VIP barricades.
His massive security team had to physically shove the paparazzi out of the way to clear a path.
Anissa had just come down from the skybox flanked by Caleb,
Forrest stopped right in front of her. The cameras swarmed them like locusts, flashes explodinglike strobe lights.
To the absolute shock of everyone present, Forrest, the newly crowned champion of the speedway, droppedto one knee on the wet asphalt. He. held the massive silver trophy up with both hands, offering it to Anissa ike a knightpresentinga sword to his queen.
“This trophy.” Forrest bellowed, his voice carrying over the screaming crowd, belongs to my beautiful sister! My lucky charm! Anissa!"
The media lost their minds. The flashes became a solid wall of white light Anissa was instantly the center of the racing world's universe Anissalet out a bright ringinglaugh. She reached out and took the heavy silver cup, hoistingit into the air to indulgehim.
Standing at the back of the crowd, pushed behind the barricades by Forrest's security, were Brendan and Ashlee. They looked like drowned rats. The jealousy radiating from them was almost visible Brendan's jaw was clenched so tight his teeth were grinding
Forrest stood up and threw his am around Anissas shoulders. He grabbed a microphonefrom a nearby r eporter.
“Tonight Forrest screamed into the mic. "The whole team is comingwith me! We are partying until the sun comes up! Drinks are on me!"
The crowd cheered, but the team manager pushed his way through the r eporters, lookingpanicked He grabbed Forrest's shoulderand whispered frantically into his ear.
“Boss, you cant,” the manager hissed “We blew the entire hospitality. budget on that transmission rebuild last week. Your personal accounts are maxed out. We cant afford a massive party inthe city."
Forrest froze, The triumphant smile slid off his face, r eplaced by a de ep, painful flush of embarrassment. He rubbed the back of his neck, looking incrediblyawkward in front of the cameras. He was a drivinggod, but he was notoriously terrible with money.
Anissa saw the panicin his eyes.
She let out a soft sigh She reached into the pocket of her leather jacket. 308% 1521 i
i S Creel £3 +120 Points at most Her fingers closed around the heavy, cold metal of the Black Centurion card Harding had given her.
Anissa pulled the card out, She held it up, pinchingit between her index and middie fingers. The matte black titanium caught the flash of the cameras, absorbingthe light
“Don't worry about the budget,’ Anissa said. Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried a weight that silenced the immediate area. Tonight the entire celebration is on Mrs. Snow."
The mechanics surroundingthem stared at the black card. They knew exactly what ít was. It was a myth. A blank checkto the universe
The crew erupted into a cheer so loud it shookthe ground "Long ive the Queen!” someone screamed.
Forrest's eyes went wide. He grabbed Anissa and spun her around ina circle, laughinghysterically. "My sister is the richest woman in New York” Anissa patted his back, signaling him to put her down. She turned to Caleb, her expression shiftingback to cold business
“Call the Elysian Club in Manhattan," Anissa ordered. “Tell them to clear the main floor and the VIP tiers. We are taking over the bullding"
The name Elysian dropped like a bomb It was the most exclusive, impossiblyexpensiv eprivate club inthe western hemisphere
Standing behind the barricade, Brendan heard the name. His eyes widened in absolute disbelief. He had spent two years and hundreds of thousands of dollars tryingto bribe his way off the Elysian wailist, and he had been rejected.
Now, the sister he had called a whore was casually rentingout the entire buildingfor a Tuesday nightparty.
The crushingwelght of his own insignificance finally broke Brendan. He couldn't watch anymore. He tumed around and practically dragged Ashlee away from the crowd, fleeing the racetrack In utter disgrace. Anissa watched them run. She slipped the black card back into her pocket The nightwas just getting started
100.0% 1521 me
< Marying My xs Powertu Bllnare Un. £5 4120 Points at most