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

the Pierce team? Any official statement from them about

opened four percent higher this morning, apparently on

separate

Her own

responding to the rumors. Under different circumstances, she might have considered the

weren't different circumstances. This was a direct threat to her carefully constructed plan.

decision made. "I'm

twenty minutes ago when I

why she kept loyal people close, they anticipated needs, solved problems before they fully materialized, protected her interests without requiring expl Unlike

the car ready

He was dangerous in ways few people recognized. Not just for his wealth or business acumen, though both were considerable. Not just for his technological innovations, though they had disrupted multiple indu missed. Connections hidden beneath surface appearances. Motivations disguised behind

veil they'd created around

was, did he already know? Had he somehow uncovered the truth about Camille Lewis becoming Camille Kane? Was last night's public display a message

that could

her to the waiting car, Victoria scrolled

Behind the Mystery," complete with archive

Victoria closed

tight with controlled fury. In one evening, one impulsive decision, Camille

months. Attention that could lead

car moved smoothly

used the time to review what she knew

old. Fortune estimated

intelligence technologies. Notoriously private. No known serious relationships since a broken engagement six years ago. Rumored to have an intelligence

most, was why he had suddenly

didn't make impulsive

on spontaneous

public image without substantial

was calculated. Planned. Executed with specific

A 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

the damage

board, her phone rang again, Rebecca with

for Ms. Kane," she

to her

it, appears to be a small jewelry box, but not

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