Chapter 3: The First Move

The morning after the dinner with Ethan, Serena awoke with the same cold determination that had fueled her the night before. The hours of sleep had been minimal, but the adrenaline coursing through her veins kept her mind sharp. Today would be the beginning of Ethan’s downfall, but she needed to proceed with caution. Her moves had to be precise, calculated, and devastating.

She made her way to the kitchen, where her housekeeper, Maria, was already preparing breakfast. Maria had worked for Serena for years, and they shared a bond that went beyond the usual employer-employee relationship. Serena trusted Maria implicitly, knowing she could count on her discretion.

“Good morning, Miss Serena,” Maria greeted her with a warm smile. “Coffee is ready, and I’ve prepared your favorite—avocado toast with poached eggs.”

“Thank you, Maria,” Serena replied, offering a small smile in return. She appreciated the normalcy Maria brought to her mornings, a reminder that some things in her life were still within her control.

As she sat down at the dining table, Serena’s phone buzzed with a new message. It was from Mr. Collins, her private investigator.

*I have the initial report. Would you like to meet in person or discuss it over the phone?*

Serena’s pulse quickened. This was the first piece of the puzzle, the information she needed to truly understand the man she had once loved—and how best to destroy him. She quickly typed a response.

*In person. My office in one hour.*

She needed to be in her element for this conversation, surrounded by the power and authority that her office exuded. After finishing her breakfast, Serena dressed in a crisp white blouse and tailored black pants, her usual armor for a day at work. The outfit was both professional and intimidating, a reminder to herself and others that she was not to be trifled with.

By the time she arrived at her office in the heart of the city, she was fully in control, her emotions buried deep beneath the surface. Her assistant, Emily, greeted her at the door with a stack of files and a nervous smile.

“Good morning, Ms. Davis. Mr. Collins is already here, waiting in the conference room,” Emily informed her, falling into step beside her as they walked down the hallway.

“Thank you, Emily,” Serena replied, her mind already focused on the upcoming meeting. “Hold all my calls until further notice.”

Emily nodded and peeled away, leaving Serena to enter the conference room alone. Inside, Mr. Collins stood as she walked in, his expression unreadable. He was a middle-aged man with graying hair and a calm demeanor that made him seem almost invisible—exactly what Serena needed in someone who dealt in secrets.

“Ms. Davis,” he greeted her with a nod, holding out a manila folder. “This is what I’ve gathered so far.”

Serena took the folder, her fingers brushing against the smooth surface. The weight of it felt like a promise—a promise that everything she needed to bring Ethan down was contained within these pages.

She gestured for Collins to sit as she took a seat at the head of the table. Opening the folder, she began to read through the information, her eyes narrowing as she absorbed each detail.

Collins had been thorough. The report covered everything from Ethan’s financial transactions to his communications with key individuals, including Victoria Langford. There were even records of business deals Ethan had orchestrated behind Serena’s back, deals that undermined her own interests.

But what caught her attention most were the hidden accounts—offshore funds that Ethan had carefully concealed, likely part of his plan to secure his own financial future once he discarded her. The sums involved were significant, enough to suggest that Ethan had been siphoning money from their joint ventures for months, if not years.

Serena felt a surge of anger, but she forced it down. This was what she needed—a trail that would lead to Ethan’s ruin. But it was also more than that. It was proof that their relationship had been nothing more than a facade, a carefully constructed lie designed to serve his greed.

She looked up at Collins, her expression unreadable. “This is excellent work, Collins. But I need more. I need to know every person involved with him, every contact he has that could be of use. I want to know where he’s vulnerable.”

Collins nodded, his face serious. “I’ll expand the investigation. We should have more within the week.”

“Good,” Serena said, closing the folder with a decisive snap. “And keep digging into Victoria Langford. I want to know exactly how deep her involvement goes.”

With a final nod, Collins stood, gathering his things to leave. As he exited the room, Serena remained seated, her mind already strategizing her next move. The information in the folder was powerful, but it was just the beginning. She needed to be smart about how she used it. A direct attack would be too obvious—Ethan would see it coming. No, she needed to undermine him slowly, from within, so that by the time he realized what was happening, it would be too late.

Serena stood and walked to the large windows overlooking the city. The view was breathtaking, a reminder of the empire she had built from the ground up. And now, she would protect that empire by any means necessary.

She picked up her phone and dialed a number she hadn’t used in months. It rang twice before a deep, familiar voice answered.

“Serena. This is a surprise.”

“I need a favor,” she said, cutting to the chase. “A discreet one.”

The man on the other end chuckled, a sound that sent a chill down her spine. “I assume this is related to Ethan?”

“Everything is,” Serena replied, her voice cold. “I want you to contact a few of our mutual acquaintances. Start spreading the word that Ethan Blackwood is not to be trusted.”

“Consider it done. Anything else?”

“Not for now. But be ready. This is just the beginning.”

She ended the call, feeling a sense of satisfaction as the first piece of her plan fell into place. Serena knew the man she had just spoken to—a rival businessman with his own grudges against Ethan—would waste no time in sowing seeds of doubt within their shared circles. It was a small move, but a crucial one. Once people started questioning Ethan’s integrity, it would only be a matter of time before he began to lose the support he so heavily relied on.

As she returned to her desk, Serena felt the weight of the challenge ahead of her. Ethan was cunning, but she had the advantage of knowing his weaknesses—and she had no qualms about exploiting them.

She glanced at her reflection in the glass, the determined woman staring back at her. This was the start of something much bigger than revenge. This was about reclaiming her power, her dignity, and her future.

Serena Davis was not just playing to win. She was playing to annihilate.

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This chapter focuses on Serena’s strategic mind, showing how she begins to leverage the information she’s gathered to start the slow, calculated process of dismantling Ethan’s life. It sets up the coming conflicts and alliances, hinting at the broader network of influence that Serena will utilize as her plan unfolds.

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