Chapter 197
Chapter 197
Camille’s hands shook as she scrolled through her tablet, reading the headlines that had appeared overnight like a nightmare made real. The morning coffee in her cup had gone cold an hour ago, forgotten as crisis after crisis demanded her attention. “SAFETY CONCERNS PLAGUE KANE INDUSTRIES‘ PHOENIX GRID PROJECT”
“ANONYMOUS SOURCES REVEAL CORNER–CUTTING IN CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE”
“IS KANE INDUSTRIES HIDING DANGEROUS FLAWS IN THEIR EXPANSION PLANS?”
Each headline was a dagger to the heart, each article more damaging than the last. Someone was feeding the financial press a steady stream of poison, and Kane Industries was dying from a thousand cuts.
Alexander entered their bedroom carrying fresh coffee, his face carefully arranged in an expression of concern and support. ” Any updates from the crisis management team?”
Camille looked up at him with red–rimmed eyes. She hadn’t slept in thirty–six hours, and exhaustion was written across every line of her face. “It’s getting worse. Three more articles went live in the past hour.”
She handed him the tablet, watching as he read the latest attack. The Financial Times had published a piece titled “Kane Industries: Built on Questionable Foundations?” that cited unnamed internal sources claiming safety protocols had been ignored during Phoenix Grid construction.
“Anonymous sources,” Alexander said, shaking his head with what appeared to be disgust. “Cowards hiding behind reporters while they destroy your reputation.”
“The stock opened down another four points,” Camille said, her voice barely above a whisper. “At this rate, we’ll lose twenty percent of our value by the end of the week.”
Alexander sat on the edge of the bed, reaching for her hand. Her fingers were ice cold, trembling with stress and caffeine and fear. “We’ll get through this. Kane Industries is stronger than these attacks.”
“Is it?” Camille’s voice cracked. “Alex, what if they’re right? What if there really are safety issues we missed?”
The doubt in her voice was like acid eating away at Alexander’s chest. He had started this campaign to destroy Victoria Kane, but watching it tear apart the woman he loved was agony beyond anything he had imagined.
“You know better than that,” he said softly. “You’ve personally overseen every aspect of the Phoenix Grid. Your safety standards exceed federal requirements.”
“Then why won’t these stories stop?” Camille pulled her hand away, standing abruptly to pace across their bedroom. “Someone is feeding reporters information about our internal processes. Details that only employees would know.”
Alexander’s pulse quickened. “Have you considered the possibility of corporate espionage? Competitors trying to steal market share?”
“Victoria thinks it’s more personal than that.” Camille stopped pacing, turning to face him. “She thinks someone with intimate knowledge of Kane Industries is orchestrating these attacks.”
The words hit Alexander like physical blows. Victoria’s suspicions were growing stronger, more focused. How long before her investigation led her to the truth?
“What does Victoria plan to do?” he asked, keeping his voice neutral.
“Increase internal security. Review all employee access logs. Investigate anyone who might have motive to company.” Camille’s eyes were haunted. “She’s turning Kane Industries into a fortress.”
age the
Alexander nodded sympathetically while his mind raced through the implications. Victoria’s investigation would eventually uncover his digital footprints, his connections to “Guardian,” his late–night visits to Kane Industries buildings. The net was
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closing around him.
“I should get to the office,” Camille said, moving toward their walk–in closet. “The board meeting starts in an hour, and I need to prepare damage control strategies.”
Alexander watched her disappear into the closet, listening to the sounds of hangers sliding across rods as she selected another armor of corporate confidence. When she emerged wearing a sharp navy suit, she looked every inch the powerful CEO. But he could see the fear lurking behind her professional mask.
“I’ll make some calls,” Alexander offered. “Pierce Enterprises has relationships with several financial journalists. Maybe I can provide counter–narratives to balance the negative coverage.”
Camille’s face lit up with gratitude. “Would you? That would be incredible.”
Alexander kissed her forehead, tasting the salt of perspiration from her restless night. “Anything for you. We’re partners in everything, remember?” 1
The lie burned his throat as he spoke it. Partners didn’t destroy each other’s companies. Partners didn’t orchestrate campaigns of character assassination against their spouse’s family. Partners didn’t wake up each morning planning new ways to inflict maximum damage on the person they claimed to love.
After Camille left for Kane Industries, Alexander retreated to his home office and opened his secure laptop. Three new messages from “Guardian” waited in his encrypted folder, each containing more ammunition for their war against Victoria Kane.
The first message included transcripts of internal Kane Industries meetings from fifteen years ago, discussing strategies for neutralizing competitive threats” in the clean energy sector. The second contained financial records showing unusual payments to private investigators shortly before Richard Pierce’s suicide. The third was the most damaging – a recording of Victoria’s voice from a board meeting, describing the need to “destroy Richard Pierce’s credibility before he destroys us.”
Alexander stared at the evidence, his uncle’s death suddenly feeling immediate and raw again. Victoria Kane had ordered his uncle’s destruction with the casual brutality of a general commanding an execution. These weren’t business decisions – they were acts of deliberate cruelty designed to break a man’s spirit.
He typed a response to “Guardian“: *Received all files. Preparing next phase of media releases. How soon can we move on the safety records?*
The reply came within minutes: *Safety documentation ready for release tomorrow. This will be the killing blow. Kane Industries won’t survive allegations of covering up structural flaws in the Phoenix Grid.*
Alexander closed the laptop, satisfaction and guilt warring in his chest. Tomorrow’s revelations would destroy Kane Industries‘ reputation completely. The Phoenix Grid expansion would be canceled. Billions in investor confidence would evaporate. Victoria Kane’s empire would crumble exactly as she had crumbled his uncle’s company fifteen years ago.
But Camille would be destroyed in the process. Her life’s work, her dreams, her identity as a successful CEO – all of it would burn in the fire Alexander had started.
He walked to his office window, looking out at the Manhattan skyline. Somewhere in that forest of steel and glass, Camille was fighting desperately to save her company. She was fielding angry calls from investors, crafting press releases to counter negative coverage, holding emergency meetings to address safety concerns that existed only in Alexander’s imagination.
His phone buzzed with a text from her: *Board meeting was brutal Lost two major investors. Stock down six percent and falling. Thank you for being my rock through this nightmare.*
Alexander stared at the message, her trust and gratitude cutting through him like knives. She believed he was supporting her. She had no idea he was the architect of her destruction.
He typed back: *I’m here for you always. We’ll get through this together.*
Another lie to add to the pile. Another betrayal disguised as love.
Alexander’s secure phone rang. “Guardian” calling on the encrypted line.
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“The next batch of stories goes live at midnight,” came the familiar voice. “Financial blogs, industry publications, even mainstream news outlets. By tomorrow morning, Kane Industries will be facing questions about fundamental safety flaws in the Phoenix Grid.”
“And the evidence?” Alexander asked.
“Doctored, but convincing. Anonymous whistleblower claims, fabricated inspection reports, manufactured safety violations. Nothing that can be definitively traced back to us, but damaging enough to destroy investor confidence completely.”
Alexander closed his eyes, seeing Camille’s exhausted face in his mind. “What about collateral damage? Innocent employees who will lose their jobs?”
“Casualties of war,” Guardian replied coldly. “Your uncle was innocent too. The three workers who died in that factory explosion were innocent. Victoria Kane doesn’t concern herself with collateral damage – why should we?”
The logic was sound, but it felt hollow in Alexander’s chest. Richard Pierce had been one man. The coming destruction of Kane Industries would affect thousands of employees, millions of customers, entire cities depending on the Phoenix Grid for clean energy.
“Second thoughts?” Guardian asked, reading the silence.
“No,” Alexander said, though the word tasted like ashes. “Victoria Kane has to pay for what she did.”
“Good. Tomorrow we finish what she started fifteen years ago. Justice for Richard Pierce.”
After ending the call, Alexander sat in his office as evening shadows lengthened across the floor. In a few hours, Camille would come home exhausted and defeated, seeking comfort in his arms. He would hold her while she cried about the company’s declining stock price. He would whisper reassurances while her world collapsed around her.
And tomorrow, when the final wave of attacks hit Kane Industries, she would turn to him for strength and support, never knowing that her husband was the enemy who had orchestrated her downfall.
Alexander opened his desk drawer and pulled out a framed photo from their wedding day. Camille looked radiant in her white dress, her face glowing with joy and hope for their future together. Victoria stood beside her, proud and protective, the mother she had chosen over the parents who had failed her.
Two women who trusted him completely. Two women whose lives he was systematically destroying.
Alexander traced Camille’s face in the photograph with his finger, wondering if she would ever forgive him when the truth finally came out. Wondering if he would be able to forgive himself.
Tomorrow would bring the final assault. Tomorrow would see Kane Industries‘ reputation destroyed beyond repair. Tomorrow would deliver justice for Richard Pierce.
But tonight, Alexander Pierce sat alone in his office, mourning the death of the man he used to be and the marriage he was about to destroy with his own hands.
The photograph stared back at him, capturing a moment of perfect happiness that would soon be nothing but a memory. A reminder of what love looked like before it was poisoned by the need for revenge.
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Chapter 198
