Chapter 4: The First Strike

Isabella sat in her study, the flash drive Alexander had given her resting on the table. She twirled a glass of wine in her hand, her eyes fixed on the small device that could crumble Ryan’s empire. It felt surreal to hold so much power in her hands, a power she once thought she’d never possess again.

The events of the gala replayed in her mind—the looks on Ryan’s and Sophia’s faces, the palpable tension, and Alexander’s calculated moves. The way he had referred to her as his associate still lingered. For the first time in a long time, she felt like an equal in this game of power and deception.

But there was no room for hesitation now. She plugged the flash drive into her laptop, and within seconds, a series of encrypted files appeared. Alexander had been thorough, as always.

The documents revealed Ryan’s extensive embezzlement schemes, falsified contracts, and shady offshore accounts. Isabella’s lips curled into a satisfied smile. This wasn’t just dirt; it was a treasure trove of evidence that could ruin Ryan in both his personal and professional life.

Her phone buzzed, snapping her out of her thoughts. It was Alexander.

“Did you look at the files?” he asked, his voice steady but with an undertone of urgency.

“I did,” Isabella replied. “You weren’t exaggerating. This is enough to bury him.”

“It’s a start,” Alexander said. “But if we’re going to play this game, we need to do it strategically. One wrong move, and he’ll retaliate.”

Isabella leaned back in her chair, staring at the ceiling. “What’s the next step?”

Alexander paused for a moment. “Leak one of the smaller scandals. Something damaging but not devastating. Let him squirm a little. Once he’s off balance, we’ll hit him where it hurts the most.”

The following morning, Isabella called her trusted confidant and childhood friend, Natalie Hayes. Natalie was a brilliant journalist who had a reputation for exposing corruption, and she owed Isabella a favor.

“Isabella!” Natalie’s voice was warm and familiar. “It’s been too long. To what do I owe this call?”

“I have a story for you,” Isabella said, her tone serious. “One that could make headlines for weeks.”

Natalie’s curiosity was piqued. “I’m listening.”

Isabella outlined the details of one of Ryan’s smaller embezzlement schemes, careful not to reveal too much. Natalie, ever the professional, took meticulous notes.

“This is explosive,” Natalie said when Isabella finished. “Are you sure you want to go public with this?”

“Absolutely,” Isabella replied. “But I want you to keep my involvement under wraps for now. This is just the beginning.”

Natalie promised to handle it discreetly, and they ended the call. Isabella felt a sense of satisfaction. The first strike had been set in motion.

Meanwhile, Ryan sat in his luxurious office, completely oblivious to the storm brewing around him. He leaned back in his chair, scrolling through potential investment opportunities, when his assistant, Ethan, burst through the door.

“Sir, we have a problem,” Ethan said, looking flustered.

Ryan frowned. “What kind of problem?”

Ethan handed him a tablet. “This.”

Ryan’s eyes widened as he read the headline: “CEO Ryan Everett Accused of Misappropriating Funds – Anonymous Source Reveals the Truth.”

The article was damning. It detailed a specific instance of Ryan funneling company money into a personal account, complete with documents to back up the claims.

“Who the hell leaked this?” Ryan growled, slamming the tablet onto his desk.

“We don’t know yet,” Ethan said nervously. “But the board is already asking questions. Investors are threatening to pull out if we don’t issue a statement.”

Ryan clenched his fists. This couldn’t be a coincidence. Someone was targeting him. But who?

His thoughts immediately turned to Isabella. Could she have done this? No, it wasn’t possible. She didn’t have the resources or the connections to pull off something like this.

Or did she?

Across town, Isabella watched the news coverage with a satisfied smile. Natalie had done an excellent job. The story was already gaining traction, and Ryan’s name was being dragged through the mud.

Her phone buzzed again. It was Alexander.

“Looks like the story’s out,” he said. “Nicely done.”

“Thank you,” Isabella replied. “Now we wait and see how he reacts.”

Alexander chuckled. “Oh, he’ll react. Men like Ryan always do. Just be ready for his counterattack.”

“I’ve been ready for this for years,” Isabella said, her voice filled with determination.

That evening, Ryan paced his penthouse, his mind racing. He had underestimated Isabella, and now he was paying the price. But he wasn’t going down without a fight.

He grabbed his phone and called Sophia. “I need you to dig up everything you can on Isabella. I don’t care what it is—family secrets, scandals, anything. Find something I can use against her.”

Sophia hesitated. “Ryan, are you sure about this? What if this backfires?”

“Just do it!” Ryan snapped. “I won’t let her ruin me.”

As Sophia reluctantly agreed, Ryan poured himself a glass of whiskey. If Isabella wanted war, he would give her one.

Later that night, Isabella received an unexpected email. It was from an anonymous sender, and the subject line read: “You’re playing with fire.”

The message was brief but chilling: “You think you can take him down? Think again. You have no idea what you’re up against.”

Isabella’s blood ran cold. Was this Ryan’s doing? Or was there another player in the game?

As she stared at the screen, a mix of fear and determination filled her. Whoever sent the email clearly didn’t know her well. She wasn’t backing down, not now, not ever.