Chapter 42
Elara sat in the passenger seat, feeling slightly out of place. “This car…”
“Seven years ago, I bought it at a Chester’s Auction. I even lit the lamp to get my hands on it.”
Lit the lamp was an auction term, meaning that no matter how high others bid, the one who lit the lamp would always outbid them. It signified an absolute determination to win.
“Corona“-this very car–had set a world record for its auction price seven years ago.
Elara chuckled. “So, you were the one who bought it.”
She reached out, running her fingers over the car’s sleek body with deep nostalgia. “You know this car is…”
Before she could finish, Theodore seamlessly completed her sentence. “I know–you were Corona’s first owner.” Not only did he know, but he had once watched her race it on the track, dominating every turn. He had seen her remove her helmet, eyes alight with exhilaration.
Nothing had ever struck him more deeply than the sight of her radiant smile.
Staring straight ahead at the gray, rain–soaked streets, Theodore asked, “Elara, do you still hold onto your dreams?”
Elara’s dark eyes widened, their depths reflecting years of quiet endurance. Her damp fingers still traced Corona’s door repeatedly.
She had thought she would never see this car again. She had believed that the days of racing on the track were forever behind her.
A soft, involuntary whimper escaped her throat. “I’ll earn enough to buy it back… Would you be willing to part with it, Mr. Snapp?”
Theodore smiled. “I’ll be waiting.”
At the Snapp residence, Elara barely took the time to dry off before she sat at the desk, opened her laptop, and connected to the Internet. She immediately reached out to the organizers of the ALI Math Competition to request
a chance to resume her exam.
For the sake of fairness, the organizers assigned her a new test, Version B, and allowed her to use the remaining time to complete and submit it.
Theodore leaned casually against the doorframe with arms crossed, watching from a distance as Elara worked. Her gaze remained fixed on the screen, fingers flying across the keyboard.
He could never get enough of this version of her.
Back at the Fisher Corp’s headquarters, Cyrus reported, “Mr. Fisher, Mrs. Fisher got into Mr. Theodore Snapp’s car and went to the Snapp residence.”
Harvey let out a dry, humorless laugh. “Does she know we changed the passcode for Azure Shores?”
Cyrus nodded. “Frank from Azure Shores called earlier. Mrs. Fisher said to throw away all her and Ms. Bambi’s belongings.”
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Chapter 42
Harvey scoffed. “No wonder–she found herself a new backer.”
Just then, his phone vibrated. He answered, and a male voice came through.
“Harvey, congratulations! You’ve passed the preliminary screening for Glory Entertainment’s male escort division. With your looks and physique, you can start taking clients as early as tomorrow!”
A rush of heat surged to Harvey’s head, and his temples throbbed violently with fury.
“Do you know who I am?” he asked coldly.
The man on the phone clearly didn’t.
“Harvey, if you start tonight, the base salary is 30 thousand a month plus commission. By the way, do you well–defined pecs? Send me some pictures so I can-”
Harvey slammed the phone down.
+25 BONUS
have
Cold fury leaked from his breath as he barked at his secretary, “Contact the owner of Glory Entertainment and have that HR from the male escort division fired!”
Even so, how had that HR gotten his private number in the first place?
Harvey recalled mentioning Glory Entertainment during his last conversation with Elara. It had to be her.
She had created a résumé under his name and sent it straight to the escort division. She was practically dancing on a landmine!
Pressing a hand to his forehead, Harvey’s expression darkened completely.
Meanwhile, back at the Snapp residence, Elara remained glued to her laptop. She was typing rapidly as the sky outside dimmed.
At the kindergarten, Bambi sat quietly on a chair with her small backpack resting against her back. Her hands were neatly placed on her lap.
One by one, the other children were picked up by their parents. She lifted her hand and waved goodbye to each of them.
Beside her, Beau was the complete opposite–he had slumped into his seat, sprawled out like a puddle of exhaustion with legs stretched straight in front of him.
“When is Niamh coming?” he grumbled.
