SCORNED EX WIFE Queen Of Ashes (Camille and Stefan) novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216

The Kane Industries conference room had been transformed into a war room. Documents covered every surface, laptops displayed multiple screens of data, and a large whiteboard showed a timeline spanning fifteen years. Alexander sat at the table he had once planned to destroy, now opening his most guarded secrets to the people he had tried to hurt.

"This is everything," Alexander said, placing his encrypted phone on the table. "Every message from James, every document he provided, every instruction he gave me."

Hannah connected Alexander's phone to her computer system, her fingers moving across the keyboard with practiced efficiency. "I'll need your passwords for all communication platforms."

"Of course." Alexander recited a series of passwords while Camille watched from across the table. The careful distance between them spoke of trust broken but not completely destroyed.

Stefan studied the printed messages Alexander had provided. "The psychological manipulation is sophisticated. James knew exactly which emotional buttons to push."

Victoria sat at the head of the table, still pale from her recent hospitalization but alert as she reviewed Alexander's evidence. Her reading glasses reflected the light from multiple computer screens as she examined document after document.

"These fabricated safety reports," Victoria said, holding up a folder. "They're based on real incidents at Meridian Technologies, but the details have been altered to make me look responsible for covering up violations."

Alexander winced as he watched Victoria read through the lies he had believed for months. "I should have verified everything independently before acting on it."

"James knew you wouldn't," Camille said quietly. "He counted on your grief making you vulnerable to manipulation."

The statement hung between Alexander and Camille like a bridge neither was ready to cross completely. They were talking to each other directly for the first time since their confrontation, but their words carried the weight of everything that had been broken.

Hannah looked up from her computer analysis. "Alexander, James has been monitoring your location through your phone. He knows where you are right now."

"Then he knows I'm working with you instead of against you," Alexander said. "He'll probably try to make contact soon."

Stefan moved his chair closer to Hannah's as she explained her findings, their shoulders touching as they examined the tracking data together. "Look at this pattern," Hannah said, pointing to her screen. "James has been watching all of us for months."

"Not just watching," Stefan corrected, reading over her shoulder. "Planning. These are surveillance schedules for Victoria's hospital visits, Camille's daily routines, even my shipping business activities."

As Stefan leaned closer to study Hannah's analysis, she turned to ask him a question and found their faces inches apart. For a moment, neither moved, the air between them charged with unspoken feelings.

"The tracking data," Hannah said softly, not pulling away, "shows he's been preparing for multiple scenarios."

Stefan's voice was equally quiet. "Including scenarios where we figured out his identity."

Camille noticed their exchange and felt a complicated mix of emotions. Sadness for her own broken marriage, but genuine happiness that Stefan was finding connection with someone who valued his better qualities.

Alexander was so focused on his guilt and the evidence spread before them that he missed the growing intimacy between Stefan and Hannah entirely. His attention remained fixed on Victoria as she continued reading through his files.

"This journal entry from your uncle," Victoria said, holding up a photocopy. "It mentions someone named James providing information about Kane Industries' bidding practices. But the handwriting looks different from Richard's usual style."

Alexander studied the page Victoria indicated. "Different how?"

"More careful. Less emotional than his other entries. As if someone else wrote it, or as if Richard was copying information someone else provided."

Hannah and Stefan worked together to compare the journal entries with samples of Richard Pierce's authenticated handwriting from corporate documents. Their analysis required them to sit close together, sharing documents and pointing out details on the screen.

"The pressure patterns are inconsistent," Hannah observed, her voice taking on the excitement of discovery. "Some entries show the natural variation of someone writing their own thoughts. Others show the careful formation of someone copying text."

Stefan nodded, understanding her analysis immediately. "Which means James was dictating what Richard should write, probably convincing him these were his own insights about Victoria's behavior."

"Exactly," Hannah said, turning to smile at Stefan. "You understand the implications perfectly."

The warmth in Hannah's voice when she spoke to Stefan was obvious to everyone in the room. Alexander finally noticed their connection and felt a stab of recognition - this was how Camille used to look at him when they worked together on projects, before he had destroyed her trust.

"James used the same tactics on both my uncle and me," Alexander said slowly. "He provided information that seemed credible, encouraged us to reach our own conclusions, then gradually guided those conclusions toward hatred of Victoria."