SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 41

Camille's point of view.

The Metropolitan Finance Summit filled the grand ballroom of the Plaza Hotel, crystal chandeliers casting golden light over Manhattan's elite. I moved through

the crowd with practiced grace, my black Dior dress drawing appreciative glances. Every step, every gesture, every smile carefully calculated to project the image of Victoria Kane's perfect heir.

Inside, though, my mind raced with numbers and plans. Rodriguez Shipping's Asia division lay vulnerable after our last attack. Tonight's event offered perfect hunting grounds, worried investors ready to jump sh "Searching for your next victim, Ms. Kane?"

Alexander's voice behind me sent

an unexpected shiver down my spine. I hadn't heard him approach, unusual for someone trained by Victoria to always track potential threats. But Alexander Pierce had a way of slipping past my defenses. "Mr. Pierce." I turned, finding him closer than expected. "I didn't think finance summits were your preferred hunting ground."

"They aren't." His gray eyes held that knowing look that always made me feel exposed. "But I heard interesting rumors about Rodriguez Shipping's stock taking quite a tumble. Tragic."

His tone suggested he knew exactly how tragic it wasn't. I kept my expression neutral despite my racing heart." The market can be unpredictable."

"Can it?" He accepted two champagne glasses from a passing waiter, offering me one with elegant precision." Nothing about you seems unpredictable, Ms. Kane. Every move..." his eyes met mine over the rim The way he emphasized 'perfectly' sent warning signals through my mind. How much did he really know? About my plans? About my true identity? About everything?

interested in my movements, Mr.

softly. "And yes, I

programming. She hadn't prepared me for the way

never left mine. "Because beneath all this..." he gestured to my designer dress, my perfect makeup, my

that hasn't forgotten how

delicate champagne stem. "You

teasing my senses. Tell me, when Rodriguez Shipping's stock crashed today, did it satisfy

Somehow he knew everything. But instead of fear, I felt... relief? Finally someone who saw through the mask, who understood

know what

smile widened slightly. "Then why is your pulse racing? I can see it..." his eyes dropped to my

forced myself to step back, to remember my purpose. Victoria's training screamed at me to retreat, to maintain distance, to

again,

"And you're very evasive, Camille. May I

No one said my name that way

He glanced around the

whisper, "Just like I must warn you, revenge is a fire that burns both

the same silent grace he'd appeared. I stood frozen, champagne

the evening passed in a blur. I went through the motions, networking, gathering information, planting seeds for our next move against Stefan's company. But my mind kept returning to that moment w Later, in my private car heading home, I found myself smiling despite the seriousness of his warning. The way he'd teased me, challenged me, understood me... it awakened something I thought had died when My phone buzzed, a message from her confirming tomorrow's strategy meeting about Rodriguez Shipping's Asia division. I should have been focused on that, on the next phase of our plan, on the systematic de Instead, I