The tension was palpable in the air as Samantha paced back and forth in her father's lavish study, the ticking of the grandfather clock the only sound to accompany the swirl of thoughts racing through her mind. She had been locked in this room for the past hour, waiting for her father's next move. He hadn't said a word after the heated confrontation with Maxwell earlier, but she could feel the storm brewing. And this time, it wasn't just about the engagement.
She could still feel Maxwell's presence from earlier that day—the cool, controlled look on his face as he calmly outwitted her father. It made her blood boil. It wasn't just the fact that he was a stranger to her, but that he seemed to have so much control over everything she despised. Her life. Her choices. Her freedom.
"Do you think this is some game, Samantha?" Her father's voice broke through her thoughts, low and threatening.
She turned to face him, seeing the fire burning in his eyes. He was furious, but she couldn't bring herself to care. She was done being manipulated by him. Done being the obedient daughter, the perfect little heir to his empire.
"No, father, this isn't a game," she said coldly, her voice steady despite the storm brewing inside her. "But I'm done playing by your rules."
His lips curled into a cold smile. "You're in no position to negotiate, young lady. The engagement is set. The deal is done. You will marry Maxwell, or you will lose everything."
She hated the way he said that—like he owned her life. But she wasn't just going to roll over. Not this time.
Before she could reply, there was a knock at the door. It opened without waiting for permission, and in stepped Maxwell himself. His dark eyes locked onto hers, his face unreadable as always.
She scowled at him, but his expression remained unaffected.
"I've spoken with your father," he said, his tone smooth but firm. "We have everything in place. The engagement announcement is scheduled for tomorrow."
Samantha clenched her fists, but Maxwell's gaze never wavered. She could feel the heat of her anger building, the urge to lash out, but she controlled herself. For now.
"You think you can just waltz in here and tell me how my life is going to unfold?" she bit out, her eyes narrowing. "This is my life, Maxwell, not some business deal you can buy your way into. I don't care what kind of power you think you have—you'll never have control over me."
Maxwell took a step forward, his presence commanding and unyielding. He was tall, almost towering over her as he locked eyes with her, unblinking. The silence stretched between them, thick and charged.
"I'm not here to fight with you," he said quietly. "But I will do whatever it takes to get this deal done. Your father may be the one pulling the strings, but I'm here to make sure you understand what's at stake."
She could feel her pulse quicken, her chest rising and falling with the effort to keep her composure. She wasn't going to let him break her. Not now.
"You're wasting your time," she spat. "I'll never marry you."
Maxwell's lips twitched as though he were fighting back a smirk. "You don't have a choice, Samantha."
That was when she snapped.
"Maybe I do," she said, her voice laced with venom. "Maybe I can make a deal with you."
Both men stared at her, their expressions shifting as if they weren't sure if she was serious. She was. The thought had been bubbling inside her, and now that the words had escaped her lips, she knew it was the only way out.
"I challenge you," she said, her heart racing with anticipation. "If I win, this engagement is off. No strings attached. No more deals. You can walk away, and I'll walk away. You never see me again."
For a brief moment, Maxwell seemed taken aback, his eyes narrowing slightly as he assessed her. She could see the calculation in his gaze, the way he measured every word she spoke, every action she took. But then, slowly, he smiled.
"That's quite a challenge, Samantha," he said, his voice smooth like honey but laced with something else. "But I accept. We race, and if you win, I'll call off the engagement."
Her heart pounded in her chest, but her resolve remained firm. She had never backed down from a race in her life.
"Deal," she said, her voice strong.
Maxwell's smile deepened, but it wasn't the smile of someone who was confident in her failure. It was the smile of someone who already had a plan, someone who was in control.
"I'll see you on the track," he said softly.
But as he turned to leave, something in his eyes made her pause. It was a flicker—just for a moment—but it was enough. He had a secret, and she was going to uncover it.
Maxwell may have accepted the bet, but she wasn't the only one with something to prove.
As Maxwell left the room, Samantha stood there, her mind whirling. She had just made a pact with the devil himself. And as the door closed behind him, she could feel the weight of the challenge settling over her. But just as she was about to turn to her father and demand answers, the sound of an engine roaring to life echoed through the mansion. Her eyes narrowed.
It wasn't Maxwell's car. Someone else was on the property. Someone who shouldn't be here.
Suddenly, the truth dawned on her—this wasn't just a race for her freedom. It was a fight for survival. And she didn't know if she was prepared for what was about to come next.