The Underestimated Tycoon

Chapter 6

Aria was already walking away. She didn’t catch his words.

She headed straight toward a sleek, black Porsche that had just pulled up.

The passenger door swung open, and a stunning girl stepped out.

Her oversized designer sunglasses hid her expression, but the second she saw Ethan, her lips twisted into a smirk of pure disdain.

“This is my best friend, Natalie.” 

Aria said casually, glancing back at Ethan with a mix of amusement and something sharper.

Ethan offered a polite nod and extended a hand. “Nice to meet you.”

Natalie didn’t even look at his outstretched hand. Her eyes swept over his plain outfit, then curled her lip in a sneer.

“So, this is the guy?” she asked, voice dripping with sarcasm. Without waiting for an answer, she turned to Aria. “I got your message. I see what you meant now.”

Aria‘s smirk deepened, clearly satisfied with her friend’s reaction.

Ethan could feel the childishness of Natalie’s attitude as he withdrew his outstretched hands, but he didn’t comment on it.

After all, he had no interest in playing their petty games.

“We’re heading to Royal Stars Racing Club,” Aria said, tossing the invite over her shoulder like she was doing him a favor. “You should come.”

Ethan caught the edge in her voice right away. This wasn’t a friendly invitation. It was a setup. Still, his expression stayed cool.

Half playful, he asked: "You don't think I'm going to mess it up?"

Aria laughed, but there was no humour in it.

“Oh, come on. It'll be fun. Besides, Greg will be there. I’m sure he’s dying to meet you.”

Everyone at Tussauds University knew the name Gregory Holden, except Ethan, that is.

If not for the chaos back at the villa, he wouldn’t have even heard the guy’s name. Let alone cared.

Greg was the poster boy of campus royalty: rich, powerful, and deeply connected.

And according to campus gossip, he and Aria were practically a done deal.

Now here Ethan was, being baited right into the center of it all.

Before he could answer, Natalie was already sliding into the Porsche.

“Let’s go, Aria. We don’t want to be late.”

Aria flashed Ethan one last look. Half smirk, half challenge.

“See you at Royal Stars. If you’re bold enough to show, of course.”

The engine roaring to life as the car sped off, leaving Ethan standing outside alone.

Ethan stood still for a beat, then let out a soft chuckle to himself, and to Aria who'd already gone.

“I can’t wait to the club. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

***

The Royal Stars Racing Club was one of the biggest and most exclusive racing clubs in the city.

Just as the name suggested, it was a club that was reserved for the wealthy and privileged only, and it was impossible for an average person to get in. 

It was located atop a private cliffside estate, its entire structure screaming of luxury and splendor.

The entrance alone was lined with a red-carpeted driveway that sparkled under imported crystal lights embedded into the pavement.

The security was extremely tight, with various security guards, biometric scanners and facial recognition systems verifying the identities of arriving guests long before they even reached the gates.

Meanwhile, beyond the towering gates of the racing club was a private auto museum of sorts, where rare sportscars from around the world were on display.

However, it was extremely shocking that these rare sportscars were not for display, but instead were for personal use.

Bugattis, Koenigseggs, and customized Pagani Zondas glistened under the artificial skylights, their engines occasionally roaring to life as their owners prepared for another round on the underground track.

The members of the exclusive racing club were either the children of oil magnates, heirs to business empires, and celebrities whose faces never needed an introduction.

They arrived in several luxury cars, and more than a few of them were flanked by bodyguards. 

They were also draped in expensive clothing, fully showcasing their extraordinary backgrounds.

The racetrack itself, which was known as The Loop, was built with imported materials from three different countries and spanned nearly five kilometers of twisting, high-speed lanes.

It was lined with smart sensors, a retractable barrier system, and digital panels that tracked lap times to the millisecond.

Drones flew above to capture the races live, feeding exclusive footage to a secure network accessible only by top-tier members.

Everything about the Royal Stars Racing Club screamed opulence, furtiveness, and danger—exactly what the members were looking for and why they loved it.

So it was no surprise that it was the most exclusive club in the city. 

Meanwhile, Ethan arrived at the luxurious racing club in a taxi.

After all, Aria and her friend Natalie did not bother to offer him a ride.

Still, he wasn’t bothered about that in the least.

On the contrary, he was quite surprised by the grandeur of the Royal Stars Racing Club.

He was not a stranger to racing clubs, as he was a big fan of racing himself.

Still, among the various racing clubs he had visited, the Royal Stars Racing Club was definitely top class.

As he approached the entrance, the towering metal doors slid open automatically for the guests.

Ethan tried to follow, but the doors slammed shut just before he could step through, blocking his way.

He frowned, standing there as the guests inside barely gave him a second glance.

Two large security guards who stood at the entrance noticed his situation and walked over intimidatingly, eyeing him with barely disguised amusement.

“You lost, buddy?” one of them asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

Ethan said nothing, glancing up at the doors that had locked him out. He had expected this kind of treatment.

“Only members get through those doors,” the other guard chimed in, smirking. “And you don’t look like you belong here.”

The guards chuckled, clearly enjoying the moment. Ethan could hear their taunts clearly, but he didn’t seem the least bit fazed by their words, his expression calm.

“Listen, kid, why don’t you save yourself the embarrassment and head home? This place isn’t for you,” one of the two guards said, stepping closer to Ethan. He sounded like he cared for Ethan’s wellbeing, but Ethan could clearly see through the bullshit.

Ethan remained calm and was about to respond, but before he could let a word out, the sound of a roaring engine echoed down the street. A red Lamborghini Revuelto pulled up, and Gregory Holden stepped out of the sleek sports car, flanked by a few of his friends. His eyes immediately landed on Ethan, and a cunning grin spread across his face.

“Well, well. What do we have here?” Greg said as he clapped his hands in delight, walking over with his group of friends. One look at Ethan's simple outfit, and he could easily understand the situation that was occurring.

The guards straightened, clearly recognising their boss. Greg looked Ethan up and down, his grin widening as if he had been waiting for this exact moment.

“You trying to get in, man?” Greg asked, his voice dripping with false concern.

Aria had already informed him of what Ethan looked like and how she wanted to humiliate him, so he couldn’t help but try and make fun of Ethan.

“This place has rules, you know. Only the cream of the crop and the privileged like us can get in.”

Greg said, and his words elicited a series of snickers and sneers from his friend group.

Ethan remained silent, his eyes fixed on Greg, who was clearly revelling in the attention.

“Tell you what,” Greg continued, throwing an arm over Ethan’s shoulder as if they were old friends.

“You’re in luck. There’s a big race happening at The Loop tonight. It has a lot of rewards that could be helpful to someone like you.

However, that would only happen if you could find your way in.”

Greg sneered, and his words prompted another round of mocking sneers and laughter from his friend group.

Ethan tilted his head casually.

He had already figured out that Aria'd invited him to the race club just to mock him and humiliate him in front of everyone.

So what? He won't be the one who got humiliated anyway.