SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 45

Camille's point of view

Five screens glowed on the wall of Victoria's private office, each displaying a different fashion blog. The headline on Fashion Insider screamed in bold type: "ROSE LEWIS: FASHION'S FEMME FATALE?" Belov clock on her desk showed 9:07 AM. The story had been live for exactly twelve minutes, and already the view counter showed over three thousand clicks.

"Perfectly timed," Victoria said, satisfaction evident in her voice. "The fashion industry wakes up, checks their morning feeds, and finds their darling, exposed.”

I nodded, a strange mix of emotions washing through me. Satisfaction, yes. The first real blow against Rose's carefully constructed image. But something else too, something I hadn't expected. A hollow feeling Was this really victory? Releasing photos that had been easy to obtain, evidence of sins that seemed almost trivial compared to what she'd

done to me?

"Ms. Kane? Ms. Camille?" My assistant Rebecca knocked before entering, tablet in hand, excitement barely contained. "You wanted updates on the Rose Lewis situation?" Victoria motioned her forward "Report"

"The story's spreading faster than projected. It's hit three major fashion blogs in the last five minutes. Social media engagement is exploding." Rebecca handed Victoria the tablet. "Her publicist has already issue Victoria's lips curved into a rare smile as she scrolled through the data. "And the hashtag we planted?"

"#Rose Thoms is trending in New York and Los Angeles." Rebecca couldn't hide her admiration. "The influencers we prepped are amplifying exactly as planned."

I leaned forward, scanning the social media metrics on the tablet. “Her brand partners?"

"Panicking" Rebecca's smile widened. "Three have already reached out to their legal teams about morality clauses in their contracts."

Victoria handed me the tablet, our eyes meeting; briefly. This moment, the first real strike against Rose, was what we'd been building toward for months.

"I want to see her," I said suddenly. "When she gets the news."

an

explain the hunger inside

eyes. "Not enough to destroy her. You need to

position Ms. Kane near

Thirty minutes later, I

car across from Rose's flagship store in the Fashion District. Tinted windows ensured no one could see me, but I had a perfect view of the boutique's glass front. Rose arrived at 9:50, looking i Then I

body language. The momentary loss of

shut. For ten glorious seconds, I watched genuine panic overtake my sister's face. Then, like the performer she'd always been, she recovered, Smiled tightly, Waved off the photographers. Walked into her boutique w But I'd seen it. That moment of pure, unfiltered fear. That instant where her

like honey on my

noon, three major fashion magazines had picked it up. By two, entertainment news sites were

to see how bad the damage

Clear and undeniable. The first true strike in my

of me still feel

dismissed the feeling, focusing instead on the next phase. "When do we

her watch. "Three days. Let this first scandal fully develop before introducing the next.

recover from one blow before

have bothered me. Once, it would have. Now I found comfort in her tactical approach, her emotional detachment. It

a text message. I glanced down, expecting another

Remind me never to cross

as 1 quickly darkened the phone screen. How had he known? We'd been so careful, ensuring no connection between Kane Industries

sharp eyes missed

I replied, too quickly. "Just a

the reports. "Tomorrow we'll monitor the