Chapter 3: The Game Begins
The sun was just beginning to rise as Allison stepped out of the unmarked building, the cool morning air brushing against her face. The night had been long, but she felt more alive than she had in years. Cobweb’s mission was underway, and she was at the helm. Colton Stevens, the man who had once been her everything, was now her target. The irony wasn’t lost on her.
She made her way back to Starfish Villas, her mind racing with plans and strategies. The villa was quiet, the stillness a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. She poured herself a cup of coffee and sat at the desk, her laptop open in front of her. The screen was filled with lines of code, surveillance feeds, and encrypted messages—all pieces of the puzzle she was determined to solve.
As she worked, her phone buzzed. It was a message from Marcus: “We’ve got a lead. Colton’s been meeting with a known informant. Address sent. Proceed with caution.”
Allison’s fingers flew across the keyboard as she pulled up the address. It was a high-end hotel downtown, the kind of place Colton frequented for business meetings. She smirked. Of course, he wouldn’t be slumming it in some shady alley. Colton always had a taste for the finer things.
She changed into a sleek, professional outfit—a tailored blazer, dark jeans, and heels. Her hair was styled to perfection, her makeup subtle but striking. She looked every bit the confident, powerful woman she was. The timid housewife was gone, replaced by someone far more dangerous.
The hotel lobby was bustling with activity when Allison arrived. She walked in with purpose, her eyes scanning the room. It didn’t take long to spot Colton. He was seated in a corner booth, deep in conversation with a man she didn’t recognize. The informant, no doubt.
Allison approached the bar, ordering a drink and positioning herself so she could observe them without being seen. She pulled out her phone, pretending to scroll through messages while discreetly snapping photos of the meeting. Every detail mattered—the documents on the table, the expressions on their faces, the way Colton leaned in, his voice low and urgent.
As she watched, a familiar figure entered the lobby. Melany Johnson. Of course, she would be here. Allison’s jaw tightened as Melany made her way to Colton’s table, her smile bright and practiced. She kissed Colton on the cheek before sitting down, her presence instantly shifting the dynamic of the conversation.
Allison’s grip on her phone tightened. Melany had always been good at playing the part—the perfect fiancée, the perfect daughter-in-law, the perfect everything. But Allison knew better. Melany was a snake, charming on the surface but venomous underneath.
She finished her drink and stood, slipping out of the lobby before anyone could notice her. She had what she needed for now. The next step was to dig deeper, to uncover the full extent of Colton’s dealings and expose him for the fraud he was.
Back at the villa, Allison got to work. She hacked into Colton’s personal accounts, bypassing firewalls and encryption with ease. The files she uncovered were damning—financial records, secret meetings, and communications with shady figures. Colton wasn’t just leaking classified information; he was involved in a web of corruption that went far deeper than she had imagined.
As she sifted through the data, a notification popped up on her screen. It was an email from Colton’s assistant, sent earlier that morning. The subject line caught her attention: “Project Phoenix—Final Approval.”
Allison clicked on the email, her eyes scanning the contents. Project Phoenix was a covert operation, one that involved smuggling weapons and sensitive technology out of the country. Colton wasn’t just a pawn in this game—he was the mastermind.
Her heart raced as she realized the magnitude of what she had uncovered. This wasn’t just about revenge anymore. This was about stopping something far bigger, something that could have devastating consequences if left unchecked.
She leaned back in her chair, her mind racing. She needed to act fast, but she couldn’t do it alone. Cobweb would help, but she had to be careful. One wrong move, and Colton would catch on. And if he did, there was no telling what he might do.
Later that evening, Allison sat on the balcony, a glass of wine in hand. The city lights sparkled in the distance, a reminder of the world she had once been a part of—and the world she was about to reclaim. She thought about Colton, about the boy who had saved her all those years ago. That boy was gone, replaced by a man who had betrayed her in the worst possible way.
But she wasn’t the same either. The woman who had once loved him blindly was gone, replaced by someone stronger, sharper, and unafraid to fight for what was right.
“You made your choice, Colton,” she murmured, raising her glass to the night sky. “Now it’s my turn.”
The game had begun, and Allison was ready to play. This time, she wouldn’t lose.