She slid into the seat across from him, draping one leg over the other as she crossed her arms.
"I don’t like waiting," she said coolly.
Zack chuckled. "I’d be worried if you did." He motioned to the bartender, who immediately stepped forward. "What are you drinking?"
"Not here to drink," she said, giving him a pointed look.
Zack smirked, swirling his whiskey. "Loosen up, will you? It’s just a chat. One drink won’t kill you."
Vanessa rolled her eyes but finally sighed. "Fine. Vodka. No ice."
The bartender nodded and left, and Zack leaned back, studying her. "You know, you’re really bad at small talk."
"I don’t waste time on pointless things," she shot back. "Let’s get to the reason I’m here."
"Straight to business, huh?" Zack mused. He took a slow sip of his whiskey before setting the glass down. "Alright. The race."
Vanessa raised a brow. "You’re actually serious about this? Your little friend — the bike guy — is supposed to challenge me?"
Zack’s grin didn’t waver. "Ethan’s more than just a ’bike guy.’ He knows speed. He understands control. And if there’s anyone who can give you a run for your money, it’s him."
Vanessa leaned back against the plush leather seat, one arm draped casually over the backrest as she eyed Zack with skepticism.
The bartender set her vodka down, but she didn’t reach for it. Instead, she crossed one leg over the other, tapping her fingers lightly against her knee.
"What’s in it for me?" she asked, her tone sharp.
Zack’s smirk widened, and he took his time swirling the amber liquid in his glass before answering.
"Bragging rights," he said smoothly. "The satisfaction of proving you’re the best. Isn’t that enough for a racer like you?"
Vanessa scoffed, her expression turning to one of mild amusement. "Bragging rights?" she echoed. "I don’t get in my car for free just to put some random guy in his place. If there’s no profit, I’m out."
She picked up her glass then, taking a slow sip before setting it back down with a soft clink. "Nice try, Zack, but I don’t race for fun."
Zack let out a short laugh, shaking his head. "Knew you’d say that." Without hesitation, he leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, and met her gaze. "Fine. Let’s make it interesting — I’ll put fifty grand on Ethan’s win."
Vanessa raised a brow. "Fifty grand?"
"You heard me." He leaned back with an easy confidence, as if fifty thousand dollars was pocket change.
She studied him, her lips pressing into a thin line as she mulled it over. "You’re really that confident in him?"
Zack chuckled, taking another sip of his whiskey before answering. "Confident enough to put my money where my mouth is. If you’re so sure you’ll win, then this should be the easiest fifty grand you’ve ever made."
Vanessa didn’t respond immediately.
Instead, she tilted her head slightly, as if weighing his words. She knew Zack well enough to tell when he was bluffing, and this wasn’t one of those times.
He genuinely believed Ethan could win.
That alone made her more curious than anything.
"You’ve seen him drive?" she asked after a moment.
Zack nodded. "I have."
"And you think he can beat me?"
"Think?" Zack let out a short laugh. "I know he can."
Vanessa exhaled through her nose, shaking her head with a slight smirk. "You really are a gambling man, huh?"
Zack grinned. "Only when I like my odds."
A beat of silence passed between them, the hum of the club surrounding them like background noise. Then, finally, Vanessa let out a quiet chuckle, leaning forward to rest her arms on the table.
"Alright," she said, amusement flickering in her eyes. "You’ve got yourself a bet."
Zack’s grin widened, and he raised his glass in a silent toast. "That’s what I like to hear."
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Vanessa clinked her glass against his, taking a sip before setting it back down. "Where and when?"
"Tomorrow night," Zack replied. "Industrial district. Long stretch near the docks. No traffic, no interruptions."
She nodded slowly, then smirked. "Hope your boy doesn’t cry when he loses."
Zack chuckled, leaning back against the seat. "You should be more worried about how you’ll handle losing to him."
Vanessa rolled her eyes, finishing off her drink in one go before standing up. "We’ll see about that." She tossed a few bills onto the table for the drink and shot Zack a final look. "Tell your guy to bring his best. I don’t go easy on anyone."
Zack watched her leave, amusement still lingering in his expression. He had no doubt Vanessa was good — damn good. But Ethan? Ethan was something else.
And he couldn’t wait to see it play out.
#####
Ethan exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair as he stepped out of the real estate office.
Another deal closed. Another rundown apartment building added to his growing list of properties. The system had made this all too easy.
He barely had to think about it — find a neglected building, purchase it for dirt cheap, renovate it to modern standards, and sell it for a small fortune.
"It’s like a cheat code," he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.
The thought amused him, but it was the truth.
In just a short time, he had amassed more wealth than most people would see in their lifetime. And the best part? This was just the tip of the iceberg.
Slipping his phone out of his pocket, he scrolled through his contacts and pressed a name he had dialed many times before.
Marty picked up on the second ring.
"Boss?"
"Just closed another deal," Ethan said, stepping toward his car. "I need you to handle the usual—get the paperwork in order, start on the renovations, and have a team assess the place."
Marty let out a low whistle. "Another one already? You don’t mess around, do you?"
Ethan chuckled as he slid into the driver’s seat. "I don’t like wasted time. And neither should you."
"Fair enough," Marty replied. "I’ll get on it first thing in the morning."
"Good," Ethan said, starting the car. "I’ll check in later."
With that, he ended the call and leaned back against the seat for a moment, rubbing his temples. It had been a long day, and exhaustion was beginning to creep in.
He needed to get home, clear his head, and recharge before jumping into the next phase of his plans.
The streets were quiet as he drove through the city, the bright lights reflecting off the sleek surface of his Porsche.
The engine hummed beneath him, a comforting sound in the otherwise silent night. He barely paid attention to the admiring glances his car drew as he navigated toward his mansion.
By the time he pulled into the driveway and stepped out, the weight of the day finally settled in his bones.
He made his way inside, tossing his keys onto the counter before heading straight to his chair in the living room.
The moment he sat down, his phone buzzed. He groaned, half tempted to ignore it, but when he saw Zack’s name flashing on the screen, he sighed and answered.