Page 55 of The Billionaire’s Betrayal (Billionaires of Paris #2)

EVA

We were gathered for a simple dinner among friends, on the eve of my meeting with Area Venture. Leila, Steve, and Satoshi had insisted on spending this evening with us, so Tristan wouldn't feel left out. We sat around a Thai hot pot, savoring this moment together despite the pressure of tomorrow.

The previous days had been a true endurance test. Every decision had to be made with surgical precision.

I spent hours analyzing figures, reviewing contracts, refining my arguments to convince investors.

Not only was Community Pilot's future at stake, but also my professional credibility.

Everything we had built... our projects, our dreams..

. everything risked collapse if I couldn't find a way to convince the key investors.

After all this stress, this break before the big day was welcome.

"How are you doing, Tristan?" Leila asked solicitously.

"Better. The headaches have almost completely disappeared, but my ability to concentrate and work is still limited. It's frustrating sometimes," he replied with a forced smile.

"You definitely look much better," Satoshi added with a smile.

"What do the doctors say?" Steve continued, his expression serious.

"They're optimistic. They say everything's going well and that, normally, I shouldn't have any lasting effects," Tristan answered.

"That's great news!" Steve exclaimed, relieved.

After a moment, Steve put down his wine glass and turned his gaze toward me.

"So, how are the final discussions with Area Venture going?"

I filled my basket with shrimp and mushrooms and dipped it into the tangy broth before answering.

"Pretty well, but I'll admit I'm eager for everything to be signed," I said, shrugging slightly.

A silence fell around the table, everyone measuring the importance of what was at stake. Satoshi, playing distractedly with his chopsticks, finally broke the ice.

"They'll do it, Eva. You've done amazing work," he said with a reassuring smile.

Leila nodded, smiling.

"You've handled this fundraising like a real boss. You've got almost all the signatures. Tomorrow will just be a formality."

I let out a nervous laugh, touched by their support.

"Thank you, really. I don't know what I'd do without you all," I murmured, moved.

Tristan, seated beside me, placed a reassuring hand on mine and smiled tenderly.

"Everything will be fine," he said softly.

Eager to lighten the mood, he turned to Leila and Satoshi.

"And you two, tell us a bit about where things stand with your secret relationship... which isn't a secret to anyone."

Satoshi and Leila opened their mouths as if to protest before promptly closing them again.

Busted!

A knowing look was exchanged around the table, and we all burst out laughing.

***

I arrived at Area Venture headquarters with absolute focus. The modern building, with its glass facades, seemed impenetrable. At reception, an assistant had me wait a few minutes before leading me to a spacious conference room.

Hugo Lambert, Area Venture's representative, was already waiting, a folder carefully placed before him. He stood to shake my hand with a polite smile.

"Eva, great to see you."

"Likewise, Hugo."

I took a seat across from him, feeling every fiber of my being on alert. Despite previous exchanges, nothing was ever completely certain until the ink had dried on the contract.

"Our teams finalized the last adjustments last night. We're in agreement on all terms," he said, opening the folder.

"Perfect," I replied in a controlled tone.

He handed me the document. I reviewed the main clauses one last time, verifying that everything matched the points we had negotiated. Then, slowly, I took my pen.

"I appreciate the confidence you're placing in Community Pilot," I declared, signing the first page.

"It's well-deserved. Your management of this fundraising has been impressive. Many would have buckled under the pressure, but you held firm," he replied with an approving look.

I continued signing, page after page, until the last one. When I set down the pen, a wave of adrenaline rushed through me.

It was done.

Hugo signed in turn, then closed the folder with a confident gesture before extending his hand.

"Congratulations, Eva. We're eager to see what you'll accomplish with this investment."

I shook his hand, a smile of relief on my lips.

"You won't be disappointed."

When I left the building, the fresh morning air felt lighter. My phone vibrated. A message from Tristan appeared:

TRISTAN: Well?

EVA : It's signed.

A few seconds later, the screen lit up with an incoming call.

"It's done," I breathed as I answered.

From the other end, Tristan burst into laughter.

"You did it, Eva!"

A smile spread across my lips as I walked toward the car.

"Yes. We did it."

***

Tristan had to testify at Audrey's trial, and even if he hadn't expressed it clearly, I could see how much it troubled him.

Audrey had almost destroyed our relationship, compromised the Australian subsidiary project, and was indirectly responsible for his accident and the health problems that followed.

Her name was now linked to painful memories.

We had just arrived outside the courtroom when she appeared in the hallway, closely followed by her lawyer.

Dressed in a dark suit, her face marked by fatigue and stress, she immediately moved toward us as soon as she spotted Tristan, ignoring the muffled protests of her lawyer.

Tristan tensed beside me. I placed my hand on his arm to calm him.

Audrey's gaze slid over me, pausing briefly on my rounded belly.

I saw her features harden imperceptibly, a shadow passing over her face, before she looked away as if my presence and that of the child I was carrying were unbearable to her.

"Tristan, how are you?" she asked. "I was worried. No one would give me any news about you."

"Stop the act!" Tristan cut her off sharply, each word loaded with contempt. "It's because of you that I had this accident. Without you, none of this would have happened!"

Audrey stepped back, as if physically struck by the hatred she read in his gaze.

"I... I'm sorry," she breathed, her voice trembling. "I never wanted to hurt you, you have to believe me."

"Then why did you do it?" he asked.

"Because... because I love you," she whispered desperately.

Tristan's jaw tightened.

"That's not love, Audrey. You were only interested in me because I represented power and wealth.

You would never have looked at me if I had been just an ordinary employee.

You know nothing about me, my dreams, or my plans.

You claim to love me, but if that were true, you would have let me go when you realized my heart belonged to Eva. Instead, you sought revenge."

Audrey opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her eyes shone with barely contained rage. Her lawyer placed a firm hand on her arm to dissuade her from continuing this confrontation, but she broke free with a sudden movement, too consumed by her anger to listen to reason.

"What does she have that I don't?" she finally shouted, her voice trembling with fury.

I stared at her for a moment, torn between pity and disgust.

"Something you'll never understand. A sincere heart and a pure soul."

Audrey stood speechless, as if these words had struck her to the core.

A security officer then came forward to escort her to the courtroom.

I gently slipped my hand into Tristan's, and he squeezed it in return, giving me a reassuring smile.

The atmosphere was tense, but my presence beside him was calming.

Suddenly, Audrey straightened slightly, as if she had one last card to play.

"Wait, Tristan, I still have the recording of my conversation with Lazarus Rousseau," she said urgently. "Would you agree to drop the charges against me in exchange?"

Tristan remained silent for a few moments, carefully considering his response. Then, in a composed voice that left no room for negotiation:

"No, Audrey, that recording won't save you. As for Lazarus and Aron Capital, Eva has already taken care of them. That you manipulated me to seduce me, I can understand, but I will never forgive you for trying to destroy my relationship with Eva."

Audrey's face crumbled as she realized her last attempt at manipulation had failed. Her lawyer, who had observed the exchange with an increasingly displeased expression, firmly grabbed her arm and led her to the courtroom, muttering what sounded like reprimands under his breath.

The trial lasted all day. The evidence was damning: administration of illegal substances, harassment, and endangering the life of another. When the verdict came down, the room was plunged into a heavy silence. Audrey was sentenced to two years in prison without parole.

When we left the courthouse, an immense relief washed over me. Finally, this dark chapter of our lives was closing, allowing us to definitively turn the page.