Chapter 186
Chapter 186:
“Rose wanted to use our relationship to destroy me. To remind everyone of how foolish I was the first time around.”
“Instead, you showed them how much you’ve grown,” Alexander said, coming to stand beside her. “How much stronger you’ve become.”
Camille nodded. “Rose never understood that the difference between then and now isn’t just about who I’m with. It’s about who I am.”
Outside the office, Hannah approached with fresh news. “The phones won’t stop ringing. Every major outlet is praising your handling of the situation. Some are even suggesting the leaked photos were designed to damage you because of the success of the Phoenix Grid.”
“Keep that narrative going,” Camille instructed. “The focus should be on our companies’ innovations, not our personal lives.”
“Already happening,” Hannah confirmed, showing them a new headline from CNBC: Relationship Announcement Coincides with Phoenix Grid Expansion, Coincidence or Strategic?
Alexander read it and laughed. “They think we leaked the photos ourselves as a publicity stunt for the Grid.”
“Better than the alternative,” Camille observed.
Her phone buzzed again with more messages—board members expressing support, business associates offering encouragement. The tide was turning visibly with each passing minute.
One message, from a number she didn’t recognize, simply read: This isn’t over.
Camille showed it to Alexander, who frowned. “Rose?”
“Probably,” she agreed, handing the phone to Hannah. “Trace this if possible.”
As the afternoon progressed, the positive response continued to build. Financial analysts began speculating about potential collaborations between Kane Industries and Pierce Enterprises. Social media users created supportive hashtags that quickly trended. Entertainment sites ran glowing pieces about New York’s Most Powerful Couple.
By evening, Kane Industries stock had not only recovered its losses but gained additional points. Pierce Enterprises was similarly thriving. What had been intended as a destructive scandal had transformed into a publicity windfall for both companies.
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“We should head to the gala soon,” Alexander reminded her as the workday came to a close. The Hamilton Foundation Gala, their first public appearance as an acknowledged couple, awaited them.
Before leaving, Camille paused at her desk, looking at a notification that had just appeared on her screen. A new article from the New York Spectator, Malcolm Reed’s publication that had broken the yacht photos earlier that morning.
The headline read: Kane and Pierce: A Modern Business Romance That Defies Convention.
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