Chapter 21 You'll race him.
Chapter 21 You'll race him.
LYSANDRA
The world seemed to narrow, the roaring engines and murmuring crowds fading into a dull hum. All I could see was Sebastian’s finger, pointed directly at me, and all I could hear were the words, still hanging in the air like a death sentence: "The race will be between me and her."
Me.
I was no longer a spectator, a "guest," or even a piece on their board. I had been promoted, without my consent, to the central player in a high-stakes game I wanted no part of. My mind didn't just go blank; it short-circuited, a frantic static of panic.
Why me? Is this a punishment? A test? My eyes darted to Cassian’s face, searching for any sign that this was a cruel joke. If I lose, what then? Will I have cost him a piece of the empire he’s built with his own hands? Will the protection over Elara vanish? Will the man who just defended me so fiercely look at me with nothing but contempt? I had already been the source of so much chaos in his ordered life. This could be the final, unforgivable straw.
A protest formed on my lips, a desperate, "No, I can't—" but the words were choked off before they could fully escape.
"Okay." Cassian's voice cut through my spiraling thoughts, calm and absolute. "She will compete with you."
The sheer, unshakable confidence in his tone was so staggering I actually took a physical step back. I stared at him, my mouth agape, waiting for the punchline, for the smirk that would reveal this was all an elaborate ruse to put Sebastian in his place. But there was none. He was serious.
"No," I managed, my voice firmer now, laced with a fear I couldn't hide. "Cassian, I can't. I just... I can't. What if I lose? The stakes are insane! You need to find someone else. A professional driver. Anyone but me!" I took another step back, creating distance, as if I could physically remove myself from the equation.
Sebastian’s smirk was a vile, knowing thing. "Oh, but where's the fun in that?" he purred, stepping closer, his eyes glinting with malicious delight. "I know a thing or two about your past, little bird. The 'Silver Phantom of the Westside Canyons,' wasn't it? You were part of that scene for a good while. And here you are, pretending to be a frightened sparrow. Don't you want to show your... benefactor... what you're really made of? This is a rare chance to prove your worth. Don't waste it."
His words were a carefully aimed dagger, striking at the part of me I had buried—the girl who lived for the adrenaline, the thrill of the race, the roar of a tuned engine. If this were a different life, if the prize were a simple pot of cash and my sister's life wasn't hanging in the balance, I would have already been in the driver's seat, itching to wipe that smug look off his face.
But it wasn't. So I shook my head, my resolve hardening. "That life is over. I'm not that person anymore."
"You will win." Cassian’s voice was a quiet anchor in the storm of my anxiety. He wasn't asking; he was stating a fundamental truth, as if he had seen the future and this was the only possible outcome.
I turned to him, my eyes pleading. "How can you be so sure?"
"I've raced him before. I know his style—aggressive, but predictable. And I've watched you drive," he continued, his gaze intense, boring into me. "You have an instinct he lacks. You understand a car not as a machine, but as an extension of yourself. You'll beat him."
Sebastian let out a low, wicked chuckle, the sound of a predator who had just cornered his prey. "See? He believes in you. You can do it, little bird. Fly for him."
Frustration and fear boiled over. I couldn't reason with them out here, with Sebastian listening to every word. I grabbed Cassian's arm, my grip tight, and pulled him away several paces, turning my back to Sebastian.
"Cassian, listen to me," I hissed, my voice low and urgent. "If this were a casual race for pride, I wouldn't hesitate. Even if this is just two percent of your company! I can't have that on my conscience. I won't. You have to stop this reckless game right now."
He looked down at my hand on his arm, then back at my face, completely unmoved. He shrugged, a gesture of infuriating nonchalance. "It's a calculated risk. The potential reward—gaining a significant stake in my largest rival—is worth it. And even in the statistically unlikely event that you lose, it's a temporary setback. I'll simply buy the shares back from him at a premium. It's just money."
"Just money?" I repeated, incredulous. "You're not thinking clearly! This doesn't feel unplanned. It feels like a trap. He pointed at me, Cassian. He knew to point at me. This feels like a step in a much larger scheme!"
To my utter disbelief, he laughed. It wasn't a warm sound; it was a short, dismissive bark of amusement. "A grand scheme? To what, obtain VGM? Let him dream. The only scheme here is Sebastian trying to get under my skin, and he's failing. You are going to race him, and that is the end of the discussion."
The finality in his voice was a steel door slamming shut. Arguing further was useless. He had made his decision, and my role was to comply. A cold resignation settled over me. If I was being forced to play, I needed one guarantee.
"Fine," I whispered, the fight draining out of me. "But you have to promise me something."
His expression shifted to one of impatient curiosity. "What?"
I met his gaze, ensuring he saw the absolute seriousness in mine. "If I lose... if I cost you those shares, you will not take it out on me. And you will not, under any circumstances, punish my sister or withdraw her medical care. You promise me that. Right now."
He didn't even blink. "I promise."
The words were quick, almost too quick, but the intensity in his eyes felt genuine. It was the only reassurance I was going to get.
Before I could say another word, a booming voice echoed through the hall, cutting through the tension. "Ladies and gentlemen! The highlight of today's exhibition is about to commence! Please make your way to the auction arena and find your seats. The exclusive, live auction of our rarest, most limited-edition supercars will begin in five minutes!"
The spell was broken. The crowd began to shift and move around us. Sebastian gave us a mock salute and sauntered off towards the arena. Cassian’s hand found the small of my back, his touch both a guidance and a command.
"Come," he said, his voice low. "Let's go buy you a car."