Page 48 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
"She could take charge of certain development projects, but autonomously, without being directly attached to my office.That would clarify things and avoid...misunderstandings."
Samy made no comment, but he was smart enough to read between the lines.He was one of the few at the office who knew about Eva and me.
"Is Audrey aware?"he finally asked.
"Not yet.But it will be done after the holidays.In the meantime, I need you to urgently start a new recruitment process."
"As a matter of fact, I think I've already found the ideal candidate," he said, searching through a stack of neatly organized files."Here, look at this résumé."
I took the document he was holding out, intrigued by his confidence.
"Alexandre Durant, ten years of experience as an executive assistant, notably at EIR Corp in Berlin, where he coordinated schedules and organized meetings for the CEO.Before that, he was a personal assistant at the YORRAS Group in London.He has a Master's degree in business management and speaks fluent English, German, and Spanish."
I quickly scanned the résumé, impressed by the solidity of his background.
"How come you already have this résumé?"
Samy gave a small smile.
"Eva asked me to keep looking even after Audrey was hired.She thought it would be good to have a backup solution in case Audrey didn't work out."
I couldn't blame her; it would be hypocritical of me.
"Set up an appointment with him and block my schedule," I approved.
"Will do."
"Thank you, Samy."
I left the office, thoughtful.It might not be the perfect solution, but it was a first step.By clearly redefining roles, I hoped to ease tensions with Eva while giving Audrey a chance to prove her worth, elsewhere, in a more appropriate setting.
That evening, I came home earlier than usual, my heart beating like before a first date.Eva was still at her workout session, leaving me just enough time to transform our home into a warm cocoon.
The florist quickly delivered the tree, a magnificent 6-foot Nordmann fir, whose sturdy branches seemed to call for the decorations I had meticulously chosen.Each string of lights, each shimmering ornament, carried the hope of rekindling joy in Eva's eyes.As I decorated, the enchanting scent of the tree filled the room, awakening memories of our past Christmases.Those moments when Eva radiated, kneeling before the tree, focused on perfecting every detail.But this year, she hadn't done anything.And I feared I was the reason.
To perfect the surprise, I had ordered from her favorite caterer: the duck breasts she loved, accompanied by a tender vegetable gratin and, to finish, a raspberry cake.I set the table with meticulous care, adding candles, hoping to recreate that magic we had lost.
When Eva opened the door, the surprise immobilized her.Her hand remained frozen on the handle, her eyes widened as they slowly scanned the room, capturing every detail as if she doubted the reality of what she was seeing.Her breath remained suspended, and I saw her eyes mist over with tears.
I approached gently, taking care not to break this fragile moment.I took her gym bag, gently set it down, and helped her remove her coat, my gestures full of tenderness.Without a word, I led her to the couch and had her sit on my lap.She let me, as if she were too overwhelmed to resist.
"Why?"she finally whispered, her voice broken with emotion.
I gazed into her eyes, searching for the right words.
"For you," I said simply."To show you how important you are.To make amends."
She looked away for a moment, her face unreadable, but I continued:
"Eva...I've made a decision.Audrey will be assigned to other projects in January."
I felt her body stiffen in my arms, as if she needed a moment to absorb the implications of my words.Then, slowly, she turned her face to me, her eyes shining with an emotion I dared not name.In a sudden and moving gesture, she embraced me, her arms closing around me with a strength and intensity that made my chest explode with relief.
Then I felt her shaking in my embrace.She was crying, because of me.They were tears of relief though, and I held her close.
"Forgive me, my love," I said in a pleading tone."You mean so much to me!"
The dinner that followed was a moment out of time.We talked about our days, and Eva told me about her boxing class, her coach who wanted to register her for the next championship.She laughed as she told the anecdote, as if the idea was absurd, but I knew her coach was serious.Eva was a fighter; she had always been.
