Chapter 46 Adeline
Adeline's POV
The elevator opens directly into the penthouse.
I step out, fully expecting the hum of conversation, the clinking of silverware, and maybe the glow of monitors displaying track data since this is a team dinner. What I was not expecting was the silence I was met with.
Well, apart from hidden speakers playing soft jazz in the room that is only lit by the city lights of the lively Tokyo. In the center of the room, a table is set for two. That was the first red flag of the night.
"Sienna?" I call out, my voice sounding too loud in the empty space. "Where’s Kenji? Where are the analysts?"
Sienna glides into the room from the kitchen, holding a bottle of dark red wine. She has changed out of her suit into a long, backless silk dress that looks like liquid gold.
"Kenji got stuck at the garage," she says smoothly, pouring two glasses. "A last-minute issue with the fuel mapping or something."
"And the analysts?"
"Well, I decided we didn't need them boring us with spreadsheets. I have the summary right here." She taps her temple. "Sit, Adeline. You look tense."
I don't sit. I stand by the elevator and cross my arms in defiance. "You said this was a strategy meeting," I say slowly. "You said the whole team would be here."
"I am the team," Sienna says, walking over to me. She holds out a glass of wine. "Everyone else is just a tool. Mechanics and analysts work for us, but you and I? We are the real deal."
I look at the wine she holds out, but I don't take it, either. A prickle of unease starts at the base of my neck.
"I should go," I say, taking a step back. "If Kenji isn't here, we can review the data tomorrow morning."
"Adeline," Sienna sighs, a note of disappointment in her voice. "Don't be difficult. I went to all this trouble." She steps closer, invading my space. "Sit down. We need to discuss the future. Not just this season, mind you. I’m talking about the legacy contract. Five years. Exclusive rights—tell me where else you would ever get a deal like this."
"Sienna..."
"I want to make you immortal, Ghost. I want to own the image and the brand that you're going to become. I want to own the legend you will become."
"Own," I repeat. "I’m not a brand, Sienna. I’m a person."
"You’re both," Sienna whispers. "But you need someone to manage the person so the brand can shine. He doesn't understand that, does he? Percy. He wants to hide you."
"He wants to protect me," I say, pulling away from her touch for the first time.
"Protection is a cage," Sienna counters hotly. "I'm offering you the whole world."
Before I can open my mouth to speak, the elevator dings. She recoils back from me, her head snapping toward the doors. "I locked that."
The doors slide open to reveal the last person I expect to be there. Percy stands there, looking perfectly calm, but I know there's so much rage hidden beneath. His eyes don't leave mine as he steps into the room.
"Adeline, get your bag."
"How did you get up here?" Sienna demands, her voice rising. "This is a private residence! Security!"
"Your security is dealing with a system reboot," Percy says coolly. He walks straight to me, placing himself between Sienna and me. He touches my arm more gently than I deserve, seeing as I just snapped at him outside. "Are you okay?"
"I’m fine," I whisper. "It’s just dinner."
Percy turns to Sienna. His eyes are cold enough to freeze the wine in her glass. "We’re leaving, Sienna, and the contract is void."
Sienna laughs without humor. "Void? You can't void a contract because you’re jealous, Mr. Akilov. She signed it. She belongs to the team for the season. If she walks out, I’ll sue her for breach of contract. I’ll bury you both in litigation."
"You won't be suing anyone," Percy says, reaching into his jacket pocket to pull out a folded piece of paper and tossing it onto the table next to the plates.
"You bet I will."
"If you do, I’ll release the audit logs my man just pulled from your server."
Sienna freezes before quickly unwrapping the paper.
"What is that?"
"Proof that you accessed Adeline’s medical records three weeks ago. Proof that you have illegal surveillance bugs in the guest suite at the Aman and proof that you have a live feed of the locker rooms in the garage."
My stomach drops. "Locker rooms?"
Her composure cracks for the first time. "That is for safety," she stammers. "For the security of the riders."
"It’s a felony," Percy corrects her. "It’s a massive invasion of privacy, a violation of international surveillance laws, and a breach of every ethical standard in the sport. If I hand this to the Apex board? To the sponsors? You won't just lose Adeline. You’ll lose the team and your license."
The room goes silent as we all stare at each other, waiting for the other to do something. Sienna looks very small, and it is such a weird thing to witness since she always seems to be in control.
She knows that one phone call from an Akilov lawyer destroys her empire. Seeming to regain her control, she takes a sip of her wine and drops the paper on the table. When she does so, I see her hand tremble slightly.
"I don't have all day, Sienna. What will it be?"
"She's not worth the headache. Take her," she says finally.
"Adeline, you heard the witch," Percy mocks. "Let's go."
"You didn't want a partner," I speak up, my voice steady. "You wanted a doll."
Sienna doesn't look at me on my way out. "Goodbye, Ghost."
Percy wraps his arm around my waist and guides me back to the elevator. The doors slide shut, cutting off the view of the golden dress and the empty table.
As the elevator descends, the tension leaves my body in a rush. I lean against Percy and exhale a long, shaky breath that I didn't know I was holding.
"You hacked her servers?" I ask.
"Tiny did," Percy corrects, kissing the top of my head. "I just told him where to look. I knew she was watching you, Adeline. I felt it."
"You were right," I admit. "She... she was suffocating."
"It’s over," Percy promises. "No more contracts disguised as cages."
The elevator hits the lobby, and we walk out into the cool Tokyo night. I limp slightly because I'm so tired, but I don't care.
We hail a cab because we're both too spent to drive. Percy pulls me close, his arm a heavy, comforting weight around my shoulders.
"So," I say, resting my head on his chest. "We came all the way to Tokyo for one race."
"One win," Percy corrects. "You proved your point, Adeline. You proved you’re the best. Now let's go home."
I didn't get the millions or the fame, but I have the win, and I have the man who was willing to burn down a kingdom to get me back.
"Home," I agree. "Let's go home."