Page 42 of The Billionaire’s Betrayal (Billionaires of Paris #2)

TRISTAN

Since the Australian crisis began, Leila and Satoshi had been by my side, staying late without me even asking.

It reminded me of the early days at Community Pilot—the sense of camaraderie, of building something together.

But this time, Eva and Steve were missing.

It struck me how vital the support of friends is in times of crisis.

One evening, as the sun cast a warm orange glow over the office, Leila hesitated before speaking.

"And Audrey?" she asked cautiously, watching my reaction.

"I had planned to transition her to a more autonomous role under the supervision of other directors, but after the Australian disaster, it’s clear she’s not ready. I doubt any of the executive team will want to work with her now. I’ll try to find her a position in one of our subsidiaries…"

"I don’t think she’ll leave without a fight," Leila pointed out.

I knew she was right. Audrey wasn’t the type to walk away quietly.

"Neither do I."

"She’s past her probation period?" Satoshi asked.

"Yes, unfortunately. That ended last month…"

"What about termination for serious misconduct? "Leila suggested bluntly.

I understood where she was coming from. She disliked Audrey and wanted her to pay for Eva’s suffering, but it wouldn’t be fair.

"I couldn’t live with myself if I did that to her," I admitted. "I’m just as responsible for this mess as she is."

Punishing her like that wouldn’t be right. No, I’ll negotiate with her to find a reasonable solution.

Leila nodded.

"I get it… Aside from that, how are you holding up?"

I let out a deep sigh, the weight of exhaustion and stress pressing down on me.

"I’m getting by, but I miss Eva," I admitted, my voice rough.

Leila gave me a sympathetic look, resting a comforting hand on my arm before leaving with Satoshi, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

***

TRISTAN : Every morning when I wake up, my first instinct is to reach for your side of the bed, searching for you…

TRISTAN : Last night, I almost ended up at the police station after stopping a stranger on the street who looked just like you…

TRISTAN : You won’t believe this—Lily just gave me Dating for Dummies. That smug little smile of hers said it all…

TRISTAN : Every day without you feels endless. I count the hours until the grand opening. I miss you, Eva. With every heartbeat.

***

When Audrey stormed into my office, the worry on her face was impossible to miss. I gestured toward a chair, and she sat down without a word.

"Thanks for coming, Audrey. We need to talk about your future with the company," I said calmly.

She nodded, but the distrust in her eyes was unmistakable.

"What is this about?"

I took a deep breath. This conversation wasn’t going to be easy.

"After careful consideration, we’ve decided to offer you a transitional position at one of our subsidiaries."

Her eyes widened, and a flicker of anger crossed her face.

"You’re trying to get rid of me, aren’t you?" she spat. "You think I don’t see what’s happening?"

"If you take this position, you’ll get full support, including a tailored training program," I explained, keeping my voice steady. "After that, you’ll have the opportunity to move into a senior role."

She shook her head, her gaze burning with resentment.

"This is because of Eva, isn’t it?"

Her tone was accusatory, but her expression said something else—hurt, bitterness.

"Audrey…" I sighed.

"Don’t," she cut in, her voice lower now, more intimate. "You want me gone because you feel guilty. Because you know what we had was real, even if you refuse to admit it."

My jaw tightened.

"That’s not the point," I replied, my throat drier than I would’ve liked.

"Oh, isn’t it?"

I looked away for a second, trying to steady myself.

"This position is a real opportunity," I said more firmly. "If you accept it, we’ll provide the training you need. After that, you’ll have the chance to grow within the company."

She studied me for a moment before letting out a quiet, humorless laugh.

"You’re unbelievable, Tristan. You cling to this image of yourself—the loyal, honorable guy who never crosses a line. But we both know that’s not true."

"That’s enough," I said, my voice sharper now.

She didn’t flinch, tilting her head with a smirk.

"Fine. I’ll go. But I have one condition."

I straightened, wary.

"What condition?"

"Let me stay until the Espoir Foundation’s inauguration and deliver the opening speech."

A tense silence fell between us.

"No," I said immediately. "That speech belongs to Eva. It’s her project."

Audrey clenched her jaw, her fingers digging into the chair’s armrest.

"Listen, I just want my work to be acknowledged. I helped build this foundation, and you know it. More than anyone, you know I deserve this."

She was playing on my guilt, and she was doing it well. A part of me wanted to refuse outright, to stay firm. But another part… another part hesitated. Because deep down, she wasn’t entirely wrong. She had worked hard. And I had let the lines blur between us.

"You can attend the event," I said after a pause. "And help Stella welcome the guests. But that’s it. No speech."

She watched me for a long moment, then a slow smile curved her lips.

"Alright," she murmured. "I’ll do as you say. You’ll have my resignation on your desk after the gala."

And without another word, she stood up and walked out.

I exhaled, rubbing a hand down my face. A bitter taste lingered in my mouth.

Had I made the right decision?

I wasn’t sure anymore.

***

By Wednesday night, my mood had hit rock bottom. The office had emptied hours ago. I took a break and checked my phone, hoping—praying—for a response from Eva to one of my many messages. But the screen remained painfully blank.

It was as if I no longer existed to her.

Without thinking, driven by a desperate need to hear her voice, I dialed her number. Just like before, it went straight to voicemail. Her familiar recorded message tightened something in my chest.

"Eva… I don’t know if you’ll ever listen to this, but if you do, please… I just need to hear your voice. Even if it’s to tell me I’m an idiot, or to tell me to go to hell."

My voice cracked slightly.

"I miss you. So much. The house feels empty without you, and Community Pilot isn’t the same. There are so many things I regret… I wish I could go back and do things differently, but I can’t. All I can do is hope you’ll give me another chance, even though I don’t deserve it. I love you, Eva."

I hung up, my chest tight, the weight of her absence crushing me.

Then suddenly—

A vibration. A notification.

My heart nearly stopped when I saw her name on the screen.

EVA : One chance.

Two words.

Two simple words that held all the hope in the world.