"Hi, baby, what's up?

"Nothing. I'm just at the racetrack, getting some things done."

Her voice is breathy and full of possibilities. If I'm honest, it makes my cock harden against my pants, even though this is a phone call of deception.

I know what she's up to. I got the text, and I know she's been pretending to like me this entire time.

It makes sense; Jenna has never once dated a racer, and now she's so fully into me? I think not.

I believed it at first, and I even believed she was different, that I could fall for her. But now, knowing what I know, I'm thinking Jenna has betrayed me and that she's working for the FBI.

"So, have you been there all day?"

"Yes, same as always. We're trying to come up with the technology to beat you."

I laugh, "That will never happen, Jenna. You might as well give up right now."

A part of me wonders if she's plotting how to get my technology to hand over to the authorities.

I'm still attracted to Jenna, and I don't want to believe that she would do anything behind my back, but the reality is staring me in the face. I know for a fact that she's been approached by the feds.

"Oh, Braden, just you wait. We’re going to figure you out, that's for sure."

She's joking with me, and yet―is it really a joke? She'll never get her hands on my methods, because I am the sole keeper of those secrets, but all this new information about Jenna is just filtering through my brain.

She seems so good-natured, so honest. She's always had a good reputation in the racing league, and I think everyone would be surprised to know she's working for the enemy.

I don't want to believe it.

"Jenna, you can try to find my superpowers, but you never will."

"Try I will, Braden. You can count on it."

Talking to her makes me excited and I still have hopes despite this new information. I guess there are two sides to every story, and I’m hoping her side explains everything. But how in the world will I ever bring it up? I need to play coy with Jenna until I understand the full scope of what she's doing.

I just got a text. That was it. I can't accuse her of something this serious because of a text alone.

I have to hide my fears for the moment.

"What are you doing later?" I ask, hoping she'll go out with me.

"Um, probably taking a bath and calling it in early."

"Why don't you come out with me instead? I'll make it worth your while."

"What did you have in mind?"

"Skybar?”

"What bar?"

"You'll see when we get there."

"Okay, well, I'd love to see you, so yes."

Would she really love to see me? Now I'm questioning everything. I want to believe Jenna on all fronts. I want to know that she’s really attracted to me, but these damn rumors have put doubts in my head.

"What time will you pick me up?" she asks.

"Around ten."

"A late dinner then?"

"You could call it that."

"See you then."

She has no idea what I have in mind. Skybar is a unique location in NYC. It's a restaurant and a bar that fringes on the edge of a skyscraper. The balcony is made of pure glass, so when you look down, it feels like you’re falling, even though you’re suspended in mid-air by a sheet of glass.

It's a rush, and it's sexy, so I know Jenna will love it. She's like me―attracted to anything that gets her blood pumping.

I'm going to arrange it all perfectly. Tonight, I have to have Jenna, and that means putting the finishing touches on all my plans.

I'll have the limo ready to pick her up, and I'm going to lift some weights, take a shower, and make sure I'm in top form for her.

Despite my reservations, I know that I have to make Jenna mine. I’ll fuck her no matter what. Then, after I've had my fill, we can sort out all the details. Besides, fucking her will get me one step closer to understanding if she's for real or not. I'll be able to tell whether or not she's faking her attraction to me.

I start to head out to get some things done and to get ready for dinner. It's been a long but good day. When you're doing what you love, work doesn't ever seem like a bad thing. Getting my hands dirty around cars and dealing with my new mechanism is blood, sweat, and tears―but it feels so fucking good.

I'd hate to have a 9-to-5 job. I'd hate to do anything that doesn't involve racing.

My new car is sitting in the center of the garage on a spinning platform. She's gorgeous, and she’s bound to take my performance to an even higher level.

If the FBI even knew one shred of what went on behind these closed doors, they'd be set with technology for the future. They've been after me for years; it comes with the territory of hosting an underground racing league.

Jenna should know that. She should know I'm used to having the cops on my back. Some of them understand the excitement, and some of them operate on some preconceived notion of justice that frankly shouldn't apply to me anyway. I'm a billionaire with technology that could change the face of the nation.

They should be politely knocking on my door, begging me for favors, not trying to shut my operation down.

Jenna must get this.

One of my crew members approaches me.

"Hi, Bill," I say.

He's a senior member of the crew and also the one that tipped me off about the feds.

"What's going on with you, Braden? Why do you have a smirk on your face? Please don't tell me you're gonna go out with Jenna."

"Is it that obvious?" I smile.

I can't help it. The idea of being with Jenna exhilarates me. She's a feast for the eyes, and she's fun to be around. What harm could lie in that?

"You're playing with fire, Braden. You know I think it's a bad idea."

"Oh, come on Bill. You think everything's a bad idea. Hell, you considered my new afterburner mechanism a bad idea, remember?"

"Yeah, alright, Braden You got me there. I had to see it to believe it. But trust me on this one: Jenna is bad news. Everything about what she's doing screams disloyalty.

“People in this league know what they're getting into when they start. The feds are always an issue and if she gives sour secrets to them, this will all be over, and we'll all be in jail."

"Wow, Bill, you never fail to say it like it is." I tell him.

There's a reason he's one of my best crewmembers. He's conservative and cautious, and I need that in someone if I'm not gonna be that way.

"You're playing with fire, Braden. I promise you. And if you're not careful, it's going to end badly for everyone, not just you. Now, I have a family to think about―"

Damn. I didn't mean to make the old man worry.

"It's okay, Bill.” I say before he goes any further. “I have it under control. I'm just trying to get close to her so I can see more accurately what she's up to. I'm going to get to the bottom of this. You can trust me. Have I ever failed you?"

He looks at me skeptically. This is why I love Bill. He's a straight-shooter and always tells it like it is.

"Don't worry. I promise I’ll be careful. Besides, I'm going to figure out her game before she can pull one over me."

"Alright, Braden. I just had to say what's on my mind."

"I'm glad you did, Bill. I'll see you tomorrow."

I leave, and I hate knowing that I've worried him. He's gotta know that I will always do everything I can to protect him and our crew from destruction. The problem is I'm just so wrapped up in Jenna that it's hard to see what side she's really on.

I like to think that, from watching her over the past few years and being with her now, that I know her...at least even a little bit.

And she seems loyal to a fault. She doesn’t seem like somebody who would ever hurt another person.

I don't know. I may be wrong. But I have to give her a chance so I can find out. I'd kick myself forever if I didn't at least try to see where Jenna's coming from.

I hope though, in the back of my mind, that I'm not making a mistake. I hope to God she has an explanation and that she proves us all wrong.

For now, I have to get home and get ready to see her. That's foremost on my mind.