SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 92

The private dining room at Per Se glowed with amber light, Manhattan's skyline twinkling beyond floor-

to-

ceiling windows. Camille swirled her wine, watching the deep red liquid catch the light. The remnants of their nine -

course meal and two bottles of Bordeaux scattered across the table.

"To resurrection," Victoria said, raising her glass, platinum hair shimmering in the candlelight.

"To truth," Alexander added from beside Camille.

"To unexpected allies," Camille said, joining the toast with a delicate clink of crystal, thinking of her parents and Stefan defending her when she least expected it.

After days of crisis management, simply sitting and breathing felt like luxury.

"The board has officially reversed their position," Victoria said. "The emergency meeting lasted ten minutes. Gordon couldn't backpedal fast enough."

Alexander smiled. "Amazing how quickly principles dissolve when stock prices recover."

"They never had principles," Victoria replied. "Just fear. And fear is always temporary."

Camille observed them, two business titans who had circled each other warily for years, their usual tension softened by their common goal of protecting her.

"I still can't believe my parents did that," Camille said. "After everything, they actually stood up for me." Victoria studied her. "Have you decided whether to return your mother's call?"

Camille shook her head. The voicemail remained unanswered.

"They took a significant risk," Alexander noted. "Publicly admitting they failed you. Exposing Rose."

"Why now, though?" Camille asked. "After years of choosing Rose, why stand with me when it might cost them everything?"

Victoria sipped

thoughtfully. "People rarely change unless the cost of staying the same becomes unbearable."

"Or unless they finally see the truth," Alexander added, his eyes meeting Camille's. "Sometimes we don't recognize what matters until we nearly lose it."

The weight of his gaze made Camille look away; suddenly conscious of the current between them, unspoken but growing stronger. She focused instead on the skyline.

"Either way," she said finally, "it changes nothing about our plans. The Phoenix Grid launches in ten days. We move forward."

Victoria smiled slightly, approval evident. "Spoken like a tree Kane."

"The permits came through for the Brooklyn site," Alexander said. "Construction crews begin tomorrow."

"And the Chicago location?" Victoria asked.

"Ready for phase one. The mayor wants to be present for the groundbreaking."

Camille felt excitement flutter beneath her ribs. The Phoenix Grid, her project, her vision, her chance to build something lasting, Clean, sustainable energy flowing through revitalized Infrastructure.

"The testing results exceeded expectations," she said proudly. "Efficiency ratings fifteen percent higher than projected. We'll revolutionize urban power distribution."

Alexander's hand found hers under the table, a brief squeeze of understanding. He knew what this meant to her, not just business

success,

long, her focus had been destruction. The Phoenix Grid represented

different Creation Legary.

funding package," Victoria

with conditional approval

Pierce Industries remains committed to the partnership." Alexander added, "Solar generation,

gratitude toward them both, Victoria who had saved her and given her purpose, Alexander

doing this,"

doubt it?"

tually win."

moment there, it

darkened. “She miscalculated. Attacking your mental stability without evidence was

Rose now?" Camille asked. "She's

left that building on Park

supplied. "A shell company, most

frowned. "You think she's hiding? That doesn't sound like Rose.

retreare i

Victoria said with certainty. "She's

something else," Camille

hand. "If she is, she'll fail again.

Snow!

with coffee. When he departed, Victoria leaned forward, her expression serious. "Speaking of Stefan," she

met her gaze steadily. "One might

someone had coordinated it,” Victoria pressed “Someone

them.

has been making moves

you have approved if

"That's not the point

*

precisely the point. Sometimes action must precede

the tension returning "You went to see

- Chapter

once.

"Why not tell me?"

you wouldn't have

no reason to defend

simply "And we needed him. His testimony

expression remained neutral, but Camille sensed her disapproval. "Unilateral decisions are

15

thinking during

That's what matters. But next time, I want to know. Even if you think I'll disapprove." Something flickered in his eyes, a mixture of apology and deeper

with sharp attention. "Now that Rose has been neutralized, we should discuss. security for

said. "Maximum coverage,

normalcy of project planning wash over

defined by what she built, not by what had

from her.

she said. "Cities that can't be blacked out. Communities that control their

vision is why I wanted to partner with Kane Industries in the first place." "And now?" Victoria asked, her tone casual but her gaze

"Now t

person behind it are equally compelling," he replied, not looking away from Camille. The air

will establish Kane Industries as the leader

infrastructure," she said, steering the conversation to safer ground. "The patents will transform

knowing smile suggested she wasn't fooled

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