18. XANDER
Chapter 18
XANDER
“ I ’m so proud of you, son,” my father said with a big smile as he shook my hand outside his office after our meeting. “You’ve done very well, as I knew you would. And I’ve been getting great feedback about you.”
“Thanks so much, Dad.”
As my father's words of praise washed over me, a surge of pride welled up within. To hear him express his pride in me meant the world. Yet, beneath the surface, a nagging sense of unease lingered. Despite the accolades and commendations, there was one person whose opinion held greater significance to me than anyone else's – Lyca.
She had been avoiding me for more than a month now, and the realization chewed at me like a persistent itch. When I went back to the Steele Velocity Racing office, I glanced around the room, half-expecting to see her there. But she was nowhere to be found. As far as I knew, she hadn't even returned to her apartment.
Oh, Lyca. Why can’t we at least be friends? We were only civil when it came to work matters. Whenever I thought back to the moments we’d shared, I felt frustrated and disappointed. The tension between us weighed heavily on my mind, overshadowing even my father's kind words.
I wanted to reach out to her, to bridge the gap that had formed between us, but I didn't know how.
My phone rang then and I was glad for the distraction. “Hi, Mom! What’s up?” I said upon answering the call and seeing that it was my mother.
“Xander! I can’t believe you just paid off all my debts! How could you?” her voice, and she sobbed.
“Hey, Mom… relax. Why are you crying?”
“I just can’t believe it. And I’m just so grateful! Thank you, thank you!”
I smiled. “Of course. I told you I’d take care of it. And I already paid off all my student loans too.”
“Wow, I’m really so happy for you. Things have just kept getting better.”
Yes, except in the aspect of romance, I guess. I’ve never been lucky in love.
“This job has opened up more opportunities for me, Mom. And I still love racing, so I’ve been training harder too. Anyway, I’ll tell you all about it the next time we see each other. Maybe dinner next week?”
“Alright, son. Thank you!”
As soon as I put the phone down, I saw Barbara Steele passing by and giving me a rather callous look. It was evident she had overheard my conversation with my mother.
Well, she shouldn’t be so bitter. After all, my mom and I came first before her. Dad loved us first.
That afternoon, I headed to a nearby hotel for our press conference. The function hall exuded an aura of sophistication and importance, with rows of neatly arranged chairs facing a stage that had been decorated with banners emblazoned with the logo of the racing empire. The room was abuzz with the chatter of journalists, racing enthusiasts, and industry insiders.
“Come on, Xander,” my father said, leading me to take the seat beside him on stage. The other top executives and managers of the racing empire sat there with us.
I found myself scanning the room for a sign of Lyca. But she wasn’t anywhere to be found. Weeks had passed since I'd seen much of her, and with each passing day, her absence seemed to widen the void I felt within.
Cameras flashed incessantly as the event got underway, capturing every moment of the highly anticipated press conference. My father took the stage, his commanding presence drawing all eyes on him as he delivered a speech outlining his vision for the future of Steele Motorsport International.
“...As many of you know, our esteemed racing team, Steele Velocity Racing, has long been a beacon of success on the international racing stage. I am proud to announce that this year, we will be taking our talents to the prestigious Monaco Grand Prix!”
I looked at him in shock. I didn’t know about this. Oh, wow. It’s a dream come true for me.
He went on. “This marks a significant milestone in our journey, and we are thrilled to showcase the skill, determination, and cutting-edge technology that define Steele Motorsport International on such a renowned platform. Of course, it is with great pleasure that I announce that our star racers, including my son, Xander, will be leading our charge at the Monaco Grand Prix. Their unwavering dedication and exceptional talent have brought us to this moment, and I have full confidence that they will represent Steele Motorsport International with the utmost skill and professionalism on the world stage.”
Applause followed. More cameras clicked. The spotlight shifted toward me, momentarily blinding me. I was just recovering from the shock of the moment when I felt my father patting my shoulder. I never thought this day would come.
As my father concluded his speech, a sense of anticipation hung in the air. All eyes were on him, waiting for his next words.
“And now,” he began, his voice tainted with solemnity and pride, “I have another announcement to make.”
A knot formed in my stomach as I glanced up at him in bewilderment. Another surprise?
Leaning forward in my seat, I focused intently on my father, eager to hear what he had to say.
“You all know that I’m not getting any younger,” he began, chuckling. “As much as I love what I do, I feel like I need to step back and retire from my role in a few years…”
Some people in the audience gasped. Murmurs of surprise spread throughout them.
“But fear not,” my father added, a warm smile gracing his features as he looked directly at me, “for I am pleased to announce that I have found someone more than capable of carrying on the legacy of Steele Motorsport International. My son here, Xander, has proven that he’s more than capable of eventually taking over. After all, he takes after me…”
I could barely digest all the other information he was saying after he’d announced that I was to take over his role.
“... I’m really happy that Xander and I have moved on from the past and were able to reconnect and help one another. My son, my first-born, shall be the heir to my racing empire.”
My breath caught in my throat, my heart swelling with a mix of emotions - pride, gratitude, and a sense of duty. The weight of my father's words settled on my shoulders, and beneath it all, a flicker of determination ignited within me.
I could hardly process it, especially amid the cheers and questions that followed. Then I saw something that rocked my joy and pride — the expression on my stepmother’s face. Her features remained frozen in a mask of composure, but the fire burning behind her eyes betrayed her true emotions. Every muscle in her face seemed to tense with suppressed anger, her jaw clenched tightly as if struggling to contain the torrent of emotions raging within her.
But despite her efforts to maintain her facade, there was a steely glint in her eyes that spoke volumes of her inner turmoil. The subtle tightening of her lips and the rigid set of her jaw hinted at the storm brewing beneath the surface.
Soon I saw her stand up and gracefully exit the venue, which spoke volumes as to how she had taken the news.