Chapter 74

With that, Elena darted away like a cat pleased with herself and slipped into the driver's seat.

Richard watched her go, then touched the cheek she had kissed. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

The former rally driver gave him a nod before getting into the passenger seat.

Richard remained where he was until the Ferrari disappeared through the gates. Only then did he turn to the assistants waiting nearby.

"Let's go."

Elena behaved herself while driving through the city.

For the first part of the trip, she was too nervous about scratching an absurdly expensive Ferrari to care whether anyone on the street was staring at it.

Only when the traffic gradually thinned did she finally relax.

The scenery opened around them. Manicured green fairways rolled across one side of the road, while a clear river curved along the other. In the distance, mountains faded in and out of the morning mist.

"Brake gently before the corner," the former rally driver instructed. "Don't fight the steering. The car will hold the line better than you think. Once you're through the apex, be decisive with the throttle."

"Got it."

Elena was more accustomed to composed luxury sedans. The Ferrari was completely different.

Every press of the accelerator produced an instant surge of power that pushed her back into the seat, and before long, a grin had spread across her face.

"Oh, this is amazing."

She kept both hands steady on the wheel as the Ferrari swept through another curve.

A black security SUV followed at a discreet distance behind them, carrying the protection team Richard had assigned to her.

After more than half an hour on the winding mountain road, Elena had begun to understand the car far better. Eventually, she slowed and pulled into a scenic overlook surrounded by wildflowers.

The moment she stepped out, cool mountain air swept across her face, carrying the fresh scent of grass and damp earth.

Elena leaned against the pearl-white Ferrari and immediately took out her phone. First she photographed the scenery, then the Ferrari from practically every angle she could think of—the front, the side, the rear, and several more just because the light looked good.

"Okay, nature definitely makes the best background."

Naturally, she took a few of herself as well, leaning against the car while the wind tossed her blonde ponytail behind her. After making a few quick adjustments to the photos, she sent them to Richard.

Elena: [Photo] [Photo] [Photo]

Elena: [Reporting to the Chairman: I made it! The view is gorgeous, and the car is SO much fun to drive!]

Richard was probably still in his meeting, so she wasn't expecting an immediate reply. She put away her phone and turned to her companion.

"Let's head to the club for lunch. We've been driving all morning and I'm starving."

"Of course, Ms. Hayes."

As one of the Sterling Consortium's most exclusive private golf clubs, Greenfield was deliberately difficult to get into.

Membership was invitation-only, and even enormous wealth wasn't enough on its own. Prospective members needed recommendations from three board members before they could even apply.

As a result, even on a weekend, the club never felt crowded.

The Ferrari came to a smooth stop beneath the covered entrance of the clubhouse.

The valets were accustomed to expensive cars. Even so, one of them glanced at the pearl-white Ferrari, then at the black security SUV pulling in behind it, and immediately stepped forward.

"Welcome to Greenfield, ma'am."

Elena climbed out and removed her sunglasses.

The clubhouse rose against the hillside, its broad glass façade reflecting the surrounding mountains and greenery.

Two attendants escorted Elena and her companion inside and up to the third-floor restaurant.

The view was spectacular.

From a table by the windows, guests could look out over the fairways, valley, and glittering water below. Although it was lunchtime, only three or four tables in the large dining room were occupied. Soft jazz played in the background, and the atmosphere was quiet enough that conversations rarely carried far.

Elena was looking for a table by the window when she passed a large semi-private booth screened by greenery.

Laughter drifted from inside.

"Victoria, try this. It's from a French vineyard. I think you'll like it."

A young man wearing an expensive watch held out a glass of white wine with an unmistakably eager smile.

The woman seated at the center of the group wore a designer dress, her posture elegant and composed.

It was Victoria Sterling.

After yesterday's uncomfortable visit with her father, Victoria had returned home in a terrible mood. Nothing had felt quite right for the rest of the day.

So when several friends invited her out for a round of golf on Sunday, she had agreed.

"Thank you."

Victoria took a small sip of the wine, maintaining a polite smile despite her lingering irritation.

The young women around her were all skilled at reading a room. Noticing her mood, they quickly changed the subject.

"Victoria, your putting was gorgeous today. I swear, you're good at everything."

Another woman laughed.

"And I heard Sterling Consortium just closed another major deal in Europe. Your father really doesn't slow down, does he?"

"At this point, I'm starting to think the Sterlings are good at everything."

The praise was obvious, but it worked.

Some of the frustration Victoria had carried since yesterday gradually eased. She lifted her chin slightly and was about to respond when her gaze wandered toward the aisle.

Then she saw Elena.

The smile on Victoria's face stalled for just a second.

The others noticed immediately and followed her line of sight.

Several tables away, a tall young woman in a cream athletic outfit had taken a seat by the window. She rested her chin lazily on one hand as she looked through the menu.

Across from her sat a middle-aged man.

Sunlight spilled through the glass and across the young woman's face. She wore almost no makeup, yet her features were striking enough to draw attention without any effort at all.

Elena Hayes.

A wave of discomfort went through Victoria.

What happened at the pool had unquestionably been Charlotte's fault. Charlotte had gone too far, and worse, Richard had happened to discover it.

But Elena had been at the center of the entire incident.

Then there was Adrian.

Her father's unexpected intervention.

And now this.

Elena seemed to have a habit of appearing in places Victoria never expected to see her.

"Hm?"

One of the women at the table followed Victoria's gaze while taking another bite of her lunch.

"Who are you looking at?"

She glanced curiously toward Elena.

"Do you know her?"