Chapter 380
Chapter 380:
Victoria gestured to the chair across from her desk. “Sit down, Camille. I have news.”
Camille’s face tightened with worry. She had seen Victoria through months of treatment, watching her mentor grow thinner, her legendary energy dimming. Though Victoria had never admitted the severity of her condition, Camille had researched enough to understand what stage four pancreatic cancer typically meant.
“Your doctors…” she began, preparing for the worst.
“My doctors,” Victoria interrupted, “are rather surprised.” She pulled out the folder containing her latest scan results. “The treatment is working. The tumors have shrunk significantly.”
Camille’s eyes widened as she processed this unexpected turn. “That’s… that’s wonderful news.”
“Indeed.” Victoria’s tone remained businesslike, though her eyes had softened. “Dr. Winters now speaks of years rather than months. Good quality years,” she emphasized.
The relief that spread across Camille’s face touched something deep inside Victoria. In all her life, how many people had genuinely cared whether she lived or died? The number was painfully small.
“I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that,” Camille said, her voice thick with emotion.
Victoria nodded, unused to navigating such personal waters. “It changes things,” she said. “And yet, in some ways, it changes nothing.”
Camille looked puzzled. “What do you mean?”
Victoria stood and walked to the windows, needing the movement to order her thoughts.
“When I thought I was dying imminently,” she said, “I made certain decisions about my legacy. About Kane Industries. About you…”
Camille remained silent, waiting.
“I’ve spent decades building this company,” Victoria continued. “Every waking hour dedicated to making it stronger, larger, more profitable. More mine.” She turned to face Camille. “I thought I would die with my hand still on the controls.”
“And now?” Camille asked softly.
“Now I find I don’t want that ending, even if it’s delayed.” Victoria returned to her desk and opened a drawer. From it, she withdrew a thick document bound in leather. “This is my revised will and succession plan for Kane Industries.” She pushed it across the desk toward Camille, who made no move to take it.
“Open it,” Victoria directed.
Camille carefully lifted the cover, her eyes scanning the first page. Her breath caught as she read.
“You’re stepping down?” she asked, looking up sharply. “Effective immediately?”
Victoria nodded once. “I’m stepping back from daily operations. I’ll retain my place on the board, but yes, I’m stepping down as CEO.”
“But why now? Especially with your health improving…”
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