Badass in Disguise

bChapter /bb89 /b

A 662

Jade’s POV:

Alexander Haxton stared at me with wide eyesb, /bhis mouth slightly open. I watched his expression shift from confusion to recognitionb, /bthen to something like awe.

b“/bYou–you’re Jade Morgan?” he stammered, smoothing down his designer suit in a nervous gesture.

I studied him coolly. “You’ve got a strong survival instinct, don’t you?b” /bbI /bsaid.

b“/bI’m sorry?b” /bAlexander looked confused.

“You survived the incident in Cloud City,” I rified. “Pretty impressive.”

His face brightened. “Oh! Yes, that was…quite an experience. I apologize for my reaction. I just didn’t expect to see you hereb, /bof all ces.”

Alexander nced at his watch. “I’m sorry, but I have an urgent meeting. Could I possibly get your contact information? I’d love to take you to dinner sometime as a thank you for…well, you know.”

I almost smiled at his awkwardness. “Sure.” I recited my number as he entered it into his phone.

“Perfectb, /bI’ll text you,” Alexander said.

The next morning, I was heading to the dining hall when someone fell into step beside me.

‘Hey, you’re Jade Morgan, right? The girl who crushed the freshman challenge?”

I nced sideways at the btall /bguy keeping pace with me. Tall build, expensive clothes, confidence bordering on arrogance. I recognized him immediately–Chase Astor.

‘Do I know you?” I asked, even though I remembered our encounter on Cloud City’s mountain roads perfectly.

“Chase Astor.” He shed a smile that probably melted most girls‘ hearts. “I think we’ve met before. Mountain road in Cloud City? You were driving a pretty sweet ride for someone your age.”

I kept walking. “Not ringing any bells.”

bHe /bbwasn’t /bdeterred. “Come on, I never forget a face. Especially one that cost me three hundred grand in a street

brace/b.”

bI /bbstopped /band faced himb. /b“What do you want, Chaseb?/bb” /b

12:21 Mon, Sep b22 /b

His smile widened. “There she is. I knew you remembered meb./bb” /b

‘I’m busy. bGet /bto the point.”

Chase bleaned /bcloser. “Have lunch with me today. I have a proposition that might interest you.”

bI /bconsidered telling him to fuck offb, /bbut curiosity won out. “Twelve–thirty. I have ss at one–forty–fiveb./bb” /b

62

b“/bPerfect. Meet me at bthe /bbwest /bbcampus /bcafé.b” /bHe walked backward as he spoke, that cocky smile still stered on his

face.

The café was crowded when I arrived, but Chase had secured a corner table. He waved me over, pushing a sd

toward me as I sat down.

“I ordered for you,” he said. “Hope that’s bokay/bb./bb” /b

I ignored the sd. “What’s this proposition?”

Chase leaned forward, lowering his voice. “How would you like to make some serious cash tonight? I’m talking about a race–an off–road challenge.”

“Not interested.”

“Fifty thousand dors for one race,” Chase said quickly. “The course is about twenty minutes outside town. Some abandoned quarrynd the locals call ‘the Bands.“”

I braised /ban eyebrow. “Fifty thousand is pocket change. Not worth my time.”

Chase’s eyes widened slightly. “Pocket change? Jesusb, /bwho are youb?/bb” /bHe recovered quickly. “Okay, how about this–if you beat those smug bastards, I’ll personally add another fifty grand per race. That’s a hundred thousand for what, an hour of your timeb?/bb” /b

I took a sip of waterb, /bconsidering. It wasn’t about the money–I had more than enough. But something about the bprospect /bof racing again made my blood hum. The adrenaline, the control, the victory–I missed it,

“What time?” I asked finally.

bChase’s /bbface /bblit /bup. “Meet bme /boutside bthe /beast campus gate at eight. I’ll drive us thereb./bb” /b

I nodded bonce /band stood bup/b. “Don’t bete.b” /b

bAt /beight bo’clock /bsharpb, /bbI /bwalked bthrough /bbthe east /bbcampus /bgateb. /bbChase /bbwas /bbalready /bwaitingb, /bbleaning /bagainst ba /bheavily

12:21 Mon, bSep /bb22 /b

modified Jeep Wrangler with massive tires and a reinforced roll cage.

b62 /b

“Right on time,” he said, opening the passenger door for me. “Hope you’re ready to shock some Europeans tonight.”

The drive took us through winding country roads until we reached what looked like an abandoned mining operation. Dozens of off–road vehicles were parked in a makeshift lot–Range Rovers, G–Wagons, and custom rigs that probably cost more than most houses.

Chapter Comments

4

Write Comments