Page 9 of The Billionaire's Betrayal
I spent my days bouncing from meetings to calls to business lunches.My schedule was always packed, but that's how I liked it, fast-paced, always on the move, constantly challenged.
Business lunches often felt like disguised meetings.Another way to negotiate, to exchange ideas...and, truth be told, I kind of enjoyed it.
Each day was intense, sure, but I thrived on that rhythm.
Time flew by without any real break, and honestly, that's just how I liked it.
Before Audrey arrived, though, I had started feeling overwhelmed.The workload was piling up, and even with Maud, Eva’s assistant, helping out, I was losing my grip.Since Audrey took over, I had regained control of my schedule and was enjoying my work again.
Audrey stepped into my office, looking as dazzling as ever.
"Sorry to bother you, Tristan, but I had a few questions," she said, her voice smooth and confident."Since your next meeting isn’t for another thirty minutes, would you mind answering them?"
"Of course," I said with a smile.
She sat across from me with her usual effortless grace.
"So, I noticed you recently lowered subscription prices on the platform.Is that a strategy to capture a new market segment or a response to competition?"
I was pleasantly surprised by her curiosity and her drive to understand our strategy.I appreciated that quality in my team, people who wanted to learn and think beyond the obvious.
I spent the next half-hour explaining my vision for Community Pilot’s growth, detailing how the price drop fit into a larger expansion and customer retention strategy.
That first informal meeting led to many more.Audrey had a knack for identifying moments when my schedule eased up, and she took every opportunity to consult with me.Smart and quick-thinking, she always asked the right questions and wasn’t afraid to share fresh ideas.Her enthusiasm for validating my decisions was contagious, bringing a refreshing energy to our conversations.
I genuinely enjoyed these discussions, they helped me step back, release some pressure, and rethink our projects from a different perspective.As the days passed, I realized how lucky I was to have hired such a competent and dedicated collaborator.
But Eva didn’t share my enthusiasm for Audrey, despite Audrey’s constant efforts to break the ice...
By the end of an internal meeting on a Friday afternoon, Audrey made yet another attempt at conversation as Eva packed up her things, ready to follow the rest of the team out of the room.
"Eva, I heard about your work with the Hope Foundation, helping underprivileged youth.It sounds like an amazing project," Audrey said with a warm smile.
Eva briefly glanced at her and responded in a detached tone.
"Yes, it is."
Her curt reply left an awkward silence hanging in the air, which Audrey quickly tried to fill.
"If you ever need a hand with brainstorming or anything, don’t hesitate to ask.I love collaborating on projects like that."
Eva offered a small, polite smile, devoid of warmth."Thank you, Audrey.That’s nice of you to offer.I’ll let you know if we need anything.Have a good evening, both of you," she said before walking out, not waiting for a response.
She left behind a palpable tension.Audrey turned to me, looking disheartened.
"I don’t think she likes me very much," she murmured.
Her expression tugged at my heart, and I silently resented Eva for not making more of an effort.
"Give her time," I said, trying to reassure her."Eva takes a while to trust people, but once she does, she’s fiercely loyal."
Despite my words, a quiet unease settled within me.The gap between them seemed to widen with every interaction, and I worried about the consequences, both personally and professionally.
I was frustrated with Eva for not being kinder to Audrey.At this rate, Audrey might decide to leave before her probation period[2]was up, and I’d be stuck without an assistant for months again.It annoyed me how jealous Eva was acting, as if Audrey’s beauty alone was enough to make me lose my mind.Why was she always so defensive?It was exhausting!
Dinner was unusually quiet.Eva idly pushed her food around on her plate, lost in thought.The image of Audrey’s crestfallen face after Eva’s cold exit flashed in my mind.
"You know," I began gently, "Audrey is really trying to fit in."
