SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 58

Stefan stared at the offer letter on his desk mitil the words blurred together. Thirty cents on the dollar. For shipping routes his grandfather had established. For contracts his father had nurtured. For a legacy thre Thirty cents on the dollar. A number designed to wound as much as to acquire.

Behind him, the Rodriguez Shipping headquarters

buzzed with the frantic energy of a dying animal. Staff packed personal

belongings into cardboard boxes Security escorted tearful employers to the elevator. Phones rang unanswered throughout the building as news of their financial collapse spread through the industry.

Three hours earlier, the board had voted to remove him as CEO. Only his father's intervention, and their family's controlling shares, had prevented his complete dismissal. Now he clung to the title of "Executive "They're waiting for your answer," Eduardo Rodriguez said from the doorway. At sixty-

two, his father looked a decade older than he had a month ago, Lines of worry had carved themselves permanently into his face. The proud posture that had intimidated

boardrooms for forty years now showed the slight curve of defeat.

"Kane Industries can keep waiting," Stefan replied, crumpling the offer letter in his fist. "I won't sell our Asian routes. Not to them. Not at any price."

Eduardo moved into the office, closing the door behind him "It's not about pride anymore, son. It's about survival. Without those routes, we lose access to our largest markets. Without the

cash from selling them, we can't make payroll next week."

"We'll find another way." Stefan stood, moving to the

window that overlooked the harbor where Rodriguez ships had once dominated the skyline. Now only three vessels bore their flag, the rest sold or repossessed in desperate attempts to generate operating capi "What other way?" Eduardo's voice held no anger, only exhaustion. "Eastern Capital passed on our loan request. Banks have frozen our credit lines. Suppliers demand payment in advance for fuel and materials "We still have friends in this industry. Relationships built over decades."

"Friends?" Eduardo

laughed without humor. "Where are these friends now? Henderson Freight signed with Marunouchi yesterday. Pacific Partners canceled our maintenance contract this morning. Everyone's jumping from what th Stefan pressed his

forehead against the cool glass. Below, workers streamed from the Rodriguez building, carrying boxes of personal items, years of service ended with impersonal severance papers and security escorts.

"Someone is behind this," he said quietly. "Someone with resources and motivation to destroy us systematically." "Does it matter? The result is the same."

Stefan turned to face his father. "It matters if we can identify them. Fight back. Expose whatever game they're playing."

Eduardo sank into a visitor chair, suddenly looking every year of his age and more. "This isn't a conspiracy, Stefan. It's business. We overleveraged our Asian expansion. We didn't diversify our client base prope The timing is too perfect," Stefan insisted. "Every attack precisely when we're most vulnerable. Every blow calculated for maximum damage."

His father studied him with eyes dimmed by fatigue. "And who would have both the resources and motivation for

+25 вони

such a campaign?"

Kane Industries. "But this offer it feels personal,

smoothies the letter, studying the signature at the bottom.

hand. Elegant, precise, somehow familiar though

appeared out of nowhere a

tablet on his desk, pulling up a photo from the charity gala where Pierce had placed that diamond necklace around Camille Kane's throat. The image had

the thought unfinished, unable to articulate the nagging feeling that he should recognize Camille Kane That beneath her perfect exterior lay something, someone,

to roost all at once. Perhaps the insulting offe But Stefan's instincts screamed otherwise. The same instincts that had guided him through countless negotiations, that had warned him of hidden agendas and unspoken motivations across boardroom tables a Someone wanted Rodriguez Shipping destroyed. Wanted the Rodriguez family humiliated.

everything he

ignored it again, unwilling to deal with her increasingly desperate attempts

her

judgment. Time to understand

his watch. "That's thirty minutes from now." "Then they'll have their answer in thirty

find another way."

survived the Depression. Survived two world wars.

"How?"

yet." Stefan moved to the credenza where three model ships stood in

"But I won't surrender my grandfather's

weeks, a shadow of pride crossed Eduardo's face. "You sound like him now. Stubborn. Determined. Perhaps a little foolish

start a shipping company during the Great Depression with a single boat and more courage than

take drastic measures. Sell the headquarters building Liquidate the

special. What had made it theirs. But Stefan nodded,

head from Kane Industries." Eduardo squeezed his shoulder, a silent gesture of support that meant more than words. Then he let Alone, Stefan returned to the window, watching darkness fall over the harbor. Lights began appearing on the remaining ships, pinpricks of brightness against the gathering gloom. Like hope in the face of overwh Another text followed from the CFO: *Without the

back to the model ships that represented the beginning of Rodriguez Shipping His grandfather had started

cargo vessel

to save a structure that might be too damaged His intercom buzzed, his father returning from the meeting with Kane Industries representatives. "They're gone," Eduardo reported, voice tight with controlled emotion. "Their lead negotiator seemed almost... pl "Of course

of thirty." "Perhaps." Eduardo paused. "But she said something strange as she was leaving Asked me to give you

attention sharpened.

measured in dollars and cents. Some debts can't be paid with anything but complete

A personal one. Confirmation of what he'd suspected,

that.." Eduardo hesitated. "In a way that reminded me of someone, though I can't

now seemed determined to destroy Bocipuez Shipping completely. Who was she really? And why did she seem to

of layoffs. As Stefan took the call, his mind continued toiming over the puzzle of Camille Kane. The strange familiarity. The

never to return. Just a skeleton crew remained, those essential to ke His office door

Five grim faces prepared for the hard

loans tomorrow," the CFO reported without preamble.

against thirty-seven million in