Chapter 10
.Emilia fixed Rodger with a cold stare. "You seriously think a performance like that is worth bragging about?"
Rodger scoffed, unconvinced, "You honestly believe you'll get closer than I did?"
Her confidence never wavered. "Watch me."
"Didn't know you were so full of yourself, Emilia." He let out a short, mocking laugh.
Emilia tossed him a sidelong glance. "Now you know," she said, slipping easily into the driver's seat of a brilliant red sports car.
The instant the signal turned green, Emilia's red sports car erupted off the starting line, streaking down the track like living fire.
That launch left the crowd buzzing. Rodger stood frozen, eyes glued to the flash of crimson slicing through the air, disbelief flickering across his face.
When did Emilia master moves like that? How had she hidden this from him for so long?
No. It couldn't be real. Surely she was just reckless,slamming her foot to the floor.
But as that blazing red car tore down the stretch, the entire audience held its breath, transfixed by her every move.
Wilbur's jaw nearly hit the floor. "Hold up, she actually knows what she's doing out there?"
He shot a glance at Elias. "You sure you're not hiding something? How could you possibly know she's got skills like that?"
"I don't know. I'm just as surprised as you are." Elias never took his eyes off the track, voice even and detached.
Despite the chill in his words, his fingers curled tightly against his thigh, betraying the tension he tried to hide.
One wrong move at that speed, and those fuel barrels could turn the race into a disaster in seconds.
All eyes remained glued to the massive display,following the red car as it shot past the critical line with no sign of slowing down.
A collective hush fell over the arena. Some spectators couldn't even watch, covering their faces in dread of what might happen next.
Just as the red car seemed destined to collide with the barrels, it glided to a flawless halt, not a hint of panic in Emilia's control.
No one could believe their eyes.
Rodger, Sebastian, and Violet stood frozen, mouths agape at the impossible sight before them.
"6.1 centimeters!" The referee's voice rang out over the roar of the crowd.
"Unbelievable! I've never seen anything like that! She really did it-she outdrove Rodger!"
"She's fearless, she looks like a superstar, and she just smoked the track. That's everything I could ever want in a woman!"
"I was sure Rodger would take the win. I guess I was dead wrong about her."
Sebastian nursed his bruised cheek, muttering in disbelief, "No way. Rodger can't lose to her. There's just no way..."
"Maybe Emilia just got lucky, but you have to admit,that was something special." Violet's voice barely rose above a whisper, sweet on the surface but icy underneath.
Inside, her thoughts seethed. Why couldn't Emilia have just crashed and burned? That woman deserved nothing less.
Rodger stood rooted to the spot, dazed and unable to accept that defeat had come at Emilia's hands.
Emilia approached him with an easy laugh. "Piece of cake."
Rodger's eyes narrowed, bitter and cold. "Don't get cocky.You just stumbled into this win."
·"So what? The scoreboard doesn't lie. I won, Rodger,and you lost. That's all that matters." Emilia didn't flinch. "Now, about the Mitchell Group sares-hand over the 20%. That was the deal."
Rodger's jaw clenched. "Transfers like that aren't instant. It'll take time to put your name on those shares."
Emilia refused to budge. "Not a chance. You're settling this right here, right now."
He bristled, frustration mounting. "You're really starting to push your luck, Emilia."
"I'm just taking what I earned, nothing more. It's not my fault you made such a reckless bet." Emilia flashed him a sly, triumphant smile.
Leaning in, she dropped her voice. "And I've heard today's bets broke records. I'm walking away with at least five hundred million. So thank you, Rodger-not just for the shares, but for making me a very rich woman."