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?"

her tablet, but not before I caught the flash of understanding in her eyes. The sapphires weren't public knowledge

addition of sapphire

another round of speculation when eventually noticed, which

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

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

cash reserves?" I

week without selling assets. The banks have frozen their credit lines pending financial

Rose

Rebecca took ov

major 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

acquisition team is prepared to offer twenty cents on the dollar for Rodriguez Shipping's Asian

"And for Rose's business?"

bránd is toxic now. Better to

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

back. "Do we proceed with the Rodriguez

my automatic yes.

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

in 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 on

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

Rose and Stefan's lives wasn't healing the wounds

note floated back to me: The phoenix who

the same ashes, unable to truly leave them

prompted again, her

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

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

I ask why?" she

replied, surprising myself with my honesty. "Thirty cents makes

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

I couldn't quite organize. removed Alexander's sapphires from my ears, returning them to their velvet box while struggling to Fifteen months

and Stefan. Fifteen months of becoming someone new, someone stronger, someone incapable of being hurt the way Camille Lewis had been hurt. All

me. Some perspective

another wave of media interest. Our stock is up nearly fifteen percent today. The PR team suggests we consider a joint chari The suggestion

I could respond, another text appeared: *However,

primary focus remains the completion of

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

for Alexander and whatever complicated emotions he stirred

revenge she'd cultivated since pulling me from

my former

response, then stopped as my private literang, The

faster despite my efforts

answered, keeping my voice nentral despite the flutter in

without greeting. "The ability to see through illusion to truth. They seemed appropriate for

how he always seemed to know any mind, my

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