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?"

not before I caught the flash of understanding in her eyes. The sapphires weren't public knowledge yet, but Alexander's press statement

of

of speculation when eventually noticed, which Rebecca undoubtedly

our chief financial analyst began, “Rodriguez Shipping's last potential lifeline disappeared yesterday when Eastern Capital Partners declined their emergency funding

warming my blood as I reviewed the numbers. Stefan's company was now functionally insolvent. Their stock had dropped

reserves?"

replied. "They can't make payroll next week without selling assets. The banks have frozen their credit

the Rose Lewis

Rebecca took ov

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

offer twenty cents on the dollar for Rodriguez Shipping's Asian routes. Given

"And for Rose's business?"

Rebecca's assessment was clinical, detached. "The bránd is toxic now. Better to

face. Outside, spring had transformed the mansion's gardens,

me back. "Do we proceed with the Rodriguez acquisition

automatic yes. Acquiring Stefan's shipping routes made good

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

deserved every bit of the destruction raining down on him. The man

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

Stefan's lives wasn't healing the wounds

to me: The phoenix who rises higher with

circling the same ashes, unable to truly

Rebecca prompted again,

the offer, but at thirty cents on the

expression remained neutral, though I sensed her curiosity at my slight show

ask why?" she

my honesty. "Thirty cents makes better business sense. It's still a brutal lowball offer he Rebecca nodded, making notes on her tablet. "And

immediately after their board meeting votes on his removal as CEO,

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

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

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

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, influencing even Victoria's

text appeared: *However, remind

primary focus remains the

Don't allow distractions, however financially beneficial they might appear

and whatever complicated emotions

revenge she'd cultivated since

my former

then stopped as my private literang, The number

beat faster despite my

nentral despite the flutter in

of thought, he said without greeting. "The ability to see through illusion to truth. They seemed appropriate for a

at the blue velvet box, wondering again how he always

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