ALLIES AND ENEMIES

Blaine's POV

As Camilla and I made our way down the majestic staircase, a peculiar blend of sentiments overwhelmed me. While I had exercised power over her just last night, embarking on this challenging mission required her faith in me. It was ironic how trust could be so fragile and complicated to mend once broken.

Camilla's voice was steady, but it had an underlying tension to it as she asked, "Where should we begin?"

"Let's head to my study," I suggested, as we discussed the next steps. "Acquiring information is our priority at this point. Identifying Mrs. Bernado's associates could prove essential in resolving this situation completely and understanding their motives."

I gestured for her to take a seat as we stepped into the study. I made my way to my desk and unlocked one of its drawers, retrieving a folder that contained various papers and pictures.

I spread out the contents of my explanation across the desk and conveyed, "These are individuals that Mrs. Bernado has recently bee