SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Camille's point of view

"They rejected our ofter,"

Rebecca's words hung in the air between us, impossible, unthinkable. The folder in her hands contained the formal response from Rodriguez Shipping, a single page declining our "generous proposal" with diplo "That's not possible," I said, my voice too quiet even to my own ears. "They're broke. Desperate. Days from complete collapse"

Mr. Rodriguez was quite firm." Rebecca set the folder on my desk, her expression professionally neutral despite delivering news she knew would infuriate me. "Their lead negotiator said the family would rather Heat rose from my chest to my throat, a burning tide of rage I hadn't felt since the night Stefan had handed me divorce papers on our anniversary. Since the night Rose had smirked at my pain while pretending concern. Since the night I'd walked away from the ruins of a life they'd systematically destroyed.

"Pride," I spat the word like poison. "Always his weakness. His father's too."

I moved to the window, needing space to contain the fury threatening to crack my carefully constructed composure. Outside, spring rain fell on the Kane estate gardens, each drop hitting leaves and petals with

Until now.

"The financial team has updated projections." Rebecca's voice remained steady, a reminder of the professional façade I needed to maintain. "Rodriguez Shipping will default on their major loans tomorrow. Their "Then why reject our offer?" I turned back to face her, struggling to understand "Thirty cents was insulting, yes, but it would have given them operating capital. Time to reorganize. A chance to salvage something Rebecca consulted her tablet. "Our analysts suggest it may be a negotiating tactic. Rejecting our first offer to push for better terms."

I shook my head, knowing Stefan better than any analyst ever could. "No. It's principle. Family pride. The Rodriguez name."

Three generations of shipping legacy. The grandfather who'd started with a single vessel during the Depression, The father who'd expanded globally during the shipping boom. And Stefan, who'd inherited it all Just as he'd taken me for granted.

"What do they hope to gain?" I asked, more to

myself than Rebecca. "They must know they can't survive without selling something"

“Our intelligence suggests they may be consolidating their Northwestern operations." Rebecca scrolled through her notes. "Moving liquid assets to their Seattle division before the banks seize everything else." A strategic retreat. Smart, actually, Salvaging the one piece of the company structurally protected from the banks' reach. The original

hub where Rodriguez Shipping had began three generations ago.

Starting over from nearly nothing

curled into fists,

was supposed to surrender completely. Was supposed to experience the total loss of

banks move tomorrow?"

the morning Our sources say they'll foreclose on outstanding loans

"And the board meeting?"

Likely to accept the chairman's resignation and

my desk, finger tapping against the polished mahogany as I thought. Stefan was slipping through my fingers.

a scrap of his family legacy when he should be losing

debt at eighty cents on the dollar. All of it, the secured loans, the operating lines, the equipment le Rebecca's eyes widened slightly, the only indication of her surprise at

Stefan won't sell to us directly, we'll own his debt instead. Every dollar he owes, every asset securing those loans, every piece of paper She

recognized. "If he wants to save his precious Seattle operatio Rebecca nodded, professional mask firmly in place despite what must have seemed like irrational business decisions. Spending forty million to acquire bad debt made no financial sense, But this wasn't about fi was about justice. About making Stefan feel the complete helplessness

banks don't hold

time Rebecca couldn't completely hide her shock. "The family home? Ms. Kane, that's not a business asset.

mansion as Stefan's wife. Three years of trying to please his family, of attempting to belong in spaces where I was merely tolerated. Three years of memori

strategic

rational explanation. Something that would make sense in tomorrow's executive briefing when Victoria questioned this

it will hurt him more than losing the company.

the one thing Stefan believes

concern, just recognition of the personal motivation. driving these business decisions Victoria had trained her well to

moved to the hidden wall safe beland my office artwork. Inside, nestled

had given the, lay a small photo album, one of the few possessions I'd kept from my lite as Camille Lewis.

would wash out your complexion, dear." Him handsome in his tuxedo, the

of honor in a dress carefully chosen to outshine the bride. Her arm around my waist, her smile perfect, her eyes already calculating how to take what wasn't hers.

wasn't about heartbreak or betrayal. This

Victoria: Heard about the Rodriguez

*

quickly. Acquiring all debt through bank purchases. Foreclosing immediately. Taking the