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

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such a campaign?"

back to his desk, staring at the crumpled offer from Kane Industries. "But this offer it feels personal, Deliberately insulting Designed to bumiliate as much as to acquire" "Victoria Kane

the letter, studying the signature

but a different hand. Elegant, precise, somehow familiar

"The girl who appeared out of nowhere a year ago? The one in the news with Alexander

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

He left the thought unfinished, unable to articulate the nagging feeling that he should recognize Camille Kane That

Rodriguez Shipping was simply bad luck, bad timing, bad management decisions coming home 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

of watching, everything he valued being

it again, unwilling to deal with her increasingly

her

judgment. Time to understand what had

glancing at his watch. "That's thirty minutes from now." "Then they'll have their answer in thirty minutes." Stefan straightened his shoulders, decision mad

way." Stefan's

him. "This company survived the Depression. Survived two world wars. Survived the 2008 crash.

"How?"

don't know yet." Stefan moved to the credenza where three

"But I won't surrender my grandfather's legacy for

the first time in weeks, a shadow of pride crossed Eduardo's face. "You sound like him now. Stubborn. Determined. Perhaps

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

by the family heirlooms. "If we reject Kane's offer, we'll need to take drastic measures. Sell the headquarters building Liquidate the pension

what had made Rodriguez Shipping special. What had made it theirs.

meant more than words. Then he let Alone, Stefan returned to the window, watching darkness fall over the harbor.

back to the model ships that represented the beginning of

a single cargo vessel

but the core of what had made the company great. To rebuild from foundation rather than try 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

offer fifteen cents instead of thirty." "Perhaps." Eduardo paused. "But she said something strange as she was

attention sharpened. "What

losses can't be measured in dollars and cents. Some

a business communication. A personal one. Confirmation of what he'd suspected, this wasn't just predatory acquisition. This was targeted destructio "Did she say

smiled in a way that.." Eduardo hesitated. "In a way that reminded

had appeared. from nowhere. Who now seemed determined to destroy Bocipuez Shipping completely. Who was

the puzzle of Camille Kane. The strange familiarity. The targeted atta Something was missing Some connection he couldn't

to return. Just a skeleton crew remained, those essential to ke His office door opened again, his father returning with

had filled the boardroom. Five grim faces prepared for the hard

their loans tomorrow," the CFO reported without preamble. "We have approximately three million

thirty-seven million