Chapter 277
As Damon got out of the taxi, he took in the quiet comfort of Ash’s neighborhood.
The streets were clean, the air was calm, and the homes had a refined simplicity about them.
Walking up to the door, he knocked firmly.
After a short time, the door opened and Ash, who was naked and sweaty, walked out.
His hair was a mess, and he had his usual smile on his face.
“Look who’s here, looking sharp,” Ash greeted, leaning casually against the doorframe.
Damon, unimpressed, raised an eyebrow. “Why the hell are you opening the door sweaty and shirtless?”
Ash shrugged nonchalantly. “Hey, don’t blame me. Soon you’ll understand, son.”
Damon heard faint sounds of movement from inside the apartment. He rolled his eyes and stretched out his hand. “Just give me the key, man.”
Ash chuckled, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a keyring. “Garage key’s on here too. Just open it up and grab the car.”
Damon snatched the keys, giving his friend a flat look. “Alright, see you, man. Go back to… whatever it is you were doing.”
Ash grinned, stepping back inside. “You better take good care of my baby, alright? And don’t blame me if you realize you’re missing out on life!”
Damon shook his head, smirking as he turned away. “Yeah, yeah. Later, Ash.”
As he made his way to the garage, he muttered to himself, “Guy’s always up to something.”
He couldn’t help but laugh softly.
Ash’s antics were predictable, but they made things feel normal. Just another day in his circle of chaos.
He also was very good friend.
Damon stared at the keys in his hand, searching for the button that would open the garage.
Pressing one experimentally, he heard the mechanical hum of the door rising.
As the garage lights flicked on, they showed two spotless cars inside.
The first thing that caught his attention were the clear curves of a Ferrari.
The bright lights made its red body shine.
Damon immediately shook his head. “Definitely not taking that,” he muttered, backing away as if the car could sense his hesitation.
He looked at the other car, a Maserati Sedan.
It was black, shiny, and intimidating in its own right, but not as flashy as the Ferrari. It did make him stop, though.
“Do I really need to borrow a car?” he asked himself.
The hesitation wasn’t just about the car’s luxury, it was the driving itself.
He’d learned to drive a few months ago before heading to Thailand, but the lessons had been basic.
He hadn’t exactly hit the road with confidence, let alone handled a car like this.
His eyes flicked back to the Ferrari before returning to the Maserati. “No sports cars, no disasters. Maserati it is.”
He paused for a moment and then opened the door.
He slid into the driver’s seat and grabbed the wheel. The soft leather felt cool against his fingers.
“Oh well, I’m already here,” he muttered, pressing the start button. The engine purred to life, smooth and powerful.
“Can’t waste any more time or back down now.”
He adjusted the seat and mirrors, his movements careful.
His hands gripped the wheel tightly as he muttered to himself, “Alright, Damon. You’ve got this. Just… don’t mess it up.”
Damon eased the Maserati out of the garage like he was maneuvering a tank through a minefield.
The car felt like it would take off if he so much as tapped the gas pedal, so he barely pressed it.
He crept out onto the road as the garage door closed behind him. He turned the wheel with extra care.
For some reason, Damon wouldn’t let the Maserati stretch its legs, even though it purred.
He sighed, gripping the wheel tighter as he noticed a cyclist passing him on the right.
A cyclist.
“Seriously,” he muttered under his breath. “The fuck am I doing with my life?”
He adjusted his position in the seat, leaning closer to the wheel like a nervous teenager taking their driving test.
Cars began piling up behind him, their headlights glaring in his rearview mirror.
There was a horn sound, and Damon jerked. “Yeah, yeah, I hear you,” he groaned as he pushed the gas pedal a little harder than he wanted to.
Even though the car reacted quickly, he still felt like he was driving a spaceship.
He took a deep breath, muttering to himself as he focused on the road. “Okay, Damon, just get there in one piece. Slow and steady. You’ve got this.” Discover hidden stories at empire
He was halfway through the drive and still going way too slowly when another car sped past him, making the driver look confused.
Damon ignored it, focusing on keeping the Maserati exactly within the speed limit, if not below it.
“Never borrowing a car again,” he muttered as he crawled toward his destination, his foot hovering nervously over the brake the entire way.
Another car sped by, the driver yelling, “Get off the street, you ret–!” Damon didn’t catch the rest as the car zipped out of earshot.
He exhaled sharply, gripping the wheel tighter for a moment before muttering, “Alright, fine, fine. I’ll speed up.”
He pressed the gas pedal a bit more confidently, the Maserati smoothly picking up speed.
The unease in his chest began to ease, though he kept glancing at the speedometer to ensure he didn’t overdo it.
After a while, Damon reached his destination, a huge mansion that stood behind a tall, smooth wall.
Even though it wasn’t in a gated community, the stature of the place made it feel like it did.
The carefully cared-for bushes and beautiful iron gate made the area feel private and exclusive.
Damon pulled up in front of the property and brought the car to a stop.
He sat for a moment, patting his chest lightly.
“Made it,” he muttered, climbing out of the car.
As he stood there, taking in the sight of the mansion, he patted his pants, brushing off imaginary dust.
“Alright, let’s do this,” he said under his breath, straightening his shirt before heading toward the gate.