Page 27 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
“I’m sorry you feel that way.That’s not the case at all,” I reassured her.“Work has just been… complicated lately.Nothing is going the way I want.But I care about you, Eva.I’ll make more of an effort.I promise.”
She turned in my arms, her gaze searching mine in the dim light.I took a deep breath, suddenly aware of the weight of my next words.
“I love you, Eva.”
“I love you too.”
She curled into me, her body fitting against mine.The pressure in my chest eased slightly, though I knew our problems were far from solved.But for now, for a few hours, I just wanted to hold on to her warmth.
That Saturday, as we sat at the kitchen island for lunch, Eva was unusually quiet, lost in thought.Her fork traced idle patterns on her plate.
“Tristan… I’ve been thinking a lot about us lately.”
Her voice was steady but serious, making me look up.She avoided my gaze, fidgeting with her fork, as if the words she was about to say weighed on her.
“You know, it’s hard sometimes, pretending to be just colleagues at work and not being able to tell the world that you’re mine.”
Her words hung in the sunlit kitchen, heavy with meaning.A lump formed in my throat.I knew where this was going.
“It’s just that…” She dropped her gaze, her fingers trembling slightly around her fork.“I think it would be easier if people knew.We wouldn’t have to hide anymore.I wouldn’t have to sit back in silence while women throw themselves at you like I don’t exist…”
The real meaning behind her words lingered between us, unspoken yet crystal clear: Audrey.
I set my fork down, inhaling deeply.I wanted to reassure her, to say yes without hesitation, but something inside me resisted.
“Eva,” I said gently, trying to soften the blow.“I understand how you feel, I do.But I don’t know if that’s the right decision.”
I hesitated, choosing my words carefully.“If our relationship became public, every decision I make regarding you at work would be questioned.People would assume I’m biased, that I’m giving you special treatment.”
“I know that,” she said, her voice barely steady.“But I’m willing to take that risk.”
She finally met my gaze, her eyes filled with raw vulnerability.“Look, I don’t want to pressure you.Just… think about it, okay?”
16.It's not you
EVA
I was in the middle of a meeting with Leila and the marketing team when I received a text from Satoshi.
SATOSHI:Eva, come to the server room.Now.
A wave of anxiety hit me instantly.Satoshi never called me like this unless it was serious.I excused myself from the meeting, exchanging a quick glance with Leila.She immediately understood the urgency and seamlessly took over.As I headed toward the server room, I decided to stop by Tristan’s office first.Maybe he had some information about what was going on.But when I got there, his desk was empty.
“Tristan hasn’t returned from lunch with Audrey,” Stella informed me when I asked.
I frowned, surprised.
“I didn’t know they had a client lunch today,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
“They didn’t,” Stella replied with a light smile.“They just wanted to try the new restaurant down the street.”
My heart clenched.Tristan went to lunch alone with Audrey?A bitter knot formed in my throat.And he still wasn’t back, even though it was already 2:30 PM.Jealousy twisted inside me, sharp and insidious.I hated this feeling, this dull ache that rose in me every time I thought about them.Why did it hurt so much that he spent time with another woman?The answer was painfully obvious: deep down, I knew I was starting to lose him.
The Tristan I knew, the one who always included me in his decisions, who shared every moment of his day with me, was slipping away.And no matter how much I tried to convince myself it was just a phase, a part of me couldn’t ignore the truth staring me in the face: another woman was occupying his thoughts, and it terrified me.
I took a deep breath, forcing myself to push those emotions aside.This wasn’t the time.Satoshi was waiting, and if he had sent such an urgent message, it meant something serious was happening.I didn’t have the luxury of getting distracted by my personal problems.I was the CEO, a position I had fought hard for, and I couldn’t afford to let my emotions take over.
“I’m heading to the server room,” I told Stella before walking away.
