Chapter 5
After tidying up the penthouse, I headed out to meet Kate at the airport.
My best friend was finally returning from her years managing tech startups in Singapore, and God, did I need her straight–talking wisdom right now.
We settled into a corner booth at Château Blue, the kind of upscale café where racing wives held their gossip
sessions.
Kate nearly knocked over her oat milk latte when I told her about my exit plan.
“Finally!” She threw her hands up in celebration.
“Adrian–fucking–Chase needs to learn that not everything can be bought and replaced like his precious cars. He had something real and treated it like a pit stop. Let him grow old with his trophies.”
Her outburst made me laugh for the first time in weeks.
There was some truth in her anger.
Kate leaned forward, stirring her coffee thoughtfully. “But honestly? I can’t wait to see his face when you’re gone. Mr. Perfect Control Freak is going to lose it. Remember that time at the Ferrari testing track?”
I frowned, trying to recall.
“That Italian rookie driver was chatting you up by the paddock?” Kate pressed. “Adrian was in the middle of a practice run, but the second he saw you two, his lap time went to shit. The look in his eyes…” She shuddered.
“Pure ice. The whole pit crew felt the temperature drop.
Next thing we knew, you were banned from track visits.”
“I always thought he was embarrassed by me being there,” I said quietly, remembering how Adrian had coldly informed me that the track was ‘no place for distractions.‘
Kate snorted. “Please. He was marking his territory like some alpha male bullshit. Trust me, he’s so used to owning you, he doesn’t even realize how possessive he is.”
“It doesn’t matter anymore,” I sighed, watching the steam rise from my untouched cappuccino. “He’ll probably be relieved I’m gone. One less complication in his perfectly curated life.”
“Oh honey,” Kate shook her head, “you really don’t see it, do you? Adrian Chase might play the cool, detached champion for the cameras, but you’re the only person who’s ever gotten under his skin. When you leave…” She smiled wickedly. That’s when the real race begins.”
15:42
Chapter 6
Chapter 6
