SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan)

Chapter 94

Rose stepped onto the balcony of Herod's penthouse, a glass of champagne catching the golden light of sunset.

Below, Manhattan sprawled in all its glittering glory, oblivious to the small victory celebration taki

"To successful beginnings," Herod said, joining her with his own glass. The evening breeze ruffled his dark hair,

softening his usually severe appearance.

"Six p ix percent," Rose replied, satisfaction warming her voice "Six

percent drop in a single day. Millions wiped from Kane Industries’ value."

Their glasses clinked, crystal meeting crystal with a delicate ring. Rose sipped the expensive champagne,

bubbles dancing on her tongue. The taste of revenge was even sweeter than the Dom Pérignon. "You should

have seen Victoria's face during that press conference," she said, leaning against the railing "So controlled on

the surface, but | know that look in her eyes. She's rattled." iling. "So"

Herod studied her, his expression curious. "You enjoy this, don't you? Not just the outcome, but the process. The

gitself.”

Rose considered this. "I never thought of myself as someone who enjoyed causing pain. But watching Camille

squirm, seeing her precious project questioned." She trailed off, surprised by the Intensity of her fe "Most people

lie to themselves

about such things," Herod observed, moving closer. "They pretend their revenge is only about justice, not

pleasure."

"I stopped lying to myself a long tago," Rose replied. When you grow up unwanted, you learn to see things

clearly."

Something flickered in Herod's eyes, recognition, perhaps Understanding. The setting sun cast half his face in

shadow, half in golden light, emphasizing the sharp angles of his cheekbones. "Your honesty is refreshing," he

said.

Rose felt a strange flutter in her chest. For weeks, they had worked together with cold precision, their

partnership purely transactional. But tonight, celebrating their first victory, something subtle had shifted in th

"Tellsomething real about yourself," she said suddenly "Not about your family or Victoria Kane or

business. Something | don't know yet."

Herod seemed surprised by the request. He

turned to face the skyline, considering.

"| collect first editions," he said finally. "Books from the 19th century, mostly. | find comfort in things that have

survived their time, outlasted their creators."

The admission was unexpected, a small, human detail about a man who had revealed so little of himself beyond

his thirst for revenge.

"Do you read them?" Rose asked. "Or just collect them?"

"Both. Snights, when sleep won't come, | read by the window until dawn." He glanced at her. "Your turn.

Something real."

Rose felt oddly vulnerable under his gaze. She

was accustomed to crafting herself for othare -

the supportive sister, the devoted girlfriend. Revealing anything authentic felt dangerous.

"Lcan't swim,” she admitted. "I nearly drowned

as a child, before the foster system. I've never been able to put my head underwater since."

The words hung between them, more revealing than she'd intended. Not just a fact, but a weakness. A fear.

Herod didn't fill the silence with empty reassurances or prying questions. He simply nodded, accepting her truth

as she had accepted his.

"We all have our depths we can't face," he said finally.

Inside, Herod's phone rang. He excused himself, stepping back into the penthouse. Rose remained on the

balcony, watching darkness claim the city. Lights flickered on across Manhattan, creating new constella Through

the glass doors, she observed Herod taking the call. His posture shifted subtly, straightening, tensing. Business

mode. She'd learned to read his body language during their weeks of planning. Whateve When he returned to

the balcony, his expression had hardened back into the calculating mask she recognized from their strategy

sessions.

"Good news?" she asked.

"Confirmation that phase two is ready," he replied. "Our contact at the engineering firm has implemented the

modified specs in the Brooklyn site components. Everything appears exactly as it should, until full sys six weeks

after installation.”

Rose felt a familiar thrill of anticipation. "And then?"

"Complete system failure. Harmless to humans, as promised, but catastrophic for Kane Industries’ reputation.

Especially when the ‘overlooked’ safety warnings surface.

Rose smiled, imagining the scene, Camille watching helplessly as her precious Phoenix Grid collapsed, taking her

reputation with it.

"Perfect timing," she said. "Just as they recover from this week's crisis, just as they think they're safe..."

"The true damage arrives," Herod finished. "Patience rewards those who wait."

He

refilled their champagne glasses, his fingers brushing against hers as he handed back her drink. The brief

contact sent an unexpected warmth up her arm. Rose found herself noticing details she'd previously ig "Why did

you agree to help me?" she asked abruptly. "You had your own plans for Victoria. Why include me?" Herod

considered her question carefully. "Initially? Strategy. Your knowledge of Camille's weakness "And now?"

Something shifted in his expression, a softening around the eyes, a slight tension at the corner of his mouth."

Now | find our partnership has... additional benefits."

The Implication hung in the air between them. Ruse felt her heartbeat quicken. For so long, her relationships had

been calculated moves in a larger game, Stefan, the men before him, each one a stepping ston This felt

different. Dangerous in a new way

"We should celebrate properly," Herod said, breaking the tension. "Not just champagne on the balcony. Dinner,

perhaps."

"Here?" Rose asked, gesturing toward the penthouse.

"No. Out. In public."

Rose stared at him. "I can't be seen. Not after the press conference disaster. Every reporter in the city would

pounce."

"Not in New York," Herod clarified. "My jet is fueled and waiting at Teterboro. We could be in Montreal for

gat dinner, back by morning. No one would know."

The spontaneity of the suggestion startled her. "Montreal? Tonight?"

"Why not? We've earned a moment of pleasure amid all this planning.” His eyes held hers. "Unless you're afraid

to leave your hiding place."

The challenge was subtle but clear. Rose felt something stir inside her, pride, defiance, and something else she

couldn't quite name.

"I'm not afraid," she said firmly. "But this seems... impulsive. Not like you."

"Perhaps you

don't knowas well as you think." A smile played at the corners of his mouth. "I can be impulsive when the

occasion warrants."

Rose found herself returning his smile, conscious of how rarely she'd done so genuinely in recent weeks. Most of

her smiles were performances, calculated to achieve a specific effect. This one surprised her wi "Montreal," she

repeated, considering. "French food, anonymity, no press..."

"Freedom," Herod added. "Even if just for an evening."

The word resonated within her. Since the disaster at the Kane Foundation gala, she'd been living in shadows,

moving between hotel rooms, avoiding public spaces, watching from afar as her carefully construct "Yes," she

decided suddenly. "Let's go."

Surprise flickered across Herod's face, as if he hadn't expected her to accept. It vanished quickly, replaced by

pleasure. "Excellent. Pack lightly. We leave in an hour."

As Rose turned to go inside, Herod caught her wrist gently. The unexpected contact froze her in place.

"One condition," he said, his voice lower than before. "Tonight, no talk of Camille, Victoria, or revenge. Just

dinner, conversation, and whatever comes after."

The implication sent heat rushing through Rose's body. She met his gaze, searching for calculation or

manipulation, the currencies she understood best. Instead, she found something more unsettling: genuine

"Agreed," she said, her voice steadier than she felt.