Chapter 11 Encounters

Amanda and Cindy came to this place keeping it a secret from their families. Being discovered would disgrace both the Sullivan family and the Lawrence family. Now that Amanda was with Matthew, she needed to act even more discreetly in his presence. Amanda put on night-vision goggles and adjusted her wig before nodding to Cindy beside her. "Let's head to the starting point!" Cindy declared. The race was intense. From the moment they shot out from the start, complete focus was essential. Winning or losing mattered little compared to the peril of losing one's life on Yotania's streets. Amanda floored the accelerator, shifted gears—all in one fluid motion. At this hour, Yotania's highways were eerily quiet. Their route circled around Yotania, winding through tricky back roads, busy city streets, and even through tunnels. The complexity of the route was why the reward was so high. No sooner had they left the start than Amanda quickly left Mateo's car trailing behind. She sped into the heart of Yotania, pushing the accelerator harder to maintain her lead. Entering the tunnel, she slowed down slightly—this place was notorious for accidents. Only one other car was inside, a Porsche. Something about that car seemed familiar to Amanda. As she pondered, the sound of a car grinding against the asphalt came from behind—it was Mateo catching up. Focusing intently, she floored the accelerator, overtaking the Porsche. Inside the Porsche, Matthew was focused on driving. He had been out of town for business that morning and was only now returning with Ethan. "You're in such a hurry to get back to your young wife!" Ethan teased. Matthew, eyes on the tunnel entrance ahead, remained silent. Ethan, accustomed to Matthew's reserved and sparing words, enjoyed provoking him. "Looks like having a woman has really perked you up. Things must be harmonious between you two!" Ethan remarked, hinting at rumors he'd found particularly amusing about Matthew's supposed sexual orientation—unbelievable as they seemed. He was curious about Amanda but was barred from visiting. "It's frustrating!" Ethan continued. "Only Daniel, that clinic doctor, was called by Matthew to treat a dog and managed to catch a glimpse of Matthew's woman." Matthew internally acknowledged Ethan's comment, appreciating Amanda more than he'd expected after years without a woman. His thoughts were interrupted as he glanced at a jewelry box beside him, intended for Amanda. "That's odd, Yotania was abuzz with rumors that the head of the Grant family shuns women, claiming he's impotent!" Ethan said, glancing suggestively towards Matthew's lap. Matthew shot him a glare, and Ethan chuckled, pushing further, "You're not really... are you? Or is it that you prefer men?" "Ethan!" Matthew snapped sharply. "It's not me saying it—it's the old men and women gossiping at Daniel's clinic," Ethan retorted just as a car sped past them with such force that it startled him. "Damn!" Ethan exclaimed. "What is with people these days!" Another car zoomed past, "They're street racing!" Ethan turned to Matthew, urging him, "Come on, Matthew, overtake them!" Years ago, Matthew had been a champion racer, unrivaled in his fearlessness on the tracks.