Chapter 3 Unexpected Desire
1065 Words
"Mr. Dope, are you trying to insult me by sending a woman to race against me?" Jaden Grace stood in front of Laura's car, his face dark with displeasure.
Jaden was a renowned F1 racer. While the money was good, he hadn't accepted Julian Cross' invitation for the prize alone.
Mount Dope's private race track—stretching across two mountains with steep climbs, sudden drops, rough surfaces, and narrow turns—was a thrill even for the world's top drivers.
Jaden was already wealthy and proud, and it had taken considerable effort for Julian to secure his participation. The wager was secondary; it was Julian's family reputation that was truly on the line.
Therefore, Julian cared only about victory, but he couldn't ignore Jaden's growing irritation.
Julian forced a polite smile at Danny and tried to smooth things over with Jaden. "Perhaps Mr. Dope just wants to make the race more interesting," he suggested.
"Or maybe," he added with a sly glance at Laura, "Mr. Dope knows I've had my eye on his vineyard for a while and is just being generous enough to hand it over."
Danny's deep blue eyes flashed with a barely perceptible trace of anger. Both men's words implied that he was destined to lose.
He sneered as he glanced at them before looking at Laura. "Enough talk. Let's see who can laugh until the end."
Laura caught sight of his sharp jawline and the hint of challenge in his tone, prompting a silent smile.
Good. When it came to winning, they were on the same page.
Laura waved mockingly at Jaden, raising her voice to make sure he heard. "Stay close behind me. Don't get lost."
Furious, Jaden pointed a finger at her, his anger momentarily rendering him speechless.
Then, with a scowl, he stormed to his car and slammed the door shut.
With everything ready, Laura lightly pressed the accelerator, and the car let out a low, powerful growl—like a beast preparing to break free from its cage.
As the engines roared to life, the crowd erupted into cheers.
All eyes turned to the starting line.
The flagman waved the flag.
The next second, Laura slammed her foot on the gas, and her car shot forward like an arrow, its tires screeching against the asphalt. Instantly, the audience went wild.
What was happening? That woman, who looked more like a pretty ornament than a racer, was keeping up with Jaden!
A fleeting expression of surprise crossed Danny's face before he quickly masked it.
He watched the two cars speeding down the track, his eyes narrowing slightly, a strange thrill bubbling up inside him.
The spectators held their breath, watching as the red car—representing the Dope family—darted skillfully along the winding course.
Every overtaking move was clean, every turn smooth and elegant, a flawless blend of speed and passion.
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
"B-Boss..." stammered the head bodyguard, too shocked to form coherent words. "That woman... she's incredible! I thought she was just bluffing!"
Danny felt a wave of satisfaction wash over him, though he tried to sound indifferent. "This part is just the beginner's level. The real test is the bend section on the next mountain."
In a series of swift maneuvers, the red and black cars disappeared into a tunnel, moving toward the next mountain.
"If I'm not mistaken," the skinny bodyguard explained to his leader, "right after the tunnel is a sharp turn. It's the most dangerous part of the course, but also the best place to gain an edge."
Minutes passed slowly before a black car emerged on the opposite side of the mountain track.
A tinge of disappointment crept across the spectators' faces.
Julian let out a sigh of relief, though he couldn't shake a faint sense of regret. He had been hoping for a miracle.
But in the next second, the red car appeared!
Despite the perilous stretch of road, Jaden—an F1 driver—had failed to shake off an unknown woman!
The men roared with excitement. The surge of adrenaline wasn't coming from the male racers this time; it was a woman driving them wild.
Danny exhaled subtly, his expression composed as he continued to watch.
The course on the other mountain was narrower, making it almost impossible for the two cars to drive side by side. Amid the echoing engine sounds, spectators saw the red and black cars taking turns in the lead, fiercely competing for every inch.
They could already imagine the nasty battle during the bend section.
Suddenly, a series of dull crashes rang out, followed by the helicopter descending from above.
An accident! But who was involved?
Danny turned and gestured to a bodyguard. Moments later, the head bodyguard approached and whispered, "Both cars were involved in an accident. The medical team is working on the rescue, but we don't have clear information yet."
Danny frowned. "Send more people to check it out."
As the crowd exchanged uneasy glances, the distant roar of an engine echoed again from the other mountain.
But this time, there was only one noise.
Everyone held their breath, staring at the tunnel connecting the two mountains.
A dazzling flash of red burst into view, and the crowd erupted in cheers.
It was Laura!
Whistles, applause, and shouts filled the air, reaching a fever pitch as the red car crossed the finish line.
As the dust settled, they could finally see the state of the car—scratched, dented, its rearview mirror gone and windows shattered.
Laura kicked the crooked door open and strode toward Danny, unbothered.
Her racing suit was torn, but the rose on her chest looked even more vibrant, a testament to the beauty that thrived among thorns.
"Sorry," she said lightly, "I saved your vineyard, but the car's about to be totaled."
Danny stared at the bold, reckless woman before him, every nerve in his body tingling with a newfound desire.
For the first time in his life, he wanted to conquer a woman.
"Ms. Byron, you did me a great favor. What kind of reward would you like?" He flashed her a charming smile.
"How about a position by your side?" Laura arched an eyebrow.
Danny extended his right hand. "I'd be delighted."
Laura took his hand, and they exchanged smiles, both eyes brimming with the satisfaction of their successful schemes.
- Writer
