SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan) novel Chapter 210

Chapter 210

The Kane Industries conference room smelled like stale coffee and exhaustion. Stefan sat across from Hannah, surrounded by financial documents, computer printouts, and empty takeout containers from their third consecutive day of investigation. Dark circles under both their eyes testified to sleepless nights spent chasing digital ghosts through fifteen-year-old corporate records.

Hannah rubbed her temples, her usually perfect hair pulled back in a messy ponytail. "Look at this," she said, pointing to a spreadsheet on her laptop screen. "Two weeks before the Meridian Technologies factory explosion, someone transferred $2.3 million from the company's safety equipment fund to an offshore account."

Stefan leaned closer, catching the faint scent of her lavender shampoo mixed with the sharp smell of energy drinks. "Who authorized the transfer?"

"That's the interesting part." Hannah's fingers danced across the keyboard, pulling up digital bank records. "The authorization came from someone with high-level access to Meridian's financial systems, but the electronic signature doesn't match Richard Pierce's usual pattern."

"You think someone else made the transfer using Pierce's credentials?"

"More than that. I think someone deliberately sabotaged Meridian's safety budget right before the installation that killed seventeen people." Hannah's voice carried quiet outrage. "They stole money that should have been used for proper equipment, then let Richard Pierce take the blame when everything fell apart."

Stefan studied the financial trail, his business background helping him understand the implications. "If someone diverted the safety funds, then Richard Pierce might not have known about the substandard equipment until it was too late."

"Which means he was set up. Just like Alexander is being set up now." Hannah pulled up another document. "Stefan, look at the timing. The money transfer happened exactly two weeks before someone warned Victoria about Meridian's cost-cutting measures."

"You think the same person who stole the money also contacted Victoria?"

"I think someone orchestrated the entire situation. They stole Meridian's safety funds, ensured Victoria knew about the resulting problems, then sat back and watched two companies destroy each other." Hannah's eyes blazed with intellectual fury. "Fifteen years later, they're using the aftermath to manipulate Alexander into finishing what they started."

The conference room door opened, and Camille entered carrying three cups of fresh coffee. She looked tired but determined, wearing a simple black dress that made her appear older than her years. The stress of recent weeks had carved subtle lines around her eyes, but her posture remained strong.

"Any progress?" she asked, setting the coffee down and settling into a chair beside Stefan.

Hannah turned her laptop screen toward Camille. "We found something that changes everything. Someone inside Meridian Technologies stole millions from their safety budget right before the factory explosion."

Camille studied the financial records, her face growing pale as she understood the implications. "This proves Richard Pierce was sabotaged?"

"It proves someone wanted both Meridian and Kane Industries to suffer," Stefan said. "They created a situation where Victoria would look guilty of covering up safety violations, while Richard Pierce would look guilty of cutting corners that killed people."

"But who would benefit from destroying both companies?" Camille asked.

Hannah pulled up a new set of documents. "Someone who wanted to acquire their clients, their technology, or their market share. Someone with the patience to wait fifteen years for the perfect moment to finish what they started."

Stefan watched Hannah as she explained her findings, noticing how her voice grew stronger when she talked about technical details. Her passion for uncovering truth transformed her from a tired engineer into someone radiant with purpose. When she brushed a strand of hair from her face, Stefan found himself staring at the graceful movement of her fingers.

"Stefan?" Camille's voice brought him back to focus. "What do you think?"

Stefan cleared his throat, feeling heat rise in his cheeks. "I think Hannah is right. The timeline proves Alexander's information is wrong about Victoria's role in Meridian's collapse."

Hannah smiled at his support, and Stefan felt something warm flutter in his chest. When had he started noticing the way her eyes lit up when she smiled? When had her dedication to protecting Camille become something that drew him to her personally?

"The financial transfers follow a specific pattern," Hannah continued, seemingly unaware of Stefan's attention. "Whoever did this knew exactly how corporate accounting systems worked fifteen years ago. They understood both companies' internal structures well enough to manipulate them without being detected."

"An insider," Camille said quietly.

"Or someone with insider access. Maybe a consultant, an accountant, a legal advisor who worked with both companies." Stefan forced himself to focus on the investigation instead of the way Hannah bit her lower lip when she concentrated.

Hannah pulled up another screen. "I've been analyzing the electronic signatures on all the suspicious transactions. They're too perfect, too consistent. Real people have variations in their digital signatures - slight timing differences, pressure variations, personal quirks that are almost impossible to fake."

"You're saying the signatures were created by a computer program?" Camille asked.

"I'm saying whoever did this had access to sophisticated forgery software fifteen years ago. Technology that wasn't available to most people back then." Hannah's excitement was infectious as she explained her discovery. "Stefan, do you remember what government agencies were developing automated signature systems in the early 2000s?"

Stefan felt a chill as the implications hit him. "Intelligence agencies. Military contractors. People with security clearances and access to classified technology."

"Exactly. We're not dealing with some grieving relative or corporate rival. We're dealing with someone who had professional-level resources fifteen years ago and has been planning this revenge ever since."