Three: The Challenge

LISA

We both entered our various cars at the same time.

I turned sideways to look at him to meet him staring at me too, with a smug look in his eyes. He smirked at me at the same time the whistle went off and off he went.

The crowd cheered for him and I smirked before finally going off, allowing myself to go slow for the first few minutes while he had already raced off and was probably feeling himself and laughing at my stupidity for daring to challenge him.

Let's see who's stupid now.

I pressed down on the accelerator and off I went. I didn't even think, didn't think about meeting him and leaving him behind as the rush of adrenaline took over and over and excitement filled my entire body.

I've missed doing this.

I soon caught up with him and I glanced at him to see him glance at me too, mouth ajar with shock and despite our attempt to outrace each other, we remained in the same line, only outrunning each other for brief seconds at intervals.

I wasn't even surprised because I knew he was good but the surprise on his face at the fact that he couldn't leave me behind was too satisfying, it made me want to burst out laughing.

I pressed down on the accelerator as we neared the finish line and I...

I crossed it first.

Well, we crossed it at the same time.

I turned off the ignition and stepped out and I headed and did the same too, eyes completely dark and unlike when he was busy bowing and faking modesty.

I wanted to laugh out loud.

They never take losing easily, those bloody Ivanov men.

"Who won?" he demanded from the host who looked like he couldn't wrap his head around what just happened, June just like the crowd that had been completely stunned into silence.

I relaxed against the bonnet of the car and I crossed my hand over my chest.

"I think she did... Did... She did..." the host stuttered, "but it's nothing monument, it's just by 10 seconds and that's not enough seconds to term someone the winner."

"I won," I announced and he turned back to me, eyes seething with malice that'd have made someone else pee in their pants I pushed myself off the car to slowly start walking towards him, "it doesn't matter if it's 2 seconds or 5 seconds or 10 seconds, what matters is the fact that I won."

The corners of his lips twitched slightly and I could figuratively see the ideas forming in his head; how he was going to kidnap me later, how he was going to torture me and make me wish I'd never dared to challenge him and embarrass him like this. He thinks I don't have an idea who I'm fucking with but he's the one who doesn't have an idea who's fucking.

"How does it feel?" I asked, my voice low and taunting, "to lose to a girl?"

He snapped! I legit thought he was going to wrap his hands around my neck and yank my head off my body with the seething malice but dear Axel Ivanov remained oddly calm.

He exhaled loudly and he moistened his lower lips again.

"Yes, you won, congratulations," he complimented, wiping the smirk off my face.

"What's that? Are you trying to feel better after losing?"

"I'm going to wire the prize money to you now," he fished his phone out of his pocket, "if you'll tell me your account number."

What's this? What's this sudden resignation? It was totally unlike Axel, totally unlike someone that has Ivanov's blood coursing through his veins. How could I even gloat when he was so fucking civil about it?

"I asked you w question earlier," I repeated, "how does it feel to lose..."

"Stop!" he gritted out angrily and he managed to make me freeze for a brief second. His eyes darkened, his expression morphing into that of a predator about to rip his prey up.

"Stop. Trying. To. Rile. Me. Up."

I chuckled loudly. To his face.

And he shook his head before exhaling again. He must be picturing the kind of hell he was going to put me through, the kind of torture he was going to wreck on my body, how he was going to make me beg and plead with him to stop.

That was probably the only reason why he was being so civil about it right now.

But the picture was the only thing he could do, no way in hell happen.

And Ivanov's men were all full of shits. They play nice in public only to become the monsters that they are behind closed doors.

"So, your account details?" he held his phone up and started pressing it.

"Well, you can use it to inflate your burst ego, I don't need a dime from you."

His eyes darkened completely and he started to reach for me before he reminded himself to stop. I scoffed at him before turning back and walking away.

I've always thought coming up with complex cyber securities was satisfying but putting Axel Ivanov in his place?

That was so fucking gratifying.

******

"Wow, girl! What was that?" Tana wouldn't stop screaming minutes later.

The race ended and instead of going back to the hostel, she made us stop at a cafe.

She dropped her cup on the circular table with a low thud.

"Like, Lisa, how's that even possible? Where did you? How did you even know how to race that perfectly that you won over the almighty Axel?"

"Firstly, there's nothing almighty about him and secondly, I used to race before I entered college."

"So you're telling me the last time you raced was before our first year?"

"Yeah!"

"Wow!" her mouth dropped open, "and you're still that good to the point of beating Axel? That's no small feat. How come you've never raced then? How come you've never even attended a car racing event like this before if you use to race?"

"Well," I sighed, regretting the fact that I hoped on the challenge on impulse but putting Axel in his place made it worth it, "I sort of gave it up and today, it was more like I hoped on it on impulse. That's why I've never attended one before because I knew I'd never be able to withstand the temptation."

"I'm glad you were unable to because what? Girl! You're the most popular student in St. Williams now," she picked up her phone and started going through it, "everyone is talking about you and sending your pictures and just... You're now a celebrity. No one thought anyone could beat Axel, not to talk of a girl and you just..."

I tuned her out as I drowned the rest of my drink. I've always wanted to live in the shadows and now, just one encounter with that asshole had already shot me into the unwanted limelight.

Axel fucking Ivanov.

So fucking annoying.