Billionaire in distress

Victor Dumont stood in front of the large picture window of his office, looking out at the panoramic view of the city below. Skyscrapers stood tall, symbols of power and success, and somewhere out there, among those giants of glass and steel, was the empire he had built through sheer determination and determination. his intelligence.

At forty, Victor Dumont was a man with an imposing presence. His athletic figure and tailored suit testified to his taste for perfection. His black hair, slightly graying at the temples, framed a face with marked features, enhanced by piercing blue eyes, capable of piercing souls. When he spoke, his deep, confident voice captured the attention of those who heard him, leaving little room for opposition.

Victor had been born into a modest family, but his determination to change his destiny had been unwavering. From a young age, he had shown exceptional business talents, turning opportunities into gold. A Harvard graduate, he quickly rose through the ranks in the world of finance, eventually founding his own empire, Dumont Enterprises. His company, specializing in innovative technologies and strategic investments, had become one of the most influential in the world.

Despite his success, Victor was not without his weaknesses. His incessant quest for power and wealth had alienated him from those who loved him, notably his wife, Sophie. Sophie, with her blond hair and sparkling green eyes, had been seduced by Victor's charisma and passion. Their marriage, celebrated with great fanfare ten years previously, had been described by the media as the perfect union of power and beauty.

However, behind appearances, their relationship had slowly deteriorated. Victor spent long hours at the office, sacrificing his personal life on the altar of success. Sophie, initially understanding, had begun to feel the absence of her husband and to feel abandoned.

That evening, Victor came home late, as usual. The house, a sumptuous residence on the outskirts of the city, was plunged into silence. He entered the grand entrance hall, where a crystal chandelier glimmered faintly. The walls were decorated with modern art paintings, and the white marble floor echoed his footsteps.

Sophie was waiting for him in the living room, sitting on the white leather sofa. She was absentmindedly leafing through a fashion magazine, but looked up when Victor entered.

"Good evening, Sophie," he said matter-of-factly, placing his briefcase on the coffee table.

"Good evening, Victor," she replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. "Another long day, I suppose?" »

Victor sighed and settled into the chair across from her. "Yes, the meetings dragged on. I had important discussions with potential investors. »

Sophie nodded, but her look expressed more than words could. "It seems like it's always the same story, Victor. We no longer spend time together. »

Victor ran a hand through his hair, visibly annoyed. "Sophie, you know how important my job is. Everything I do is for us, for our future. »

"For our future? » Sophie replied, her voice trembling. "Or for your all-consuming ambition? Sometimes I feel like you hide behind your work to avoid facing our problems. »

Victor stood up, his face hardened. "It's not fair, Sophie. You know very well that I do my best. »

"Do your best? » she exclaimed, standing up abruptly. "Doing your best means being absent most of the time, never being there for the important moments? »

Victor remained silent, searching for words. "Sophie, I..."

But she didn't give him time to finish. "And this time, what was the excuse?" One more meeting? A business dinner? Or maybe Isabella? »

Isabella's name rang through the air like a slap. Isabella, the attractive and mysterious communications consultant that Victor had hired a few months ago. A woman who had quickly gained his trust, and perhaps more. Victor knew the rumors were rife, but he had always assured Sophie that there was nothing between them.

"You have no proof of what you are saying," he replied, his voice cold.

Sophie looked him straight in the eyes. "I may not have hard evidence, but my gut tells me something is wrong. And you have changed, Victor. You are no longer the same man I married. »

A heavy silence settled between them. Victor knew that Sophie was right on many points, but he was unable to recognize him openly. His work, his ambition, all of this had taken precedence over his personal life, and now he paid the price.

Sophie turned her heels and left the room without one more word, leaving Victor alone with her thoughts. He got up and headed for the adjacent library, a refuge where he could find a semblance of peace. The walls were covered with shelves filled with old books and rare volumes, a sanctuary for his tormented mind.

He took a glass of whiskey and sat down in the leather chair near the fireplace. The flames danced, projecting shadows on the walls. Victor was lost in his thoughts, revisiting the happy moments of his marriage, the promises he had made to Sophie, and the dreams they had shared. How did they get there?

Victor Vibra's phone, leaving his reverie. A message from Isabella appeared on the screen: "Good evening, Victor. I hope your day went well. Do not forget our appointment tomorrow. Good night. »»

He let out a sigh. Isabella had become an integral part of her professional life, but at what price? He knew he had to make a decision, and quickly. But that evening, in the solitude of his library, he could only contemplate the extent of what he was likely to lose.

The next morning, Victor woke up early, thoughts still confused by the events of the day before. Sophie was already standing, preparing breakfast in the kitchen. The smell of freshly ground coffee filled the air, a daily routine that seemed strangely soothing despite tensions.

"Hello," said Victor when entering the kitchen.

Sophie looked up with her newspaper. "Hello," she replied, her distant tone but polite.

"I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night," he began, trying to break the ice.

Sophie shrugged her shoulders. "There's no need, Victor. I think everything has already been said. »

"No, that's not true. » He approached her, trying to catch her eye. "I know I've been away, and I understand you're angry. But I want you to know that you still matter to me. »

She looked at him, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "Count to you?" How could I believe it, Victor? Every day you prove me wrong. »

Victor felt helpless. "I'll try to change, I promise." Give me a chance. »

Sophie was silent for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Very well, Victor. But know that it's not just a matter of words. I want to see action. »

He nodded, knowing that words wouldn't be enough anymore. "I will do my best, Sophie. I promise you. »

The rest of the day passed in a strange atmosphere of fragile truce. Victor left for the office, determined to find a way to restore balance between his professional and personal lives. He knew the road would be long and strewn with pitfalls, but he was ready to do anything to save his marriage.

In his office, he paused and looked at the city through the bay window. He thought about what Sophie had said the day before. Were the sacrifices he had made for his empire really worth it if they destroyed everything he loved? He realized that for the first time in a long time, he had to prioritize his family over his work.

At the end of the day, he made an important decision. He summoned Isabella to his office. When she entered, dressed elegantly as always, she smiled warmly at him. "Good evening, Victor. You wanted

see me? »

"Yes, Isabella. Sit down, please. » Victor chooses his words carefully. "I've been thinking a lot lately, and I think it's time to make some changes to how we work together. »

Isabella seemed surprised, but kept her smile. "Oh, what kind of changes?" »

"I'm going to take a step back from work to focus on my family. This means I will have to reduce our professional interactions. »

Isabella's smile faltered slightly. "I understand, Victor. If you need anything, please let me know. »

"Thank you, Isabella. Your support has been invaluable, but it's time for me to re-evaluate my priorities. »

When she left the office, Victor felt a huge weight lifted off him. He knew it wouldn't solve all his problems overnight, but it was a step in the right direction.

In the evening, when he came home, Sophie greeted him with a certain reserve. He approached her and gently took her hand. "I've started taking steps to change, Sophie. I hope you can see it. »

She looked at him, a mixture of hope and skepticism in her eyes. "I hope so too, Victor. I really hope so. »

The road to reconciliation would be long, but Victor was willing to take it. For Sophie, for their marriage, and for himself. Because beyond the ruthless businessman, there was still the man who loved his wife and ardently desired to regain the harmony they had lost.