SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Camille's point of view

| stood in Victoria's darkened office, staring at the files spread across her massive desk. The penthouse windows

behindreflected my silhouette against Manhattan's nighttskyline, a solitary figure surrou I'd never

suspected.

Victoria was in Tokyo closing the Moretti Global acquisition, leavingalone with access to her private servers,

supposedly to prepare for my new role heading Kane Industries’ fashion division. Instead, I'd stur Now my world

was tilting on its axis.

The first document had seemed innocent enough, a standard background report on Alexander Pierce and his

business holdings. But the next had stopped my breath in my lungs: detailed accounts of Alexander the-

scenes manipulation of markets to prevent Rose's company from securing emergency financing last month.

And it didn't stop there.

Email exchanges between Alexander's chief of security and private investigators tracking down Rose's former

lovers in London. Financial records showing how Alexander's shell companies had purchased cont For more than

a year, Alexander Pierce had been secretly advancing our revenge plan, removing obstacles, closing escape

routes, ensuring that Rose and Stefan's destruction was absolute and inescapable.. All without ever telling me.

My hands

trembled as | picked up the most damning document of all, a detailed memo from Alexander to his chief financial

officer, dated three weeks after I'd first appeared publicly as Camille Kane.

"Proceed with liquidation of all Rodriguez Shipping stock," it read. "Strategically release holdings to drive share

price down. Coordinate timing with Kane Industries’ debt acquisition plan. Maintain maximum deni | sank into

Victoria's chair, mind spinning with implications. Had Alexander been using me? Had his apparent interest been

just another manipulation, another way to advance his own agenda? Or was there som My fingers hovered over

my phone, torn between fury at his deception and a strange, growing warmth at the thought of what his covert

assistance might truly mean.

Before | could decide how to respond, the office door swung open.

"| see you found my Alexander file."

Victoria stood in the doorway, coat still on, clearly just returned from the airport. Her face revealed nothing as

she moved into the room, setting her bag on a side table with deliberate calm. "You're supposed

to be in Los Angeles," | said, not bothering to hide the evidence spread across her desk.

"The Moretti signing finished early. | took the company jet back." She

poured herself a scotch from the bar cart without offeringone. "So. Now you know."

"Know what exactly? That Alexander Pierce has been secretly helping destroy Rose and Stefan? That he was the

mysterious benefactor closing financial doors and buying up their business connections? That h alongside us this

entire twithout either of you telling me?"

Victoria sipped her drink, studyingover the rim of her glass. "All of that, yes. The question is what you plan

to do with this information"

| stood, gathering the documents into a neat pile. "I don't know yet. Depends on why everyone's been lying to

——

"Not lying," Victoria corrected. "Selectively withholding."

"Explain the difference," | challenged, anger finally breaking through my shock.

Victoria moved to the windows, looking out at the city spread beneath us. "When | proposed our plan to destroy

Rose and Stefan, you agreed under one condition, that it would be strategic, not emotional. Busin

"I remember."

"Alexander Pierce complicated that clean narrative."

Victoria turned back to face me. "His involvement wasn't part of our original strategy. His assistance, while

valuable, introduced variables | couldn't fully control."

"So when he suddenly appeared at that charity gala..."

"It wasn't sudden at all," Victoria finished for me. "He'd been monitoring your progress for months. Watching

Rose and Stefan's destruction

from a distance. Helping accelerate it in ways | couldn't track until recently."

I sank back into the chair, trying to process this new reality. "Why? What does he get out of this?" Victoria's

expression softened almost imperceptibly. "That's a question better asked directly to Alexander." "Did y Victoria

shook her head. "Not until three months ago. His security is remarkably thorough, but my people are better.

Once | discovered his assistance in our project, | confronted him directly." "And?"

"And we cto an understanding " Victoria finished her scotch. "His help was valuable. His resources extended

our reach. His motivation, while personal, didn't interfere with our objectives." "His motivation," | repeated.

"Which was?"

"As | said, that's his story to tell." Victoria moved toward the door. "I've arranged for James to drive you to Pierce

Tower tomorrow evening at eight. Whether you go is your choice."

She paused, hand on the doorknob. "For what it's worth, Camille, Alexander Pierce is perhaps the only person

I've ever met whose strategic thinking matches my own. But his actions regarding our plan, regard "Which is?"

"Genuine." Victoria's mouth curved into a brief, almost sad smile. "Now that is truly valuable. Far more than

revenge."

She leftalone in her office, surrounded by evidence of Alexander's secret assistance, a partnership that had

beer advancing my goals without my knowledge or consen

My phone buzzed. Alexander,

as if summoned by my discovery: "Dinner tomorrow? | have news about our Rose situation

Our Rose situation. As if we'd been partners all along. As if he hadn't been secretly orchestrating her downfall

without ever mentioning his involvement.

| stared at the message, tom between the sense of betrayal at being manipulated yet again and the undeniable

truth that Alexander had committed extraordinary resources to advancing my revenge against Ros | typed back:

We need to talk. | know everything."

His reply cimmediately: *1 expected you would, eventually. Would you like to hear my side of the story?"

*Tomorrow. Spm. Your place.

As | gathered the documents into Victoria's confidential file box, one thought kept circling in my mind: Why

would Alexander Pierce, one of the world's wealthiest and roost powerful men, secretly dedicate a year Tomorrow

night, | would finally get my answers.