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?"

from Kane Industries. "But this offer it feels personal, Deliberately insulting Designed to bumiliate as much as to acquire" "Victoria Kane

studying the signature at the bottom. Not

Elegant, precise, somehow familiar though

of nowhere a year ago?

where Pierce had placed that diamond necklace around Camille Kane's throat. The image had been

strange sense of déjà vu he'd experienced since first seeing her in person at the Metropolitan Museum fundraiser months ago. "But something about He left the thought unfinished, unable to articulate the nagging feeling that he should recognize Camille Kane That beneath her perfect exterior lay something, someone, he had encountered before. “You're grasping at shadows,”

But Stefan's instincts screamed otherwise. The same instincts that had guided him through countless negotiations, that had warned him of hidden agendas and

watching, everything he valued being

in an hour from Rose. He ignored it again, unwilling to deal with her increasingly desperate attempts to reconcile. Her own

her

his judgment. Time to understand what had

minutes from now." "Then they'll have their answer in

another way." Stefan's voice

company survived the Depression. Survived two world wars. Survived the 2008 crash. It will survive this

"How?"

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

vessels his grandfather had purchased to start Rodriguez Shipping. "But I won't surrender my grandfather's legacy for thirty cents on the dollar,

crossed Eduardo's face. "You sound like him now. Stubborn. Determined.

to start a shipping company during the Great Depression with a single boat and more courage than capital?" Stefan managed a small smile. “I'll take

family heirlooms. "If we reject Kane's offer, we'll need to take drastic measures.

Rodriguez Shipping special. What had

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

silenced his phone, turning back to the model ships that represented the beginning of Rodriguez Shipping His grandfather had

determination and a single cargo vessel when

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

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

attention sharpened.

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

communication. A personal one. Confirmation of what

a way that reminded me of someone, though I

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

of layoffs. As Stefan took the call, his mind continued toiming over the puzzle of Camille Kane. The strange familiarity. The targeted atta Something was missing Some connection he couldn't quite

stood nearly empty, most employees already departed, many never to return. Just a skeleton crew remained, those essential to ke His office door opened again, his father returning with their

had filled the boardroom. Five grim faces prepared

CFO reported without preamble. "We have approximately three

assets against thirty-seven million in