s eyes out."
"That’s still an option," I replied, completely serious.
*
Tristan called me into his office early in the afternoon. He got straight to the point, his brow furrowed, his features tight.
“I received a phone call from Claire Lacomb. We’ve got a problem. Aron Capital just made a move to take over.”
I straightened in my seat, adrenaline kicking in.
“What’s Claire’s take on it?”
He ran a hand down the back of his neck, tension visible in the gesture.
“We have two options. The first one’s more aggressive, Community Pilot could buy back the available shares directly.”
I narrowed my eyes, already picturing the fallout.
“That would cost a fortune. Even with our reserves, we’d need massive capital, and pulling something like that off would put all our other projects on hold.”
He nodded, staring past me at the digital board behind.
“The second option is launching a funding round.”
I let out a frustrated sigh.
“You know how long that would take. Negotiations, financial audits, legal hurdles... And while we’re busy with that, Aron Capital keeps climbing.”
He folded his arms, the silence between us sharpening. I ran through the blind spots in my mind, then something clicked.
“What if we do both?” I said, locking eyes with him. “Start buying back shares immediately to drive up the price and slow them down. Meanwhile, we prep a solid funding round with reliable partners.”
He looked up, something shifting in his gaze.
“That might help us spread the risk more evenly.”
I nodded.
“I’ll handle the share buybacks. You focus on bringing in strategic investors. Sound good?”
He held my eyes for a moment, then smiled, genuinely.
“Have I told you how much I love working with you?”
“We make a great team,” I replied with a small smile.
And because we were at work, because the walls had ears, I didn’t kiss him like I wanted to. I stayed professional. He knew. I saw it in the glint in his eyes.
An hour later, as I stepped out of his office, Audrey was standing just outside, hand raised to knock. She froze when she saw me, then gave a polite half-smile, gone as quickly as it appeared.
She stepped aside without a word, eyes following me. I caught the faint tap of her fingers against the already open door.
“Come in, Audrey. I was expecting you,” Tristan called, his voice overly relaxed, too warm.
The door clicked shut behind me, the sound soft but deliberate.