Page 39 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
I dialed Clara’s number without hesitation.My neighbor, two floors down, was more than an international model—she was my confidante in times when I needed a confidence boost.Her natural poise and keen eye for beauty, sharpened by years in the fashion industry, made her the perfect advisor in moments of doubt.
I might have climbed the career ladder with a determination that impressed those around me, but doubts crept in more often than I liked to admit—especially in an industry as ruthless as ours.Coming from a modest background, I had to fight twice as hard as others to prove my worth.Confidence wasn’t something you earned once and kept forever.There were always highs and lows, and everyone handled them differently.
Some crushed others to prove they were better, turning their insecurities into weapons.Others buried themselves in work until they burned out.Me?I had learned to recognize those vulnerable moments and deal with them differently.Sometimes, a new outfit was all it took to restore my confidence, to make me feel better in my own skin.Clara understood this better than anyone.But this time, it wasn’t just about style or appearance.I wasn’t calling her for work attire—I needed a magic wand.
"Hey, Eva, how are you?"
Her warm voice made me smile.
"Clara, I need you for a ‘seduction mission.’"
"And who’s the target?"she asked, intrigued.
"Tristan."
Her light, knowing laughter echoed through the phone.
"Of course, darling."
"Tomorrow, five o’clock?Tristan’s in Norway, he won’t be back for two days."
"Secrets, seduction… I love it!See you tomorrow, Eva."
The next day, Marco drove us to the most exclusive boutiques in Paris.Clara, stunning as always, had a way of making every shopping trip unforgettable.
"The key," she explained as we strolled from store to store, "is to enhance your natural beauty, not turn you into someone else.If you love jeans, wear jeans—but the best ones, perfectly cut.Paris is full of designers eager to showcase your elegance."
Every boutique was a new revelation.Clara selected pieces with a discerning eye—dresses that hugged my figure without being vulgar, lingerie that hinted rather than revealed, jewelry that caught the light like tiny stars.With each fitting, I rediscovered myself in the mirror.Not a different woman.Just a better version of myself.
"See, Eva?"Clara murmured, adjusting a final earring."You’re stunning.If you wanted to, no man could resist you."
But I only wanted one.And for him, I was willing to fight.
"Tomorrow," she announced as Marco loaded our bags into the car, "we’re heading to the salon and spa."
After a long shower, I slipped into bed when my phone vibrated.Tristan.I answered with a playful smile.
"Hey, handsome, how are you?"I said, my voice soft and teasing.
"Hey," he replied, a smile audible in his tone."I’m exhausted.Steve dragged me all over town."
"Poor baby," I teased."Tourism is such a nightmare."
There was a pause, then his voice, suddenly intense.
"Say that again."
"What?Tourism is such a—"
"No, what you said before that," he interrupted.
Confused, I replayed our conversation in my head until I realized what he wanted to hear.
"Poor baby…" I repeated, my voice suddenly shy.
"It’s been forever since you called me that," he murmured."I didn’t realize how much I missed it…"
I sensed all the unspoken feelings hidden in those words—he missed our closeness, the tenderness we had lost along the way.
