Cars: The Queen Of The East

Jackson's Temper Tantrum.

Meanwhile, at the IGNTR Racing Facility, 7:56am (LA Time).

In the heart of Los Angeles, the sun continuing to rise high into the sky, casting long golden rays across the sprawling city. The IGNTR state of the art Racing Facility reserved for the best of the best in racing, stood tall and imposing in the early morning light. Inside, Jackson Storm was anything but calm. He was still fuming from Florida. The race had been his to win---Until SHE came along, of all people, had stolen it from him. He paced the sleek hallways of the facility, his footsteps echoing off the walls as his anger simmered just beneath the surface.

How could have i lost to her? he thought, his hands clenched into fists. She's just a Trainer. a nobody. The memory of Cruz flipping over him and crossing the finish line first flashed through his mind, and his face twisted into a scowl as he stomped towards his crew chief's office. it didn't make sense. She didn't belong out there, and now she was all anyone could talk about.

Ray stood by the large floor-to-ceiling windows of his office, overlooking the practice track as Jackson entered the office. for the past few days, Ray has watched Jackson storm around the place for nearly 2 hours straight each morning. He knew Jackson well enough to recognise when a storm-both figuratively and literally-was brewing.

Ray sighed and Called out, "Jackson, you need let this go, it's done."

Jackson Stopped in his track after he shut the door and turned to Face Ray, his voice dripping with frustration. "Let it go? Let it go?! Have you completely forgotten what happened, Ray? I Didn't just Lose Florida. I lost to Ramirez. Some Trainer from Rusteze's! She doesn't belong on the track!"

Ray crossed his arms, staying calm in the face of Jackson's tantrum. "She does now, Jackson. You saw here out there. She earned that win, Fair and square."

Jackson scoffed, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, right. She got lucky, that's all. One lucky race, and now everyone's acting like she's the next big thing. But she'll be gone soon. it was just a One-off, Right? She's not sticking around."

Ray's lips tightened as he considered what to say next. Had the kid not even looked at the news? No, but probably for the Best. He had heard the rumours until he looked at the news this morning as soon as he woke up to see that Ramirez was signing with Dinoco in the early Afternoon tomorrow. But Ray wasn't about to fan the flames of Jackson's rage any further. Instead, he decided to play it down. "Look, Jackson, there are always rumours after a big race. People talk, and they speculate. But as far as i know, nothing's comfirmed. She's still with Rusteze's, for now."

Jackson's eyes narrowed. "Good. That's how it should be. She's just a Trainer. She has no business being on the same track as me. I've worked for this, Ray. I'm the future of racing. Not her."

Ray sighed again, knowing this conversation wasn't going to get any easier. "You're not wrong, Jackson. You are the Future of Racing. The Leader of the Next Gen Racers. But that doesn't mean you can ignore the Competition. Ramirez is talented, whether you want to admit it or not."

Jackson scoffed again. "Yeah, Yeah whatever. Now, why did you call me here? I've got Training to do."

Ray took a deep breath before dropping the Real bomshell. "You've been Fined $250,000."

Jackson froze, His eyes widening. "What? Fined for what?!"

Ray didn't flinch. "Fined for what? For the damage you caused to Ramirez's Car after you pushed her into the wall during the race. The Piston Cup Officials reviewed the footage, and they've ruled it as intentional. You're Lucky they haven't Suspended you for Virginia."

The color drained from Jackson's face as he processed Ray's words. "Two Hundred and fifty thousand dollars? Are you kidding me?! That's Bullshit!"

Ray raised an eyebrow. "I'm not kidding. And before you go off about how unfair it is, you need to remember that you put her car-and her-in serious danger. The wall scrape could've been much worse. she could've been hurt!"

Jackson's anger boiled over. "She doesn't even belong there!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the Office. "She's not a real racer! She's just a trainer who got lucky one time because Old man McQueen gave her the chance. Why is everyone treating her like she's some some kind of hero? It was my Race, Ray! Mine!"

Ray didn't raise his voice, but his tone was firm. "You need to get your head straight, Jackson. Whether you like it or not, Cruz Ramirez is the real deal. She outmaneuvered you, and that's why she won. if you don't start focusing on your own performence instead of blaming everyone else, you're going to find yourself in worse trouble than a fine."

Jackson clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. "This is just--Ugh. Ramirez doesn't deserve any of this. She'll be out of here soon, i'm Sure of it."

Ray Leaned back in the swivel chair, watching Jackson carefully. "You can believe what you want, but if i were you, i wouldn't underestimate her. That's how you lost Florida."

Jackson scowled, refusing to let Ray's words sink in. "I didn't lose because of her. I lost because the track wasn't in top condition, and everyone was ganging up on me. They don't want to see me win."

Ray shook his head. "That's not how it works, Jackson. The track was the same for everyone, and nobody was 'ganging' up on you. Ramirez won because she raced smarter."

Jackson was having none of it. "Whatever. She'll be gone soon, and everything will go back to normal. I'll show everyone who the real champion is."

Ray wanted to correct him, to tell him the truth about what was happening tomorrow. But the truth was. Ramirez wasn't just a flash in the pan. she was on the verge of something big---something Jackson wasn't prepared for. Still, Ray decided to hold back, for now. "Fine, Jackson. But if you don't start taking this seriously, someone else will take your spot at the top. Don't let your pride get in the way."

Jackson ignored him, too caught up in his own frustration. he stormed out of the office, muttering to himself. "It's all bullshit. I'm the best. Not her."

Ray watched him go, shaking his head. Jackson had all the talent in the world, but his attitude was going to be his downfall if he didn't change soon. Ray knew that Cruz's Rise wasn't just a rumour--it was reality, And Jackson was about to find out the hard way. As Jackson disappeared down the hallway, ray pulled out his phone and Checked the lastet news. Sure enough, there was another article about what to expect at Cruz's signing Tomorrow. He frowned, wondering how long it would take Jackson to realise that Cruz wasn't just a trainer anymore.

She was his competition.

And if he didn't start acting like it, Cruz Ramirez was going to leave him in the dust.

Just then, the Door to his Office reopened, and in came Gale Beaufort, Jackson's Hauler Driver. Her face filled with concern. "So, you didn't tell him, did you?"

Ray sighed again as he leaned forward, placing his arms on the desk. "You know I couldn't, Gale. Jackson's Temper would've gotten out of control if I'd told him about Ramirez's joining Dinoco, he would've lost it."

Gale took a deep breath as she sat down, placing the clipboard she'd been carrying on the desk. "Are we going to have to break the news to him, or we wait for him to find out himself?"

Ray looked at her, uncertainty in his eyes. "Honestly, Gale, I don't know what to say."

She didn't either.