Page 58 of Before Dawn

me:Of course. Sweet dreams.

@abi_asher:You too, Mikkel.

me:I will.

A lie.

I should’ve been sleeping for my flight tomorrow, but instead, I spent nearly two hours scrolling, searching for the perfect pictures and fonts for the playlist cover. Canva was a pain to deal with, but I finally managed to put something decent together. Unsure whether she used Apple Music or Spotify, I made versions for both, then started building the playlist until sleep finally overtook me.

The steadyrain pattered against the car window as I joined an impromptu Zoom call with my team en route to the investor meeting. The city outside was blurred in streaks of water, matching the exhaustion tugging at me. Sapphire had sent a last-minute reminder about key discussion points, so I listened as we reviewed last week’s performance—an uptick in bookings, high customer satisfaction ratings, and seamless execution of our latest promotions.

Leaving Sacramento this morning had been a struggle, and the back-to-back travel was wearing on me. Chicago had its charms—hotdogs, deep-dish pizza, architecture—but I wouldn’t be here long enough to enjoy any of it.

By the time I entered the boardroom, the low murmur of conversation died instantly. The air was thick with calculation. Damon Ashford sat rigidly, his sharp gaze assessing, jaw clenched like he was already preparing a counterattack. Cataleya Nguyen was poised, exuding quiet authority, her pen tapping against the table in measured beats. And Marissa Lyles—the wildcard—was reclined, one arm draped over the chair like she’d already decided how this would go.

I took my seat at the head of the table. Calm. Controlled. Owning the room.

“Good afternoon,” I began, adjusting my cuffs. “Let’s get started. Elite Rides is expanding. We’ve perfected New York City, and now it’s time for the next step.”

Damon didn’t hesitate. “I’ve reviewed the numbers, and Chicago’s projections are ambitious. Do you really think you can maintain your edge, Suarez?”

I met his gaze without blinking. “We’re not aiming to ‘handle’ Chicago, Ashford. We’re aiming to own it. Just like we do New York. Our edge isn’t a question—it’s a guarantee.”

His expression didn’t shift, but I could see the wheels turning.

Cataleya leaned forward slightly. “And scalability? Expanding too fast can be a death sentence. How do you avoid stretching your resources too thin?”

I nodded, already anticipating the concern. “We’ve built an expansion team dedicated to each city—separate from New York operations. Every location has localized strategies, key partnerships, and infrastructure in place before launch. We don’t stretch thin—we scale smart.”

Marissa cocked her head, a smirk tugging at her lips. “Ambition is great, but speed kills. Scaling too fast can dilute exclusivity. How do you keep quality high?”

I leaned forward, voice even but firm. “Elite Rides doesn’t sacrifice quality. Ever. Our exclusivity is built into the experience—from rigorous driver training to customer personalization. Our data-driven approach refines the service as we expand. The bigger we get, the better we get.”

Damon snorted. “Bold words. I want specifics. When will Chicago go live?”

“Four weeks from today. Beta testing is already underway. On launch day, we’ll be fully operational and dominating the market.”

Cataleya arched her brow. “And if Chicago doesn’t go as planned?”

I didn’t miss a beat. “We don’t hit roadblocks, Cataleya. We pivot. Chicago is just the start—we’re already laying the groundwork in our next locations. We don’t enter markets to participate. We enter to disrupt and win.”

Marissa studied me, her smirk deepening. “Sounds like you’ve got it all figured out.”

I held her gaze. “I do. And let’s be clear—investing in Elite Rides means investing in the future of urban mobility. Either you’re on board, or you’re standing in the way of progress. This is happening—with or without you.”

Silence.

They were calculating, but I knew they saw it. This wasn’t a risk—it was an inevitability.

Damon exhaled slowly, then leaned back, nodding once. “I’m in.”

Cataleya followed. “Same here.”

Marissa’s smile widened. “Looks like you’ve got yourself a deal.”

I stood, shaking their hands. “Good choice.”

As I exited the room, adrenaline still hummed in my veins. The deal was done. The expansion was locked in. Another city in my pocket.

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