SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Camille's point of view

The afternoon

sun warmed my office, casting golden light across the polished mahogany of my desk. I twirled the small blue velvet box between my

fingers, savoring the moment before opening it. Alexander's security chief had delivered it personally twenty minutes ago, his professional demeanor never slipping as he handed over both the box and a sealed envelope.

"Mr. Pierce sends his regards, Ms. Kane," was all he'd said before departing

Now, alone with this unexpected gift, I found myself hesitating. The diamond necklace still rested in my personal safe upstairs, Victoria had reluctantly agreed to delay its return after our PR team's insistence tha no intention of letting our connection fade quietly away.

I opened the envelope first, sliding a finger beneath the seat. The handwritten note inside showed confident strokes, Alexander hadn't delegated this task to an assistant. strong,

*For the phoenix who rises higher with each flight. These reminded me of your eyes, seeing what others miss, reflecting depths

others fear to explore. The necklace was for the world to witness. These are for you alone. Until our paths cross again.-

A*

Heat crept up my neck as I read the words twice more. In fifteen months as Camille Kane, I'd received countless professional compliments, careful social flatteries, and calculated business overtures. None had Because none had seemed to see me. Not Victoria's creation Not the polished heiress. But something beneath all the

careful layers, something I sometimes feared had died along with Camille Lewis.

I opened the velvet box slowly. Inside, nestled on white silk lay a pair of sapphire earrings. Not ostentatious like the diamond necklace, but elegant in their understated beauty. The deep blue stones caught the a These are for you alone.

My fingers touched one earring gently, feeling its weight. Unlike the necklace, which had clearly been chosen for both its dramatic public impact and its business implications, these seemed genuinely personal. Without fully deciding to, I moved to my private bathroom, removing my current earrings and replacing them with Alexander's gift. The sapphires hung perfectly, their color bringing out something in my eyes I ha

"Ms. Kane?"

Rebecca's voice through the intercom startled me from my reflection. I returned quickly to my desk, pressing the response button.

"Yes"

"The financial team has completed their analysis of Rodriguez Shipping's vulnerabilities. They're ready whenever you'd like to review the next phase."

Business. Reality. The reason

for everything I'd become over the

past fifteen months.

"Send them in," I replied, tucking Alexander's note into my desk drawer.

Rebecca entered first, tablet in hand, followed by two members of our financial team. All three stopped short when they saw me, eyes going to the sapphire earrings I'd forgotten to remove in my haste. New accessories, Ms Kane?" Rebecca asled, her professional tone not quite hiding her curiosity.

I touched one earring briefly, then lowered my hand. "Just trying something different. The report?"

flash of understanding in her eyes. The sapphires weren't public knowledge yet, but Alexander's press statement about the necklace had been release

addition of sapphire

round of speculation when eventually

page one," our chief financial analyst began, “Rodriguez Shipping's last potential lifeline disappeared yesterday when Eastern

my blood as I reviewed the numbers. Stefan's company was now functionally

cash reserves?"

replied. "They can't make payroll next week without selling assets.

the Rose Lewis

Rebecca took ov

of the report. "Her fashion line is effectively finished. All major retailers have canceled orders. Her manufacturing partners have terminated contracts. Most telling, her biggest I nodded, feeling the familiar mix of

the dollar for Rodriguez Shipping's Asian routes.

"And for Rose's business?"

Better to let it collapse completely than associate Kane Industries

Outside, spring had transformed the mansion's gardens, new life emerging after winter's dormancy.

me back. "Do

consideration than my automatic yes. Acquiring Stefan's

outlined the strategic benefits months ago, planning for the moment his company would be

me hesitated now. Not from compassion for Stefan, he deserved every bit of the destruction raining down on him. The man who had handed me divorce papers

my hesitation came from a different source. A growing sense that revenge, however sweet, wasn't filling the emptiness inside me the

lives wasn't healing the wounds they'd inflicted on

back to me: The

this rising? Or was I still circling the same ashes, unable to truly leave them

again,

turned back to face them, decision made. "Proceed with the offer, but at thirty

remained neutral, though I sensed her curiosity at

why?" she

twenty cents would be driven by emotion, by desire to humiliate him completely," I replied, surprising myself with my honesty. "Thirty cents makes better business sense. It's still a brutal lowball offer he Rebecca nodded, making notes on her tablet.

board meeting votes on his removal as CEO,

leaving me alone once more with thoughts I couldn't quite organize. removed Alexander's sapphires from my ears, returning them to

someone stronger, someone incapable of being hurt the way Camille Lewis had been hurt. All leading to

something had shifted inside me. Some perspective I hadn't

media interest. Our stock is up nearly fifteen percent today. The PR team suggests we consider a joint chari The suggestion would have been unthinkable from Victoria three days ago. Alexander's careful

could respond, another text appeared: *However,

primary focus remains

The Rodriguez acquisition is the priority. Don't allow distractions, however

complicated emotions he stirred in me. Emotions that threatened

she'd cultivated since pulling

my former

stopped as my private

despite my

keeping my voice nentral despite the flutter in

he said without greeting. "The ability to see through illusion to truth. They seemed appropriate for a woman standing at

glanced at the blue velvet box, wondering again how he always

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