Badass in Disguise Chapter 88

Jade's POV:

Alexander Haxton stared at me with wide eyes, his mouth slightly open. I watched his expression shift from confusion to recognition, then to something like awe.

"You—you're Jade Morgan?" he stammered, smoothing down his designer suit in a nervous gesture.

I studied him coolly. "You've got a strong survival instinct, don't you?" I said.

"I'm sorry?" Alexander looked confused.

"You survived the incident in Cloud City," I clarified. "Pretty impressive."

His face brightened. "Oh! Yes, that was...quite an experience. I apologize for my reaction. I just didn't expect to see you here, of all places."

Alexander glanced at his watch. "I'm sorry, but I have an urgent meeting. Could I possibly get your contact information? I'd love to take you to dinner sometime as a thank you for...well, you know."

I almost smiled at his awkwardness. "Sure." I recited my number as he entered it into his phone.

"Perfect, I'll text you," Alexander said.

---

The next morning, I was heading to the dining hall when someone fell into step beside me.

"Hey, you're Jade Morgan, right? The girl who crushed the freshman challenge?"

I glanced sideways at the tall guy keeping pace with me. Tall build, expensive clothes, confidence bordering on arrogance. I recognized him immediately—Chase Astor.

"Do I know you?" I asked, even though I remembered our encounter on Cloud City's mountain roads perfectly.

"Chase Astor." He flashed a smile that probably melted most girls' hearts. "I think we've met before. Mountain road in Cloud City? You were driving a pretty sweet ride for someone your age."

I kept walking. "Not ringing any bells."

He wasn't deterred. "Come on, I never forget a face. Especially one that cost me three hundred grand in a street race."

I stopped and faced him. "What do you want, Chase?"

His smile widened. "There she is. I knew you remembered me."

"I'm busy. Get to the point."

Chase leaned closer. "Have lunch with me today. I have a proposition that might interest you."

I considered telling him to fuck off, but curiosity won out. "Twelve-thirty. I have class at one-forty-five."

"Perfect. Meet me at the west campus café." He walked backward as he spoke, that cocky smile still plastered on his face.

---

The café was crowded when I arrived, but Chase had secured a corner table. He waved me over, pushing a salad toward me as I sat down.

"I ordered for you," he said. "Hope that's okay."

I ignored the salad. "What's this proposition?"

Chase leaned forward, lowering his voice. "How would you like to make some serious cash tonight? I'm talking about a race—an off-road challenge."

"Not interested."

"Fifty thousand dollars for one race," Chase said quickly. "The course is about twenty minutes outside town. Some abandoned quarry land the locals call 'the Badlands.'"

I raised an eyebrow. "Fifty thousand is pocket change. Not worth my time."

Chase's eyes widened slightly. "Pocket change? Jesus, who are you?" He recovered quickly. "Okay, how about this—if you beat those smug bastards, I'll personally add another fifty grand per race. That's a hundred thousand for what, an hour of your time?"

I took a sip of water, considering. It wasn't about the money—I had more than enough. But something about the prospect of racing again made my blood hum. The adrenaline, the control, the victory—I missed it.

"What time?" I asked finally.

Chase's face lit up. "Meet me outside the east campus gate at eight. I'll drive us there."

I nodded once and stood up. "Don't be late."

---

At eight o'clock sharp, I walked through the east campus gate. Chase was already waiting, leaning against a heavily modified Jeep Wrangler with massive tires and a reinforced roll cage.

"Right on time," he said, opening the passenger door for me. "Hope you're ready to shock some Europeans tonight."

The drive took us through winding country roads until we reached what looked like an abandoned mining operation. Dozens of off-road vehicles were parked in a makeshift lot—Range Rovers, G-Wagons, and custom rigs that probably cost more than most houses.

Chase parked among a group of similarly customized vehicles surrounded by preppy-looking guys in expensive outdoor gear. As I stepped out, their conversation halted, and all eyes turned to me.

"Astor, who's the eye candy?" one of them called out with a smirk.

"Watch your mouth, Trent," Chase replied sharply. "This is Jade Morgan, the driver I told you about."

"This is your secret weapon?" Another guy laughed. "What's she going to do, distract the competition with her looks?"

I ignored them, surveying the course layout visible in the distance—steep inclines, muddy pits, and narrow passages between rock formations. Challenging, but nothing I hadn't handled before.

"Keep your comments clean," Chase warned his friends. "She's the one who smoked me on Cloud City's mountain pass. The girl I've been looking for."

That silenced them momentarily, until a group of newcomers approached—five men in matching racing gear, speaking rapid German among themselves.

"The Europeans are here," Chase muttered to me. "The green-eyed one is Blake. His parents are political bigwigs in Europe. He's been in town following his mother on some diplomatic tour. Professional driver, been here for a month now. I've lost almost three hundred grand to him."

Blake spotted our group and headed over, his eyes settling on me with obvious interest.

"Astor," he said with a heavy accent. "I see you've brought a cheerleader this time. Perhaps she will bring you better luck, yes?"

Chase bristled beside me. "Actually, she'll be driving for me tonight."

Blake and his friends erupted in laughter. "A woman? You must be desperate to lose your money so quickly."

I stepped forward, switching to flawless German. "*Three years ago at the Alpine Off-Road Challenge, your entire team lost to a sixteen-year-old American girl. You not only lost your custom Land Rover, but had to wear a pink tutu and reindeer antlers while dancing Swan Lake in a mud pit.*"

The color drained from Blake's face as Chase's friends roared with laughter.

"How do you know about that?" Blake demanded in English.

I smiled coldly. "Fifty thousand is too small a bet for me. Three hundred thousand per race, or I'm not interested."

Chase grabbed my arm. "Jade, what are you doing?" he whispered urgently. "That's serious money."

"Do you trust me to win?" I asked without looking at him.

After a brief hesitation, Chase nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I do."

I turned back to Blake. "Well? Are you in, or are European drivers as cowardly as I remember?"

Blake's jaw tightened. "Fine. Three hundred thousand." His eyes raked over me. "But if you lose, you spend the night with me instead of paying."

Chase lunged forward, but I held him back.

"*When you lose,*" I replied in German, "*you will crawl across the finish line and leave this place.*"

Blake's lips curled into a sneer. "If I lose—which I won't—I'll not only crawl out of here, I'll do it naked."

The crowd around us erupted in exclamations and laughter.

Chase announced, "Jade will be driving for me tonight against Blake."

Blake scoffed. "Women can't handle real off-road racing. This course requires strength and endurance."

"Says the man who lost to a sixteen-year-old girl," I shot back.

Blake stepped toward me, fury in his eyes. Chase moved between us, shoulders squared.

"You should back off," Chase warned.

"Or what?" Blake challenged, his friends moving to flank him.

I slipped past Chase, standing toe-to-toe with Blake. "Let's finish the race first. After I humiliate you on the track, we can settle any other disputes." I smiled coldly. "Though knowing your type, you'll probably claim the vehicle was faulty or the course was unfair—anything to avoid admitting you lost to a woman. Again."