Chapter 217
Chapter 217:
Felix turned to Brinley with a grin. “Now I’m a billionaire. Brinley, if you’re ever short on cash, just tell me. I could hand you a billion without blinking p>
Brinley couldn’t match his smile. Memories of the foolish things she’d done for Colin made her chest tighten.
“Wasn’t I a fool back then?” she asked quietly. “Walking away from a good life just to chase a jerk p>
“You were,” Felix admitted, unusually serious. “I was furious with you then. I even thought about cutting you off. But when I learned Colin strung you along for two whole years, all I felt was—” He hesitated, then said softly, “I felt pity for you p>
He reached out and mussed her hair, just as he had when they were children. “But that’s behind us. Look at you now. Austin cares for you, you’ve come back home, and I’ve got a lot of money p>
His playful words finally drew a laugh from Brinley, easing the tightness in her chest. She studied the lines of his face, realizing with a start that the boy who used to run after her had truly grown into a man.
The sports car slipped down a quiet street, light spilling from the building ahead and the distant rumble of engines breaking the silence.
Felix pointed at the glowing sign above. “TurboVortex Club. This is one of my projects. Impressive, don’t you think p>
Brinley took in the rugged building and the row of gleaming race cars out front. She arched a brow. “Well, looks like your fifty million went to good use p>
“Naturally.” Felix straightened, pride written all over his face. As he stepped out of the car, he bent toward her and lowered his voice. “Just a heads-up. Some of the old hands in there don’t exactly welcome me. They might try giving you a hard time. Don’t mind them p>
Brinley smoothed her dress, a spark in her eyes. “Give me a hard time? Let’s see if they even dare p>
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗻
Stepping inside, she found the place buzzing with more energy than she had expected.
Heavy metal music blasted through the speakers, making the floor vibrate. Men in racing jackets clustered together with drinks in hand, their laughter rising above the music. A giant screen on the wall flickered with replays of classic races.
The moment Felix and Brinley entered, someone whistled.
A buzz-cut man strutted over, drink in hand, and shot Felix a wink. “Is this your sister? She’s stunning! Way prettier than those influencers online p>
“Knock it off, Galen. Don’t spook her,” Felix said, shoving him aside before introducing them. “Brinley, this is Galen Kirby, one of our drivers. Fast on the track, slow everywhere else p>
“Hey!” Galen fired back. “Who are you calling slow? I beat Magnus last round, didn’t I p>
As soon as Magnus’s name was mentioned, the chatter in the room dulled.
Brinley turned to see who everyone was staring at and spotted a bearded man in his forties seated in the corner, his eyes fixed on her with a sharp, assessing look.
“That’s Magnus Welch,” Felix muttered. “Used to rule the tracks around here. When I bought out this club, he was the loudest one against it p>
Right on cue, Magnus rose from his seat and strolled over, every step deliberate and unhurried.
He stood a full head taller than Felix, carrying the presence of someone forged by years on the track. His eyes swept over Brinley with open contempt. “So you’re Felix’s sister? Looks more dressed for cocktails than the circuit p>
Someone nearby let out a small laugh of agreement.
Brinley didn’t get angry. Instead, she looked past him to the red race car in the display area and spoke calmly. “That one’s yours, isn’t it? The upgrades are clever, but the turbo lag is brutal. It’ll kill your launch every time p>
Magnus’s smirk faltered. The car was his greatest source of pride, the result of six months of work to bring it to peak performance. The turbo configuration was his signature creation, something he never shared with anyone else. “You know cars?” he asked, eyes narrowing.
“A little.” Brinley walked right up to the car and drummed her fingers across the hood. “Your intake and exhaust aren’t in sync. That’s why you lose output in the mid-range. I’m guessing someone overtook you on the third corner at the suburban track p>
Magnus’s expression changed instantly. He had been overtaken during a private race just last week, cut off cleanly on a corner by an unknown driver. No one else knew about it. “How the hell do you know that?” he asked, his voice low.
Brinley didn’t bother answering. She met his stare, eyes glinting with challenge. “How about a race? With your car here. The loser has to follow Felix’s lead here at TurboVortex from now on p>
The room fell silent immediately. Everyone knew Magnus guarded his pride more than anything, and Brinley had just issued a blatant challenge.
He studied her for a long moment, then a slow smile spread across his face. “Fine. Let’s see if the so-called international champion lives up to her reputation p>
With that, he flipped his keys toward her. “There’s a straight drag strip out back. Best two out of three. Do you dare p>
“Why wouldn’t I?” Brinley caught the keys smoothly. She glanced at Felix, saw the worry in his eyes, and offered him a reassuring smile.
Sliding into the driver’s seat, she quickly tested the shifter and throttle, feeling out the car. Magnus’s vehicle was indeed aggressively modified, the engine growling slightly at idle like a beast ready to pounce.
The moment the light flashed green, she slammed down the accelerator, sending the car roaring forward instantly.