Chapter 284
Chapter 284:
Two engines screamed through the North Hills circuit, their snarling roars bouncing off the sheer cliff walls as the cars knifed along the winding mountain road.
The lead vehicle shot past the finish line in a blaze of color, the second skidding in right behind it.
Yousef climbed out of the trailing car, yanked off his helmet, and let out a breath steeped in defeat. “Tell me the truth—are you secretly a pro? That’s twice you’ve left me in the dust p>
A smug sparkle lit Gracie’s eyes as she shook out her wind-tangled hair. “Please. The first time was pure luck. The second time? You were going soft on me. I saw that. But the adrenaline is everything. Racing really is a wild, addictive thrill p>
He didn’t even bother pretending otherwise. With an easy grin, he strolled over, shoulders loosening. “Hey, if you’re having fun, who cares about winning p>
Gracie let a slow, satisfied smile stretch across her lips as she soaked in the warm sunlight, the glow sharpening the elegant lines of her face.
Yousef found himself staring, briefly caught off guard by how striking she looked in that moment.
She tipped her head toward him, voice turning cool and purposeful. “We should get down to business p>
“What?” He froze for a beat, caught off guard. “I thought you came out here just to race with me. There’s more p>
A quiet laugh slipped from her as she dropped into a nearby lounge chair, fingers curling around a chilled glass of fruit juice. “Please. If this were only about racing, I wouldn’t be wasting precious daylight out here with you. I’m here for actual business p>
The easy grin on his face faltered, shifting into playful irritation. “Knew it. You’d never clear your schedule just for me. All right, then—what’s the favor p>
“It’s about your brother Gary,” Gracie said, crossing one leg over the other as she took a slow sip. “I heard he’s been making moves in AI development. I want an introduction p>
A tangle of emotions flickered across Yousef’s features. “I figured you didn’t track me down just to play around p>
He exhaled, shoulders dipping. “Gary barely has time for his own shadow. I’m not even sure I can swing an introduction. And what’s gotten into you anyway? You’re neck-deep in biomedicine. Since when do you care about AI? Those worlds don’t overlap p>
A soft hum slipped from her throat. “Anyone with a brain cares when the margins look good. And I’m not just curious—I’m here to help him p>
“Help?” Yousef let out a low laugh, leaning back as if trying to read her every motive. “Don’t tell me you bought into those whispers about him running out of funding. He’s got Gifford behind him. Our family has money pouring out of every corner p>
Gracie’s quiet laugh carried a knowing edge.
In her last life, people swore the Russell brothers were sworn enemies. In truth, they had worked in perfect sync, anchored by a loyalty that didn’t break.
To keep outsiders from circling like vultures, Gary routinely downplayed his finances, insisting he was strapped for cash. In reality, Gifford had bankrolled him from day one.
But on the very night his groundbreaking AI program finally came to life, disaster struck. Every line of data was wiped in a single, calculated sweep. And barely a week later, an identical product surfaced on the market, snatching away the work he’d poured years of his life into.
Crushed by the sheer brutality of the betrayal, he stepped off the top floor of the lab building without hesitation, leaving his family drowning in grief.