Chapter 99

Their behavior was utterly disgusting. A hand emerged from the teal race car ahead, flipping her the middle finger—a blatant insult. Even over the roar of the engines, Thea heard a man laugh mockingly.

Thea sneered. "How childish," she muttered. She slowed, but the two men, believing she was giving up, grew even more smug. To their surprise, Thea instantly swerved around the car to her right, executing a flawless drift and overtaking them on the curve. Like a nimble snake, she effortlessly maneuvered between the two battling cars. The crowd erupted in applause, and Thea felt a surge of satisfaction. It was true: people truly unleashed their nature when doing what they loved.

As expected, she won the race. Her name, previously absent from the leaderboard, now appeared among the top three. She'd barely exited her car when trouble found her—the same two men who'd earlier blocked her. One was fat, the other thin; both wore cold expressions.

Thea cautiously took two steps back, maintaining a calm smile. "Sirs, it was just a race. I hold no grudge, and there's no need to trouble me. It wouldn't look good for you to pick on a woman, would it?"

The fat man's eyes blazed with fury. The thin one smirked creepily. "Miss Rowland, don't worry. We know why you're here. Our boss wants to meet you."

Thea noticed their neck tattoos. Though this was part of her plan, meeting this group still made her uneasy.

The thin man smiled sinisterly. "If you're scared, leave now, and we'll pretend this never happened. But be warned: our boss doesn't always want money."

Thea clenched her fists. Since Emmalie went to such lengths for me, I should return the favor, she thought. With a slight smile, her eyes calmed. "Then, I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Atop the hill stood a mansion, far more luxurious than its exterior suggested. As soon as Thea stepped inside, she felt countless eyes upon her, though the grand hall held few visible people. Clearly, someone watched from the shadows.

Emmalie hired the worst people, Thea thought. With a better team, I wouldn't have escaped so easily.

She took the elevator to the top floor's executive office—impeccably neat and orderly, betraying no hint of a shady organization. Once inside, the two men shut the door. Only three people remained.

Thea's nerves tightened. She clenched her hands, striving to remain calm. Turning, she smiled at the men. "Excuse me, where's your boss? It's not unreasonable to meet him, is it?"

The thin one sneered. "You'll see the boss, but we're in a bad mood. Don't you think you should let us blow off some steam first?"

The fat one cracked his knuckles, the sound echoing. "Yeah, no one disrespects us. Even without winning the race, you'd meet the boss. But you were reckless. Now you pay." Thea's smile faded.

Maintaining a cold expression, Thea emphasized, "I've said it. You provoked me. A fair race, and none of this would have happened."

Clearly, reason wouldn't sway these men. Sensing escalating tension, Thea raised her voice. "You brought me here; you're open to a deal. Is this how you treat your guests?"

A cool, pleasant male laugh echoed. A hidden door opened, revealing a slender figure in a suit, with slightly long hair and smooth skin. His stunning face momentarily confused Thea about his gender—until the predatory gleam in his eyes and the red serpent coiled around his neck confirmed her guess: Corey Sandy, the organization's leader.

Corey casually perched on the desk, his posture relaxed. He lifted his eyelids lazily, casting a cold but amused glance at Thea. "My men weren't wrong. You've got nerve, pushing them around. That's annoying."

Thea remained unfazed. "Annoying? Fine. I'm here for business, not begging. This process is complicated enough; a bad attitude might earn you a bad review."

Corey was momentarily stunned. Everyone seeking his help had been respectful. They weren't murderers or arsonists, but they certainly weren't strangers to illegal activities. They handled tough jobs for the right price. But this woman didn't seem to be bluffing; her arrogance felt genuine. Corey felt a flicker of anger. Does she think we're a backup option? he thought.

He sneered and approached Thea. "Tell me. What do you want us to do?"

Thea nodded. "Simple. First…" She pointed at the two men. "Teach them a lesson. They almost killed me. What do you want in return?"

The men's faces darkened in shock. Thea's statement wasn't an exaggeration; slightly worse driving, and she'd have crashed. At that speed, survival would have left her crippled.

Corey emphasized, "Miss Rowland, remember the pre-race contract?"

Thea's eyes turned cold. "Yes, it covers accidents. But their actions were deliberate, not accidental. They likely thought they could intimidate me because I'm a woman, boosting their egos."

"You…" The fat man, enraged, rolled up his sleeves to strike her.

Corey, without speaking, gave the man a cold glance. The man instantly deflated, but still tried to defend himself. "She's fine! She should just move on. Now she's making us look bad!"

Thea merely smirked faintly.

Corey took a deep breath, his tone colder. "You two, go downstairs and take your punishment."

The men stared in disbelief, but fear was evident. With darkened faces and lowered heads, they left.

Thea's mood lifted. "So, do I need to pay for this?"

The final “SEND GIFT” seems out of place and unrelated to the story. It should be removed.