Matt sat in the passenger seat of the rented Audi R8, grinning from ear to ear as we drove through the city.
He had been waiting for a day to catch up on the details, and now that I'd finally given him the rundown on Mila and the Pine Press Country Club, he was practically bouncing in his seat.
"Man, I can't believe you actually got her to pull the strings for you!" He said, unable to hide his excitement. "That's insane, bro. You're about to be rubbing shoulders with some serious power players."
"That's the power of my plan." I smirked at his words. "She didn't even hesitate when I brought it up. Just eager to help."
Matt chuckled, shaking his head. "Of course she didn't. You dropped ten million on her brand. I'm pretty sure you could've asked for anything, and she'd have made it happen."
Well, he's not wrong.
"But still, this is huge." He gestured with his hands to show how huge it was. "The Pine Press isn't just some social club. It's where the new money and CEOs go to relax, network and plan how to get even richer. Getting in there? That's the next level, bro."
I nodded in agreement. Pine Press was next level shit but I still wasn't in.
"Even if Mila gets me the second recommendation, I still have to pass the interview to be an official member."
"That's easy." Matt scoffed. "Just tell them you're Logan Voss' son."
"That won't work." I shook my head, while still keeping my eyes on the road. "First, nobody knows my father has a son."
"Second, how would I even prove I'm Logan Voss' son and not someone with a similar last name?"
"And finally, even if they confirmed me as Logan Voss' son, the news would get out and inevitably reach my family. Who knows what my father would do when he hears I'm not staying put in the cage he placed me in."
"That's..." Matt frowned. "If you won't be claiming yourself as Logan Voss' son, what's your plan?"
"That's the thing." I grinned. "I don't have one."
Matt turned to look at me so fast, I feared he got whiplash. "What do you mean you don't have a plan?"
"I mean I don't have a plan. Yet." I grinned. "I have two weapons at my disposal. Cooper Real Estate and Mila."
"And?"
"I can only know how to use those weapons when I know what I'm facing. Is it an uptight interviewer? A board? A casual dude with dad energy? Know your enemy and know yourself and you'll never lose a thousand battles."
Matt thought about it before nodding. "You do have a point. But what about once you're in?"
"I also don't have a plan yet." I grinned, knowing I'm annoying him.
"Explain." He said with the patience of a man waiting to die.
"I have a broad plan. Get in, observe, find an opportunity and then seize it. It's useless to pick someone as a target from the inside. I need to know my enemy before I begin fighting."
Matt leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms over his chest. "Smart."
"Trust me, bro. Overplanning can sometimes kill an opportunity."
Yes, I'm speaking from experience. I once had a meeting for an investment opportunity but ended up overplanning.
The person I met wasn't the person I planned for and I ended up fucking it up. At least, I can use the lesson learned here.
"But you know you're going to have to make a big impression, right?" Matt asked. "You can't just blend in with these people. You need to stand out, show them you're someone they need to keep an eye on."
"Oh, don't worry. I've got that covered. Once I get my footing, they won't be able to ignore me."
I needed attention to attract investment. Sometimes, people invest in the person and not the business. I learned that lesson in the same meeting I learnt the dangers of overplanning.
"Good." Matt grinned. "Once you're in, you've got to make sure you're unforgettable."
I nodded in agreement, already thinking about the possibilities.
The Pine Press Country Club was a playground for the elite, and once I got in, I'd have access to the kind of people who could help me rise even further.
The trick was figuring out which connections would benefit me the most and which ones I could exploit.
We finally arrived at our destination. The repair shop.
Matt glanced at me, his grin widening at seeing my anticipation. "I bet you've been waiting for this." He grinned.
"You have no idea," I said, pulling into the parking lot.
We stepped out of the Audi, and almost instantly, I spotted it.
My McLaren Senna, sitting perfectly under the light of the sun like the beautiful machine that it was. My heart kept beating in my chest and I laughed like a little child.
The last time I'd seen it, it had been a mangled wreck, but now? Now it was back to its former glory.
Matt whistled, shaking his head. "Damn. She looks good."
"Better than good." I muttered, my eyes tracing the familiar curves of the car. "She's perfect."
The mechanic came over, wiping his hands on a rag as he gave me a nod.
"Everything's been taken care of, Mr. Voss. We had to replace a few panels and recalibrate the aerodynamics, but it's as good as new. You're clear to take her for a spin whenever you're ready."
In a minute, I had the keys in my hand. I stood for a moment, staring at the car. "Every setback is a step forward."
I sighed. "I've missed you, Senna."
I turned to Matt, tossing him the keys to the R8. "You can take the Audi back. I'll be driving this beauty home."
Matt caught the keys with a grin. "Fair enough. I wouldn't want to get between you and your car."
I walked over to the Senna, running my hand along the hood, feeling the cool metal beneath my fingers. It was good to have it back.
I climbed inside, the roar of the engine filling my ears as I started it up. The power, the control, it all came rushing back to me.
Matt gave me a thumbs up as I revved the engine. "Try not to get pulled over on the way home!"
I smirked, shifting into gear. "No promises."
As I pulled out of the lot, I couldn't help but feel that things were finally moving in the right direction. The Pine Press was within reach and my car, my prized Senna, was back in my hands.
I was one step closer to tearing down the empire and building something even greater in its place.
As long as the universe didn't have any more surprises for me.