SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 118

Rose stared at the laptop screen, a smile

spreading across her face as she scrolled through the photographs. The yacht had been easy to find once Herod's investigators had traced

Alexander's movements. Getting someone with a telephoto lens onto a nearby boat had been even easier.

"Perfect," she whispered, zooming in on a

particularly intimate image of Camille and Alexander on the deck of his yacht. Her sister, not that she deserved

that title anymore, locked in an embrace with the billionaire, their kiss leaving nothing to the imagination.

The penthouse suite Herod had secured for her sparkled with morning light, illuminating dozens of photos and documents spread across the glass table. Three empty coffee cups testified to her sleepless night Her phone buzzed. Herod.

"Are you watching the financial news?" he asked without preamble.

"No," Rose replied, still scrolling through the photos. "I've been busy with our little project."

“Kane Industries stock jumped twelve points after yesterday's meeting," Herod said, frustration sharpening his voice. "Your sister completely dismantled my safety concerns. Made me look like a fool."

Rose switched to speaker phone and set it down. "She's not my sister. And don't worry about yesterday. By this afternoon, no one will be talking about the Phoenix Grid anymore."

She selected nine photos, each more damning than the last. Camille and Alexander kissing. Camille in his arms at the railing. The two of them disappearing below deck, then emerging later with unmistakable si "The photos are ready?" Herod asked.

"Better than we hoped." Rose moved them to a separate folder. "The lighting is perfect. No question about who they are. No possibility of claiming they're doctored."

She heard Herod's approving chuckle. "And the other material?"

Rose clicked to another folder containing documents, emails, and financial records, some

real, most fabricated by the expert Herod had hired.

"All prepared," she confirmed. "The story writes itself. Alexander Pierce, using Camille

Kane to gain control of Victoria's company through the bedroom rather than the boardroom."

"Which outlets are you sending them to?"

Rose picked up a handwritten list. "New York Spectator gets the exclusive on the photos. They'll reach the

widest audience fastest. The financial documents go to

the Wall Street Journal and

Bloomberg simultaneously, more credible sources for that angle."

She checked her watch. "The Spectator will run the photos online at noon. The financial pieces will hit the wire services an hour later, just as everyone is talking about the scandal."

voice carried grudging admiration.

people for seven years," Rose reminded him. "I know

was my specialty,

too confident," Herod warned.

this," Rose said, certainty hardening her voice. "Victoria Kane values control above all else. The

letting emotions cloud her

may

with Alexander Pierce of all

does that name matter specifically?"

company

table. "Victoria sees him

our purposes," Herod said

stood and stretched,

Park. "How much more do

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Chapter 118

Herod replied. "The remaining shareholders are scattered, disorganized. They'll follow whoe Rose nodded, watching a jogger far below. "And when

it," Herod said simply. "Sell off the profitable divisions, shut down

"And Camille?"

humiliated. Professionally destroyed. Exactly what you

she'd built crumbled. The press that had praised her as Victoria's brilliant protégée would tear her apart as the foolish wom "What time is your meeting with

near Columbus Circle. He gets the exclusive photos,

not worried about being

spent my life learning how to change my appearance. Besides, the media has forgotten

and now wore it in a

framed

The transformation was so complete that she'd walked past a former client in the

organizing the materials for her meeting. The fabricated financial documents suggesting Alexander had been buying Kane Industries stock through email trail indicating he had pursued her with calculated intent,

used relationships to gain business

it would stand up to serious investigation, but that didn't matter. By

Rose sat in the back corner of the café, waiting. She'd arrived early to secure the

he entered, Malcolm Reed, the Spectator's executive editor,

whose tabloid had once featured Rose herself in its society pages. He scanned the café, not recognizing her even as his gaze passed over her. She

hand slightly,

asked, using the fake

across from her. "Thank you for

information about Camille Kane and

said, getting

business. Something that would

it on the table. "These photos were taken three days ago on Mr.

obtained

not important," Rose replied smoothly. "What matters is their authenticity. They're completely unaltered. Your technical team can verify

do you want in exchange for

leaned forward slightly. "Two things. First, complete anonymity. I was never here, we never

nodded. This was standard procedure for tabloid