SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

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

of sapphire

speculation when eventually

analyst began, “Rodriguez Shipping's last potential lifeline disappeared yesterday when

numbers. Stefan's company was now functionally insolvent.

cash reserves?"

week without selling

the Rose

Rebecca took ov

retailers have canceled orders. Her manufacturing partners have terminated contracts. Most telling, her biggest I nodded, feeling the familiar mix of satisfaction and emptiness these reports always brought. Victory, yes. Justice for what they'd done to me. But the hollow feeling afterward grew stronger each time. "So we're ready for

nodded. "The acquisition team is prepared to offer twenty cents on the dollar for Rodriguez Shipping's Asian routes. Given their financial situation, they'll have no choice but to

"And for Rose's business?"

was clinical, detached. "The bránd is toxic now. Better to let it collapse completely than associate Kane Industries with it in any

to the window to hide the conflict I feared might show on my face. Outside, spring had

me back. "Do we

automatic yes. Acquiring Stefan's shipping routes made good business sense

Victoria had outlined the strategic benefits months ago, planning for the moment his

Not from compassion for Stefan, he deserved every bit of the destruction raining down on him. The man who

A growing sense that revenge, however sweet, wasn't filling the emptiness inside me

healing the wounds they'd inflicted

back to me: The phoenix who rises higher with

circling the same ashes,

again, her voice

made. "Proceed with the offer, but at thirty cents

flickered across the analysts' faces. Rebecca's expression remained neutral, though I sensed her curiosity at my

I ask why?"

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,

their board meeting votes on his removal as CEO, When he's at his

removed Alexander's sapphires from my ears, returning them to their

stronger, someone incapable of

inside me. Some

with a text from Victoria: *Pierce's press statement has generated another wave of 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 chess moves were reshaping the board,

could respond, another text

focus remains the completion of

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

for Alexander and whatever complicated emotions he stirred in

focus on revenge she'd cultivated

of my

then stopped as my private literang, The number displayed made

despite my efforts

answered, keeping my voice nentral

have historically symbolized clarity of thought, he said without greeting. "The ability to see through illusion to truth.

he always seemed to know any mind, my situation, my inner