Collision Course

Chapter Three: Behind the Wheel

- Leo -

I stood at the entrance of the Hotel de Paris, feeling the familiar rush of energy that always came after a race. It was a high I lived for—the adrenaline, the speed, the precision of every movement behind the wheel. But tonight, something else was keeping me on edge, something that had nothing to do with the race and everything to do with the woman who had managed to get under my skin.

Elena Hayes.

She was unlike anyone I'd met before. Beautiful, yes, but it was more than that. She had this quiet strength, a resolve that made her seem untouchable, and it intrigued me. I've met plenty of women in my life—women who were drawn to the thrill of being with a man like me, women who loved the chase, the danger. But Elena was different. She wasn't impressed by the cars, the fame, or the money. In fact, I could tell she wanted to keep as much distance between us as possible.

And that made me want to get closer.

As I stood there, watching the crowd of Monaco's elite flow in and out of the hotel, my mind kept drifting back to our conversation. The way she had looked at me—those guarded eyes, the slight hesitation in her voice — told me she wasn't going to fall for my usual charm. She was used to men like me, I could see that. Used to fending off advances, keeping her heart protected behind walls I wasn't sure anyone had managed to scale

But I wasn't most men. I was determined to understand her, to see what lay beneath that cool, composed exterior. I didn't want just another fleeting connection; I wanted to know what made Elena Hayes tick.

I excused myself from the group of familiar faces that had gathered around me, fellow drivers and socialites who thrived on the same high-octane lifestyle I did. Normally, I would have immersed myself in the conversation, enjoying the easy banter and the attention. But tonight, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was missing.

Or rather, someone.

I made my way inside the hotel, the sounds of the party hitting me like a wave. Laughter, music, the clinking of glasses—it was the kind of scene I knew all too well. A world of glamour, indulgence, and superficial connections. Normally, I thrived in environments like this. I knew how to work a room, how to lose myself in the moment and enjoy the company of beautiful women. But tonight, none of it seemed to matter. Not when my thoughts kept drifting back to Elena.

I found myself at the bar, ordering a drink more out of habit than desire. I scanned the room, half-hoping to see her walk through the door, though I knew it was unlikely. Elena was too smart to take a simple invitation like that. She was cautious, guarded, and I had a feeling she'd be thinking long and hard before stepping into a world she clearly didn't trust.

As I sipped my drink, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, glancing at the screen. A message from Claudia, the model who had been by my side earlier in the day. She was beautiful, sophisticated, the kind of woman who usually held my attention—at least for a while. But tonight, her message felt like a reminder of just how hollow these interactions had become for me.

I didn't reply, slipping the phone back into my pocket as I leaned against the bar. The noise of the party swirled around me, but I felt detached, as if I was watching everything from a distance. My mind kept replaying the way Elena had looked at me, the way she had tried to keep me at arm's length.

Why her? Why now?

I've always been a man who enjoys the thrill of the chase, the excitement of winning over someone who seems unattainable. But this wasn't just about the chase. There was something else—something that felt almost... real. A sense of possibility that I hadn't felt in a long time.As the night wore on, I couldn't shake the feeling that Elena was different. She wasn't just another woman to charm or another conquest to add to my list. She was a challenge, yes, but more than that, she was a mystery I wanted to unravel. There was something behind those guarded eyes, something she was hiding, and I wanted to know what it was.

But I knew better than to push too hard, too fast. Elena wasn't the type to be swayed by smooth words or grand gestures. If I wanted to get to know her, really know her, I'd have to be patient. I'd have to show her that I wasn't just another playboy, that I was willing to take the time to understand her.

As I finally pushed away from the bar and headed toward the door, the noise of the party fading behind me, I made a decision. I would see Elena again, and when I did, I'd show her that there was more to me than she thought. I wasn't just another man looking to add her to his collection. I wanted to know her, and I wasn't going to let her slip away that easily.

This was only the beginning, and something told me that the game we were playing was about to get a lot more interesting. As I stepped out into the cool night air, I felt a surge of anticipation. I knew the risks, knew that Elena was someone who could make me work harder than I'd ever worked before.

But I also knew one thing for sure: I wasn't going to back down.

I had my sights set on Elena Hayes, and for the first time in a long time, I was ready to play for keeps.