Chapter 4 - Camila’s Version of the Future
Camila Reyes did not consider herself cruel.
She considered herself realistic.
She had spent her childhood watching her mother work two jobs while wealthy families treated money as though it appeared naturally in their accounts. Camila learned early that talent mattered less than access, and access belonged to whoever was bold enough to take it.
By twenty-eight, she had built a career around identifying weakness.
Distressed companies.
Insecure executives.
Families divided by inheritance.
Julian Mercer was not difficult to understand.
He wanted to be admired for escaping poverty, yet he had married into a family whose name remained attached to every accomplishment. Whenever an article described Mercer Vale Holdings as the company founded by Evelyn’s father, Julian became cold and restless.
Camila noticed.
She began praising the decisions others questioned.
When Julian proposed rapid expansion, she called it visionary. When Evelyn urged caution, Camila described her as emotionally attached to outdated traditions.
At first, Julian defended his wife.
Then he stopped.
The affair began during a conference in Boston.
Julian came to Camila’s suite after midnight, claiming he wanted to discuss an investor presentation. They talked for nearly two hours before he admitted he felt trapped inside a marriage that had become a business arrangement.
Camila listened.
She knew Evelyn still sent him handwritten notes before important meetings. She knew Evelyn defended his compensation package during a difficult shareholder vote. She knew the story of a cold marriage was convenient.
But convenience was often more useful than truth.
Julian kissed her.
The next morning, he apologized.
That evening, he returned.
Within weeks, Camila began speaking about a future together.
Julian never promised to leave Evelyn directly. He used softer language.
After Bellweather.
When the company is stable.
Once the trust issue is resolved.
Camila understood what he meant.
He wanted Evelyn’s power removed before he removed Evelyn.
The Northstar scheme had begun before the affair, though Julian did not know its full purpose.
Camila created the company to collect inflated consulting fees. She produced enough research to make the invoices appear legitimate, then used the remaining money to build her private reserve.
When Ashbourne approached her for information about Mercer Vale’s acquisition strategy, she saw a larger opportunity.
She did not initially tell Julian.
She leaked minor details, then watched Ashbourne adjust its position. Each successful transfer increased her confidence.
Eventually, Julian discovered that she had access to information she should not have possessed.
Instead of reporting her, he demanded an explanation.
Camila told him Ashbourne wanted to lose.
According to her story, Ashbourne was using false bids to frighten Mercer Vale into overpaying. She claimed her private contact allowed them to predict the rival’s strategy.
Julian believed her because believing her made him feel clever.
He gave her access to his executive account so she could monitor documents and respond quickly during negotiations.
“The board would panic if they knew,” he warned.
“The board panics whenever you lead,” she replied.
He smiled.
That smile told her she had won.
By the week of the retreat, Camila had prepared the final move.
Ashbourne would receive Mercer Vale’s maximum offer. It would submit a higher bid, forcing Mercer Vale either to withdraw or to exceed the amount approved by the board.
If Julian exceeded the limit and still won, Camila would blame the board for restricting him.
If Mercer Vale lost, Julian would use the failure to demand emergency voting authority.
Either outcome would weaken Evelyn.
Camila planned to leave Mercer Vale within a year with enough money and shares to begin her own investment firm.
She did not truly want Julian forever.
She wanted what standing beside Julian could provide.
The countryside estate felt like a preview of the life she deserved.
The guest bedroom contained hand-carved furniture, countryside views, and fresh flowers arranged beneath tall windows. Julian complained that the room was too rustic. Camila loved it.
At dinner, Evelyn sat beside Arthur Hale and discussed employee pension reform. She seemed calm, almost detached.
Camila interpreted that calm as weakness.
After midnight, Julian came to the guest bedroom carrying the confidential acquisition folder. He placed it beside the bed and opened his laptop.
Camila waited until he entered the bathroom.
Then she accessed his account.
At 2:41 A.M., she transmitted the final acquisition ceiling to her Ashbourne contact.
At 2:46, the contact confirmed that the rival bid had been changed.
At 2:52, a courier delivered the final cash installment through the estate’s service entrance.
Camila placed the money beside the folder while she counted it.
Julian emerged from the bathroom and froze.
“What is that?”
“A private investment return.”
“In cash?”
“My client values discretion.”
Julian stared at the stacks.
“You cannot leave that here.”
“I will move it in the morning.”
He was tired and had consumed too much wine. Camila kissed him before he could ask further questions.
Soon he was asleep.
Camila remained awake, watching the darkness beyond the windows.
She thought about Evelyn in the main house.
The perfect wife.
The respected daughter.
The woman who had inherited power Camila had spent her entire life pursuing.
An impulse rose inside her.
She wanted Evelyn to know.
Not eventually.
Now.
Camila raised her phone and angled it carefully.
Her face filled most of the frame. Julian slept behind her.
She gave the camera a small, victorious smile.
She did not notice that the acquisition folder remained visible.
She did not notice the folded cash.
She did not notice that the ceramic lamp illuminated the handwritten note from Ashbourne.
Camila took the photograph.
She opened Evelyn’s contact and typed a message.
Let’s see how the perfect wife handles this.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
For one brief second, she considered waiting until morning.
Then she imagined Evelyn waking alone, seeing the image, and finally understanding that Julian had chosen someone else.
Camila pressed send.
Three dots appeared beneath the message.
Evelyn was typing.
Then the dots vanished.
No reply came.
Camila smiled.
May you like
She assumed silence meant devastation.
She did not understand that Evelyn was enlarging the background of the photograph.
