SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 27

CAMILLE'S POINT OF VIEW

"Neurix Technologies," Victoria said, sliding the folder across her desk. "Twenty-

seven employees. Promising neural interface technology. Currently entertaining acquisition offers."

"And?" I asked, waiting for the catch. With Victoria, there was always a catch.

"And you'll be handling the acquisition." She leaned back, expression unreadable. "Alone."

My heart stuttered. After eight months of shadowing Victoria at Kane Industries, this was my first real test.

"Their valuation?"

"They're asking ninety million. They're worth sixty-

five, at most. I want them for fifty."

"When do negotiations begin?"

"Two hours. The meeting is set for eleven at our downtown offices."

My head snapped up. "Today? You're giving me two hours to prepare?"

hall, cold smile played at her mouth. “In business, opportunities rarely announce themselves weeks in advance. Besides, you've had eight months of preparation.

"Who am I negotiating against?"

"Marcus Whitfield."

The name hit me like a physical blow. Whitfield, legendary venture capitalist, notorious for destroying less experienced negotiators.

In my suite, I changed into a power suit, charcoal gray pinstripe, crisp

white blouse, three-

inch heels. The woman in the mirror looked confident, capable, born to command respect.

A perfect illusion.

The executive conference room was

already set up when I arrived. Through the glass walls, I saw the Neurix team and Whitfield-

tall, broad-shouldered, emanating authority.

The introductions

blurred past. Dr. Morris, Neurix CEO. His team. And Whitfield, whose handshake came with assessing eyes that told me everything. He was surprised to see me, not Victoria. An easier target.

For thirty minutes, I led a technical discussion about their patents and milestones, highlighting weaknesses. Morris and his team grew increasingly uncomfortable,

Then Whitfield struck.

"Axiom is offering eighty-

five million," Morris blurted. "With twenty percent contingent on Phase II results." "We're prepared to offer

sixty-five million, all cash, no contingencies," I countered.

Whitfield's smile was thin. "Sixty-five versus eighty-

five? No contest. And frankly, I'm surprised Victoria sent you with such an unprepared position."

The mention of Victoria stung exactly as he'd intended. He was playing me now, not just the Neurix team. The situation spiraled Victoria's target price seemed impossible. Even seventy million looked unrealistic "Wait," I said desperately. "Kane can offer seventy-

five million. All cash. No contingencies."

air. I

going all in.

was too late. Morris signed with Axiom. Right there i

Victoria my regards," Whitfield said quietly as he left "And

might want to

stood in

"Explain," she said.

simply. "Whitfield outmaneuvered me at

eighty million for a company I valued at

"Yes,"

"Why?"

I panicked. Because I wasn't prepared to walk away with

true," she agreed. “And

word cut deeper than any physical pain from

up to fail,"

I blinked. "What?"

Axiom's bid. I gave you impossible parameters. I wanted to see

"This was a test?"

I thought

"Then why?"

real battle, you don't get to choose your conditions. Rose won't fight fair when the time comes. She'll use every advantage, every dirty trick. I needed to see how you perform

did 1

lost composure You made emotional

That's

"you didn't break. You didn't run. You came back to face the consequences.

to the window. "When I first started building Kane Industries, I lost a major contract negotiation. My first real

opportunity

"And did you succeed?"

New mistakes. More sophisticated errors. Until eventually, success became the expectation, not the exception." Her gaze was measuring. "That's what separates winners from Something shifted inside me. The humiliation was

happens now?" I

every mistake. Study them.

prepare for

"Which is?"

assured, it will come when you least

life.

crystallized inside me. Victoria had engineered today's failure as a forging fire, heating the metal of my character to shape it into something stronger, sharpe Rose had spent years undermining me, ensuring I remained weak and pliable. Today's humiliation was just one more step in becoming someone she would never recognize Someone she could never again

be no mercy.

across expensive wallpaper. The sound wasn't enough to match the storm inside me. I grabbed a crystal paperweight from my desk and hurled it a "Ms. Kane?" A knock at my door. Security staff, doing their rounds.

voice steady despite the

"Do you need assistance?"

"No. Leave me alone."

drive home from Victoria' Victoria would still be at dinner with Barrett, smoothly negotiating the deal I'd destroyed. Showing him what real business acumen looked like while I

Victoria: "Deal closed. Terms favorable. Full debrief tomorrow,

No reassurance. Just business, moving forward despite my misstep. The world continued turning, deals continued closing, money continued flowing. With

I moved to my

myself in the unbroken mirror there. Eight months

body was lean

Dr. Torres's work. My appearance

it mattered if the woman beneath these changes remained weak. If

my thoughts. "Ms. Kane?" Mrs.

wanting anyone to see the evidence of my outburst. But hiding the mess would

"Come in."

before returning to professional neutrality. Eight months in Victoria Kane's household had taught her

amiss. "With honey, as you prefer." "Thank you." I made no excuses for the mess. Just accepted the

she paused at the door. "Even Ms. Victoria sometimes breaks things. The difference is, she makes sure

comment jarred me from

who embodied control and

and opened my laptop. Time to shift from emotional reaction to analytical response. Victoria would expect my

I misread the situation? What signals had I missed? How had he seen through my

The second: a deeper examination of my emotional vulnerabilities during the negotiation. More

under my eyes, carefully concealed. No physical evidence of weakness Victoria stood at her office window when I arrived, silhouetted

entered.