Chapter 6

It was time to make my first move. i knew Jamie too well— his buisness, his clients, his connections, and even his deepest weaknesses. And if he thought he could ruin me, he had no idea what I was capable of. 

When a woman wants to ruin you, she will stop at nothing to succeed. 

I held a masters degree in both business management and finance. For years, i had used that knowledge to help Jamie build his empire. But now, I would use it to take away everything from him. I might have been naive before but I was far from stupid. 

I sat at the desk in my room. With great care and full attention to details, I carefully mapped out my strategy. I listed his top clients, buisness partners and industry rivals. Names that held the power to either sustain him or break him. And then, I moved in to analyzed his company’s financial structure, taking note of every weakness he tried to hide. Connection and key players, buisness secrets, public perception and even his personal flaws— I documented it all, every single one of it that I knew of. 

When I was done, a wave of satisfaction surged through me. The time had come, the time for me to prove myself as worthy, the time for me to restore my dignity and I wasn’t going to hold back, not now. Not ever. 

I walked to my wardrobe to pick out a dress. I wanted a dress that embodied everything I was about to become— powerful, sophisticated, confident and dangerous. A black dress. Jamie had gotten it for me, everything seemed to remind me of him, the time he was the sweetest man I thought I will ever know. I had kept it for a special occasion, I reached for it and I stared at it for a moment. I felt a deep sense of satisfaction. This was it. 

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“Hey baby, I got you a suprise” Jamie voice rang through the bedroom as he walked in. A shopping bag In his right hand. His smile was warm— the smile that once made my heart flutter. 

I stood up, my body was filled with excitement “welcome back baby” I kissed him and collected the bag from him. 

I opened it in a hurry and my eyes widened. A black dress, it was sleek, elegant and perfect. Tears welled up In my eyes. 

“It’s so beautiful” I said turning to face him.

“Only the best for my wife” Jamie chuckled. 

He never ceased to amaze me back then. 

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But I knew better now, that love was never going to last. 

I stood in front of the mirror, slipping into the fabric. It clung to my body perfectly, enhancing my every curve. I reached for a blonde wig and a red lipstick. Perfect. 

“Put on a red lipstick if you want to be in control”. 

I had seen that line in a movie and today I had made it my reality. One last look at myself in the mirror and I whispered: 

“shits about to get real.” 

I used my fingers to look through my target list and my hand stopped. Harrington— Johnny Harrington. 

He was tall, broad shouldered and impeccably dressed. He carried himself with the kind of effortless arrogance that came from being born into wealth knowing he would never lose it. His sharp blue eyes were always cold and calculating, sweeping over people like they were mere numbers on a balance sheet— assets to be used, liabilities to be discarded. His aura was intimidating— But not to me, I am Susan— Susan Blackwell. 

I was going to go for him and i knew just where to find him. The bar— he was almost always there. Life of a single business who barely had any work to do. 

Few minutes later i had arrived at the bar. The bar was dimly lit, filled with people murmuring about business deals, broken promises, and silent betrayals. As I walked in, The scent of expensive whiskey and desperation hit me. I sat at the counter, my fingers nervously tracing the body of my untouched glass of liqueur. I wasn’t here to drink, I was here to make a move. And then I felt it, the atmosphere had changed. 

A slow but deliberate presence slid into the seat next to me, his aura of authority didn’t go unnoticed. His presence was suffocating and it demanded acknowledgment but I didn’t flinch. I didn’t have to look to know who it was— Johhy Harrington— the man of the hour, the man that I had come for. 

“Drinking alone?” His voice was smooth but laced with something— mockery. He used the kind of tone that made people feel small. 

I turned to face him, my red lips curled into a smirk “Observant… 

But then you strike me as a man who notices everything.” 

He leaned back, his eyes were cool as he looked at me from up to down, accessing me. “I only notice things that matter”. His eyes moved to my untouched drink. “ So tell me, Susan… what exactly are you waiting for?” 

I looked straight into his eyes, my expression, stern and unwavering. “An opportunity” 

“Interesting” he said as a smirk formed at the corner of his lips. “And here I was thinking I was the only one in this bar who came looking for one”. 

I lifted my glass and took a sip, the liqueur burned my throat, and I enjoyed how the warmth burned through my body. I knew what this man was— a man who played the game without mercy and right now, that’s exactly what I needed right now. 

There was a moment of silence but his eyes never left me, he watched my every move, as I drank from my glass of liqueur. The silence became unbearable. 

“You know” I began with intentions of breaking the silence between us. “There’s more to tonight than an idle conversation”

He raised an eyebrow smiling. “Oh? And what might that be Susan?”

“I have a proposal— a mutually beneficial arrangement,” I said with confidence as I dropped my glass. “One that could reshape both our future. You see, while you grow on control and power, I’ve learned a few things about destroying those who believe they’re untouchable.” 

Johhy narrowed his gaze, he was intrigued. “Go on”

“I know Jamie. I know every secret, every weakness of his empire. I want to propose a deal— an alliance. I’ll help you bring down his business piece by piece, and in return, I want you to let me manage your company’s finances.” My voice grew more confident with each word that came out of my mouth. 

He laughed. “How am I supposed to trust you, you’re his wi—“

“Ex-wife” I cut him, “soon to be his ex-wife” 

“Give me two months. I’ll prove that my expertise can not only stabilize your numbers but also improve them”

“That’s a big request you’re asking for. I should put my company at such risk because you’re trying to seek revenge? what if doesn’t work out the way you planned it in your head” he said 

“Give me a chance, if it doesn’t work out, I’d pay you 2 billion dollars in cash as compensation for your company’s finances,” I said sounding more confident.

He regarded me silently for a moment, he leaned forward. “And what do you offer in return, aside from taking down Jamie.” 

A small calculated smile formed on my lips. “A contract marriage.” I paused, giving him time to register what I had just thrown at him. “A union on paper for now— strictly business. Where our partnership is formalized, but discreet. We keep it lowkey until it’s the right time” 

The corners of mouth twitched into a smile, a mixture of approval and amusement. “A contract marriage, you say?. You’re asking me to risk my reputation for a financial gamble.” 

“Not a risk” I said firmly, “but an investment. Jamie’s downfall is not just about revenge, it’s about reclaiming power. I promise you that you’ll see improvements in your company’s performance within two months. And as for the marriage— think of it as a strategic combination of resources and influence.” 

Johnny didn’t say a word, he is a businessman and he knew that this was a really good deal, something that wouldn’t come on an ordinary day. But today was his lucky day. The air around us was thick with unspoken promises and the thrill of dangerous possibilities. 

Finally, he nodded slowly. “Alright, Susan. You have yourself a deal. But remember— this partnership is a battlefield, and I play to win, I’ve never lost and you’re not going to make me have my first.” 

Satisfaction filled my eyes, it was easier than I thought it’d be. “Then let the game begin”