Chapter 182
Chapter 182:
Camille looked down at their joined hands. “Are you ready for this? Once we confirm our relationship publicly, there’s no going back. Every aspect of it will be scrutinized, questioned, analyzed.”
“I’ve spent my entire life in the public eye,” Alexander reminded her. “But this is the first time I’ve had something—someone—worth facing that scrutiny for.” His words warmed her, easing some of the dread that had filled her since seeing those photos. She thought of how far she had come—from a woman broken by betrayal to someone strong enough to stand tall under public scrutiny, to fight for what she valued instead of retreating.
“A press conference, then the gala,” she said. “It’s going to be intense.”
“Good thing we’re both at our best under pressure,” Alexander replied with a hint of a smile.
Outside the office, they could see Hannah approaching with several members of the PR team. The next few hours would be a whirlwind of preparation. But for this moment, Camille allowed herself to feel not just the anger at the violation of her privacy or the worry about Kane Industries’ stock price, but also the certainty that had been growing inside her since that afternoon on Alexander’s yacht.
Some things were worth fighting for. Some connections were too valuable to sacrifice, even in the face of public scandal.
Rose had meant to destroy her by exposing her relationship with Alexander. Instead, she had forced Camille to acknowledge what it truly meant to her, and to defend it, openly and without shame.
As Hannah knocked on the door, Camille squeezed Alexander’s hand once more before letting go. “Let’s show them exactly what they’re up against,” she said quietly.
Together, they rose to meet the storm head-on.
Lights flashed like lightning as Camille and Alexander stepped onto the small stage set up in the Kane Industries media room. The wall behind them displayed both company logos side by side, a visual statement before either of them spoke a word. Dozens of reporters filled the seats, their faces hungry for drama, for weakness, for any hint of shame they could exploit.
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Camille wore a deep blue dress that matched Alexander’s tie, a deliberate choice. Her heart hammered against her ribs, but her face remained calm and poised. Only Alexander could feel the slight tremor in her hand as he helped her to the podium.
“Thank you all for coming on such short notice,” she began, her voice steady despite the storm inside her. “I know there has been considerable speculation today regarding my relationship with Alexander Pierce following the publication of certain photographs.”
The cameras clicked furiously. In the front row, she spotted Malcolm Reed from the New York Spectator, the man who had published those intimate photos from the yacht. He watched her with calculating eyes, no doubt hoping for signs of distress he could feature in tomorrow’s edition.
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