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 about the necklace

addition of sapphire

round of speculation when

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

numbers. Stefan's company was now functionally insolvent. Their stock had

cash reserves?"

payroll next week without selling assets. The banks have frozen their credit

Rose

Rebecca took ov

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

acquisition team is prepared to offer twenty cents on the dollar for Rodriguez Shipping's Asian routes. Given their financial situation,

"And for Rose's business?"

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

window to hide the conflict I feared might show on my face. Outside, spring had transformed the mansion's gardens, new life emerging after winter's dormancy. Much

Rebecca's voice pulled me back. "Do we proceed with

question deserved more consideration than my automatic yes. Acquiring Stefan's shipping routes made

ago, planning for the moment his company would be vulnerable enough for

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

however sweet, wasn't filling the emptiness inside me the

Stefan's lives wasn't healing the

to me: The phoenix

this rising? Or was I still circling the same ashes,

Rebecca prompted again, her voice

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

the analysts' faces. Rebecca's expression remained neutral, though I

ask why?" she inquired

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

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

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 o complete

me. Some perspective

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,

I could respond, another text appeared:

remains the

Don't allow distractions,

emotions

on revenge she'd cultivated since pulling me

of my

response, then stopped as my

despite my efforts

answered, keeping my voice nentral despite the flutter

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

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

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