SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 52

Chapter 52

Victoria Kane's hotel suite in Chicago offered a panoramic view of Lake Michigan, a vista most would stop m admire. She noticed none of it. Instead, her attention remained fixed on the tablet in her hand, finger "BILLIONAIRE BACHELOR ALEXANDER PIERCE GIFTS $100M NECKLACE TO MYSTERIOUS KANE HEIRESS"

"POWER COUPLE ALERT: PIERCE AND KANE SEND SOCIAL MEDIA INTO FRENZY"

"FROM RECLUSE TO ROMANCE: HAS THE COLD-

HEARTED TECH GENIUS FINALLY MET HIS MATCH?"

Each article featured the same photographs, Alexander placing the diamond necklace around Camille's throat, his hands lingering at her neck. Camille's genuine smile as she looked up at him, a softness in her

own.

Victoria's manicured nail cracked the screen protector as she pressed too hard, swiping to the next tabloid story. This one included quotes from "anonymous attendees" describing how the normally reserved Ca "Fifteen months of meticulous planning," Victoria said to the empty room, voice dangerously quiet. "Fifteen months creating the perfect story. The perfect appearance. The perfect heir. All potentially compromise She stood, moving to the window with controlled fury emanating from

her rigid posture. The breakfast tray

sat untouched on the nearby table. Sleep had been impossible after seeing the first alerts about the fundraiser. By dawn, the story had exploded across traditional and social media, analysts and

gossip columnists alike speculating about the potential alliance between two of the world's most powerful young business figures.

Precisely the kind of attention they had carefully avoided. Precisely the visibility that could threaten everything they'd built.

Her phone rang.... her assistant calling from New York.

"Tell me," Victoria demanded without greeting.

"It's worse than we thought," Rebecca said, her usually composed voice tight with tension. "Every major news outlet is running the story. Financial publications are

analyzing potential business implications of a Pierce-Kane alliance. Social media

engagement has increased seven thousand percent around Ms. Kane's name since last night.

11

Victoria's fingers tightened around the phone. "And Camille?"

"Not responding to messages. Her security detail reported she returned safely to the mansion at 12:47 AM. The necklace remains in her possession. Mr. Pierce's security team is scheduled to retrieve it at noon Another point of contact. Another opportunity for photographs. Another chance for Alexander to further whatever game he was playing.

"Cancel that retrieval," Victoria ordered. "Have our security return the necklace directly to Pierce Industries. Camille is not to have any further contact with Alexander Pierce or his people." "Yes, Ms. Kane."

Chapter 52

about the Pierce team? Any official statement from them about

four percent higher this morning, apparently on speculation about

separate

Her own analysts had

have considered the business

her carefully constructed plan. To

made. "I'm

Kane. The pilot filed a flight plan twenty minutes ago when I saw the Good Morning America segment about the

solved problems before they fully materialized, protected her interests without requiring expl Unlike her adopted

the car ready in

projected authority without ostentation. As she dressed, her mind raced through the potential damage Alexander could cause. He was dangerous in ways few people recognized. Not just for his wealth or

pierce the veil they'd created around

the truth about Camille Lewis becoming Camille Kane? Was last night's public display a message to

could destroy everything

team escorted her to the waiting

now running a feature on "Alexander Pierce: The Man Behind the Mystery," complete with

Victoria closed

evening,

lead to questions. To investigations. To someone making connections

car moved

time to review what she knew about Alexander

old. Fortune estimated

serious relationships since a broken engagement six years ago. Rumored to have an intelligence network that rivaled

troubled her most, was why he had suddenly taken such public interest in

Pierce didn't make

dollars on spontaneous

maintained public image without substantial

night was calculated.

business alliance? A personal connection? Or something more troubling, knowledge of who Camille really was and

the airfield. Her Gulfstream waited on the tarmac, engines

at the stairs. "We're cleared for immediate departure.

in New York. To the damage control needed.

phone rang again, Rebecca with

for Ms. Kane," she reported.

to her

box, but not large enough for the necklace. There's

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