Chapter 72: Chapter 72: High Stakes
Alexander sat quietly on the edge of the empty stage staring down at his boots as Marcus’s words echoed in his mind.
Lilly was a sweet incredibly beautiful girl and he genuinely liked her but there was absolutely no way he was going to compromise his freedom or alter his entire life path just to keep her happy.
Whatever thought Alexander brushing the irritation aside "I’ll figure out a way to smooth things over with her later."
He stood up slung his bag over his shoulder and walked out of the theater room.
He strode across the university parking lot toward his vehicle.
As he approached he noticed a pair of attractive girls laughing and taking photos with their phones posing dramatically against Marcus’s polished Corvette.
Alexander ignored them walking straight to his own car and clicking the remote to unlock the doors.
The two girls—a stunning confident blonde named April and a striking dark-skinned girl named Ivy—were playfully flirting and joking around with Marcus who had just walked out of the building.
Alexander started his engine and was just about to shift into reverse when Marcus jogged over and leaned his arm against the open driver-side window "Hey bro you busy?" asked Marcus a challenging smirk on his face "Are you up for a little street racing right now?"
Alexander cut the engine looking at him with a flat expression "Racing?" asked Alexander.
"Yeah man I know a spectacular underground spot" replied Marcus gesturing toward the highway "The entry-level bracket pays out twenty-five thousand if you win the sprint.
I’m running in the higher tier which requires a top-end sports car and pulls a hundred thousand per race.
Since you’re driving a sedan you’ll be placed in the standard class.
What do you think?"
April and Ivy let out a synchronized mocking giggle from the background their eyes sweeping over Alexander’s practical car.
Alexander was completely indifferent to the girls’ laughter and was right on the verge of turning Marcus down.
But just as he was about to speak his sharp eyes caught a familiar figure walking down the main campus pathway toward the exit gates.
It was Lilly.
Her head was down her oversized sweater swallowing her frame as she walked alone.
An aggressive petty impulse suddenly flared inside Alexander’s chest.
He wanted to sting her to make her feel a sharp spike of jealousy and regret for walking out on him "Alright count me in" stated Alexander his voice turning loud and clear so it would carry across the asphalt "Let’s go.
I feel like doing some racing today."
Marcus grinned widely clapping his hand against the car door "That’s what I’m talking about!" shouted Marcus "Just so you know there are absolutely no rules out there.
It’s a single-loop sprint through heavy terrifying afternoon traffic.
Last time we ran this route a couple of amateur drivers completely totaled their cars and died on the tarmac."
Marcus let out a loud careless laugh as he turned back toward the girls.
Alexander kept his eyes locked on Lilly’s distant figure.
The moment Marcus mentioned the fatal casualties he saw Lilly abruptly freeze in her tracks.
She stood completely still for a few agonizing seconds her back stiffening in pure panic.
She was furious with him but that didn’t mean she had stopped caring about his life.
After a moment she forced herself to start walking again keeping her face forward but Alexander smiled confidently to himself.
He knew she had heard every single word.
Before setting off Marcus rolled down his window and gestured toward the two girls.
Since the Corvette was a strict two-seater only one of them could ride with him.
April quickly claimed the passenger seat of the sports car leaving Ivy standing on the asphalt.
The dark-skinned girl sighed rolling her eyes and walked over to Alexander’s sedan "Hey can I ride with you?" asked Ivy knocking on the glass.
"Sure get in" replied Alexander unlocking the door.
Neither of them looked particularly thrilled about the arrangement.
Alexander wasn’t pleased with being treated as the second-choice backup option and Ivy was visibly annoyed that Marcus had chosen her friend April over her.
A heavy awkward silence filled the cabin as she buckled her seatbelt.
The moment the parking lot gates opened Marcus aggressively slammed on the gas the Corvette’s engine roaring as it tore onto the main avenue at breakneck speed.
Marcus drove like a maniac weaving sharply through the heavy afternoon traffic and cutting off semi-trucks without a care in the world.
Alexander however remained completely calm.
He kept his hands loose on the steering wheel driving at a steady controlled pace.
Within seconds the Corvette vanished into the distance leaving Alexander’s sedan far behind.
By the time Alexander finally pulled into the underground racing meet Marcus had already been parked for several minutes "Man you are as slow as my grandmother!" shouted Marcus laughing loudly as he stepped out of his car and mocked Alexander in front of the gathering crowd.
Alexander casually stepped out of his sedan a cold smirk on his lips "Your grandmother might be slow but she moves beautifully in bed so fuck you" retorted Alexander.
Marcus let out a loud roar of laughter clapping him on the shoulder as the initial tension melted into their usual banter.
April and Ivy immediately paired up again walking a few steps behind the two guys as they began to explore the massive underground venue.
The girls’ eyes widened as they took in the sheer scale of the event.
The entire industrial warehouse was packed with a jaw-dropping display of automotive engineering.
On one side high-end imports lined the walls—heavily modified Nissan Skyline GTRs and rally-spec Mitsubishi Lancer Evos boasting easily over five million dollars worth of high-power precision-tuned engines.
On the other side the deep guttural growl of classic American muscle shook the concrete floor.
There were pristine old-school steel bodies—Dodge Chargers Pontiac GTO and classic Ford Mustangs.
It was a gathering of pure raw horsepower a collection of machinery that could easily be valued at over one-hundred million dollars.
