SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 93

Camille's phone buzzed against the boardroom

table, its vibration cutting through her presentation. She glanced at the screen and felt her stomach drop.

"Excuse me," she said, her voice steadier than she felt. "Let's take a five- minute break."

As the engineering team filed out, Camille opened the alert

"BREAKING: Kane Industries (KI) down 8.7% on rumors of Phoenix Grid safety concerns"

She scrolled quickly to a financial blog

post: "SOURCES CLAIM PHOENIX GRID POSES UNPRECEDENTED FIRE RISK."

The article cited "anonymous whistleblowers inside Kane Engineering" who allegedly provided documents showing the power distribution nodes could overheat under certain conditions. The claims were vague

Camille called Victoria. No answer. She tried Alexander next

"I've seen it," he said immediately. "PR is already crafting a response."

"Who would do this?” Camille demanded, pacing the empty boardroom. "Three days before groundbreaking? This isn't coincidence."

"No," Alexander agreed, his voice tight. "It's coordinated. The same story appeared simultaneously on four-

different financial platforms. Our stock dropped the moment markets opened."

Camille glanced at the wall of glass. Engineers huddled nearby, faces

worried, stealing glances toward her.

"Get Hannah Zhao on this immediately," she ordered. "I want a comprehensive

safety report ready by this afternoon-

something clear enough for the media to understand."

"Already happening." Alexander assured her. "Victoria's called an emergency press conference for two o'clock." Camille checked her watch: 10:17 AM. Less than four hours to contain a crisis. "I'll be there," she said. "I need to finish with the engineering team first."

"Camille," Alexander's voice softened. "This will pass. The Phoenix Grid is sound. We both know that."

She ended the call, took a deep breath, and opened the door to call back the engineers. Their anxious-

faces told her rumors had already spread,

"I assume you've all heard," she said

directly. "Let me be clear: The Phoenix Grid design is sound. These allegations are baseless. But we will address them with facts, not defensiveness."

Hannah Zhao, the lead engineer, stepped forward. "The distribution nodes have been tested far beyond normal parameters. They simply cannot cause fires as described."

"Someone fabricated concerns," Camille agreed. "Our job now is to prove it. Hannah, I need your team to prepare a comprehensive safety assessment. Every test, every safety margin, every redundancy. Two As the team dispersed, Hannah lingered behind.

"Ms. Kane," she said quietly, "these allegations contain technical details that only someone with inside knowledge could know."

The implication hung in the air. A leak. A betrayal from within.

replied. "Let's focus on the facts first. We'll deal

Victoria Kane stood in her office, watching financial news coverage. The ticker showed Kane Industries down 11.3%. She held

who's behind this," she ordered. "Check trading patterns. Someone is profiting from this drop." She ended the call as her assistant entered with printouts of every article mentioning the allegations. "The technical team is preparing a detailed response," the assistant reported. "And Mr. Pierce is on his way." Victoria scanned the articles. Something in the phrasing caught her attention,

the press conference disaster.

orchestrated for Rose alone.

help. Significant

Victoria

the most damaging article. "Look at the technical specifics, someone

document. "The details are close

but with

"Suggesting?"

"Not current blueprints, but perhaps earlier versions." Victoria moved to the window. "I want every former employee

"What's she been doing since the press

"Gone dark. No credit card usage no phone activity. She's effectively disappeared." "Nobody disappears that completely without help," Victoria observed. "Someone

is personal."

Industries press room buzzed with

back wall as reporters

beside her, both women

"Remember," Victoria

anger. Just facts, confidence, and

Chapter 93

our technology."

appeared, tablet in hand. "Hannah's report is really, Comprehensive, clear, and

leaked the specifications?" Camille asked, keeping her voice

But the technical details weren't entirely accurate, close enough to seem legitimate, but with key differences."

"Not a current

Rose. "It's her. Rose

expression remained

crisis. We'll deal

The lights

and Alexander flanking her. "Good afternoon," Camille began, her voice clear and strong. "I'm here to address rumors regarding the Phoen She gestured to the screen showing Hannah's safety report in

"The

safety concerns. The fire risk described is technically impossible given our design specifications." A reporter called

rumours appeared simultaneously across multiple platforms, a coordinated attack, not a genuine safety concern." "Are you suggesting

undergone rigorous testing by independent

technical questions arose, Hannah Zhao offered precise explanations that

the stock had stabilized, regaining

As

exited, Alexander showed Camille his tablet, social media sentiment shifting as technical experts confirmed

said, relief

replied, unable to shake her unease.

be

the source If there's a connection to Rose, we'll find it." "She's behind this," Camille insisted as they walked toward the elevator. "I

resources

doors closed, sealing the

edging her voice. "Someone with money, influence, and a

Chapter 93

half of Wall Street," Victoria replied

his expression turning grim. "Security reports unusual access attempts on our engineering servers last night. Nothing breached, but someone was probing for weaknes Camille felt cold certainty settle

Victoria nor Alexander