Chapter 4: The First Move
The next morning, Allison woke up early, her mind already racing with plans. She had spent the night piecing together the evidence she had gathered, connecting the dots between Colton’s meetings, Project Phoenix, and the shadowy figures he was working with. It was a dangerous game, but she was ready to make her first move.
She dressed quickly, opting for a sharp, professional look—a white blouse, tailored pants, and a blazer. Her hair was pulled back into a sleek ponytail, and she wore minimal makeup, just enough to look polished. Today wasn’t about blending in; it was about making a statement.
Her first stop was the offices of The Daily Beacon, one of the city’s most reputable newspapers. She had arranged a meeting with one of their top investigative journalists, a woman named Rachel Hayes. Rachel had a reputation for digging deep and exposing corruption, and Allison knew she was the perfect person to help bring Colton’s secrets to light.
The newsroom was bustling when Allison arrived, the sound of keyboards clacking and phones ringing filling the air. Rachel greeted her with a firm handshake and led her to a quiet corner where they could talk.
“Thanks for meeting me,” Allison said, getting straight to the point. “I have something big, and I need your help to expose it.”
Rachel raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Go on.”
Allison handed over a flash drive containing copies of the files she had uncovered. “This is just the beginning. Colton Stevens—yes, that Colton Stevens—is involved in a massive corruption scheme. He’s smuggling weapons and sensitive technology out of the country under the guise of a project called Phoenix. And he’s not working alone.”
Rachel plugged the flash drive into her laptop, her eyes widening as she scanned the documents. “This is… explosive. If this is true, it could bring down some very powerful people.”
“It’s true,” Allison said firmly. “And there’s more. I’m still gathering evidence, but I need this story out there before it’s too late.”
Rachel nodded, her expression serious. “I’ll start working on this right away. But you need to be careful. If Colton finds out you’re behind this, he won’t hesitate to come after you.”
“I know,” Allison replied. “But I’m not afraid of him anymore.”
After leaving the newspaper office, Allison’s next stop was the Stevens Corporation headquarters. She had no intention of confronting Colton directly—not yet—but she needed to see the lay of the land. The building was a towering glass structure in the heart of the city, a symbol of the Stevens family’s wealth and power.
She walked into the lobby, her confidence unwavering. The receptionist glanced up, her eyes widening in recognition. “Mrs. Stevens? I mean, Ms. Clarke? What are you doing here?”
“Just here to pick up a few personal items,” Allison said smoothly, flashing a polite smile. “I won’t be long.”
The receptionist hesitated but didn’t stop her. Allison took the elevator to the executive floor, her heart pounding as she stepped into the familiar surroundings. The last time she had been here, she had been Colton’s wife, playing the part of the dutiful spouse. Now, she was here as something else entirely—a woman on a mission.
She made her way to Colton’s office, her steps deliberate. The door was slightly ajar, and she could hear voices inside. She paused, listening.
“We need to move faster,” Colton was saying, his voice tense. “If anyone finds out about Phoenix, we’re finished.”
“We’re doing everything we can,” another voice replied—a man Allison didn’t recognize. “But we’re running into some roadblocks. Someone’s been poking around, asking questions.”
Allison’s breath caught. They were onto her. She needed to be careful.
She slipped away before anyone could spot her, her mind racing. She had to stay one step ahead of Colton, but she also needed to keep pushing. The stakes were too high to back down now.
That evening, Allison returned to Starfish Villas, her nerves on edge. She had made her first move, but the game was far from over. As she sat at her desk, her laptop open in front of her, she received a message from Marcus.
“We’ve got a problem. Colton’s people are closing in. You need to lay low for a while.”
Allison frowned, her fingers hovering over the keyboard. She couldn’t stop now—not when she was so close. But Marcus was right. She needed to be smart about this.
She typed a quick reply: “Understood. But I’m not backing down.”
As she closed her laptop, she glanced out the window at the city skyline. Somewhere out there, Colton was plotting his next move, unaware of the storm that was coming for him.
Allison smiled to herself, a glint of determination in her eyes. “You think you’re untouchable, Colton,” she murmured. “But you’re about to find out just how wrong you are.”
The game was far from over, and Allison was just getting started.