Hot Driver - S01 E08

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Hot Driver - S01 E08

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 8

—

Brooke Residence – Morning

Celeste walked through the front door.

Her face was red. Her eyes were puffy. Her body ached from the beating she’d endured the night before.

Luis was in the kitchen, eating a bowl of custard. He looked up when she entered.

“Mama, your face…”

“It’s nothing,” Celeste said quickly. “I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Your face is red. Your eye is swollen. Did someone hit you?”

“No, Luis. I told you. I’m fine.”

Luis stood up. “Who did it? Was it those people you work for? Was it them?”

“Luis, sit down.”

“I’m not going to sit down! They’re hurting you! I heard what you said about the maid they had before. The one who got beaten so badly she had to go to the hospital. It’s them, isn’t it?”

“Luis, I said sit down.”

Luis sat down.

Celeste walked over to him and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I’m fine. It’s just a little bruise. It’ll heal.”

He looked up at her. “You don’t have to go back there.”

“Yes, I do. I have to work. I have to pay the bills.”

“I can work more hours at the pet store.”

“You work enough. You’re a student. Your job is to focus on school.”

“But—”

“Luis. It’s okay.”

He was quiet for a moment. Then he said, “At least eat something before you go back.”

Celeste smiled. “I will.”

She sat down at the table. They ate the custard together. It was thin. Watery. But it was something.

—

Ivy Fashion Empire – Ivory’s Office – Afternoon

Ivory’s office was chaos.

She was in the middle of a meeting with her design team, reviewing the new collection. The designs were beautiful—elegant, sophisticated, luxurious. Everything she wanted her brand to be.

“This is incredible,” she said, holding up a sketch. “Who did this?”

A young designer shyly raised her hand. “I did, Ms. Bennett.”

Ivory studied the sketch. “This is exactly what I was looking for. The lines, the fabric, the cut. It’s perfect.”

The designer’s face lit up. “Thank you, Ms. Bennett.”

“Don’t thank me yet. We still have to execute it. But this is a good start.”

The meeting continued. Ivory was focused, sharp, demanding. She pushed her team to be better, to work harder, to create something exceptional.

When the meeting ended, she leaned back in her chair.

Her mind drifted.

Duane.

She shook off the thought.

—

Lobby – Afternoon

Duane was sitting in the lobby, his arm still bandaged, his expression calm. He was trying to rest, but his mind was elsewhere.

A young woman approached him.

She was beautiful—curvy, with long dark hair and a warm smile. Her name tag read “Beauty.”

“Hi,” she said, her voice soft and friendly.

Duane looked up. “Hello.”

“I’m Beauty. I work in the marketing department.” She extended her hand. “I heard you’re the new driver.”

Duane shook her hand. “Yeah. I’m Duane.”

“It’s nice to meet you.” She smiled. “I was wondering… would you like to be friends? You know, grab coffee sometime?”

Duane smiled back. It was a small smile, but genuine. “Sure. That sounds nice.”

Beauty’s face lit up. “Great! I’ll text you—oh, wait. I don’t have your number.”

“Let me—”

“Duane!”

The voice cut through the lobby like a whip.

Ivory was standing at the elevator, her eyes blazing. Her gaze fixed on Beauty and Duane. Beauty’s face went red, and she quickly stepped back.

“Ms. Bennett—”

“Go back to your desk, Beauty. Now.”

Beauty hurried away.

Ivory walked toward Duane, her heels clicking against the floor. Her expression was cold, her lips pressed into a thin line.

“Flirting with my employees now?” she said. “You’re really something, Brooke.”

Duane looked up at her. “She introduced herself. I introduced myself.”

“You’re my driver. You don’t get to introduce yourself. You don’t get to make friends. You don’t get to do anything except drive me where I need to go.”

“Looks like you just did my job for me.”

“I’m not doing your job. I’m telling you your place.”

Duane stood up. He was taller than her. He looked down at her with the same unbothered expression.

“I know exactly where my place is, Ms. Bennett,” he said calmly. “But I don’t think you know yours.”

Ivory’s face flushed with anger. “What is that supposed to mean?”

“It means you’re a boss. Not a queen. You don’t get to control everyone’s life just because you have money.”

“Get in my office. Now.”

“Gladly.”

—

Ivory’s Office

Ivory slammed the door behind him.

“You think you’re so clever,” she snapped. “You think you can just walk in here and do whatever you want.”

“Don’t you have work to do?” Duane asked flatly. “Or are you just going to use me as a punching bag for your bad mood?”

“I’m in a perfectly good mood.”

“Really? Because you look like you just ate a lemon.”

Ivory’s eyes narrowed. “You’re impossible. You know that?”

“Yeah. I get that a lot.”

She sat down at her desk, her jaw tight.

“Why are you still here?” Ivory’s voice was tired.

“You’re the one who asked me to come up.”

“No. I asked you to come to my office. I didn’t ask you to stay.”

Duane sighed. He was tired. His arm was throbbing. He didn’t have the energy to keep fighting.

“Are you done?” he asked.

“I’m not done. I’m just getting started.”

“Then get started. But don’t expect me to stand here while you insult me.”

Ivory glared at him. For a moment, she didn’t say anything.

Then she said, “I’m not done with you.”

“Good,” Duane said. “Because I’m not done with you either.”

“make me coffee, make itt better than yesterday’s” No she wasn’t gonna admit that the coffee he made yesterday was so good

He walked out of the office, leaving Ivory speechless.

—

MBS – Ron and Maeve’s Office – Afternoon

The office was dark, the blinds drawn. Ron and Maeve were locked in a passionate embrace on the leather couch, their lips tangled, their hands exploring. it isn’t new they make up in their office

The door opened.

A secretary stood in the doorway, her eyes wide. “I—I’m so sorry—”

“What is it?!” Maeve snapped, pulling away from Ron.

“Ma’am, I just received word from the fashion reviewer. They’ve chosen to favor Ivy Fashion Empire’s designs over ours. They said their collection is—”

“It’s what?”

The secretary hesitated. “They said it’s more innovative and—”

Maeve threw a paperweight across the room. It crashed against the wall, missing the secretary’s head by inches.

“GET OUT!” Maeve screamed. “GET OUT!”

The secretary fled.

Ron sat up, his expression irritated. “We’ll just have to find another reviewer.”

Maeve turned to him, her eyes blazing. “This is her fault. Everything is her fault. She’s been sabotaging us since day one.”

Ron sighed, pulling her into his arms. “We’ll figure it out.”

“I don’t want to figure it out. I want her to lose. I want her to fall. I want her to feel as small and worthless as she made us feel.”

Ron kissed her forehead. “She will. I promise.”

Maeve closed her eyes. They continued their romance

Ivory Bennett. Her name was poison in Maeve’s mouth.

—

Bennett’s Group of Companies – Meeting Room – Afternoon

Diana Bennett sat at the head of the table, her phone in her hand. Around her, a group of executives discussed quarterly earnings, projections, and strategies. She nodded along, but her mind was elsewhere.

The hospital had called.

They couldn’t find Duane.

Diana’s heart was heavy. She’d already lost enough sleep worrying about him.

Her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen.

The hospital.

She answered immediately. “Yes? Did you find him?”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Bennett. He’s not in his room. We’ve searched the entire hospital. He seems to have discharged himself.”

“What? How?”

“He’s a grown man, Mrs. Bennett. He signed himself out and left.”

Diana closed her eyes. “Thank you for letting me know.”

The call ended.

Diana sighed in relief.

—

Prestige High School – Cafeteria – Noon

The cafeteria was packed with students, their voices overlapping into a constant buzz.

Hazel and Emilia sat at separate tables, both filming themselves eating lunch.

Hazel’s phone was propped up against a water bottle. She took a bite of her pasta and smiled at the camera.

“Hey, everyone! It’s lunchtime here at Prestige High. I’m having pasta, which is my absolute fave.”

She talked and laughed, occasionally responding to comments. Her viewer count was rising fast.

Across the room, Emilia was doing the same thing. But her viewer count wasn’t matching Hazel’s.

Emilia’s eyes narrowed.

She looked around the cafeteria. Her eyes landed on Mitchell.

He was sitting alone, eating a simple lunch of bread and water. But his face—damn, his face was beautiful.

A scholarship student.

Poor.

But he had a face that could get him anywhere.

Emilia smiled. She wants him

She needed to figure out a way to get him on her livestream. If she could get Mitchell’s face on camera, she’d get thousands of views. She’d finally beat Hazel.

—

Ivy Fashion Empire – Lobby – Afternoon

Ivory walked out of the elevator, her face tired, her heels clicking against the floor.

Duane was waiting in the lobby. He stood up when she approached.

“You ready?” he asked.

“Let’s go.”

Ivory got into the car. Duane closed the door. He walked around to the driver’s side and got in.

But as he shifted into drive, he winced.

Ivory saw it. She wanted to ignore it but she just decided to fake a little concern.

“Your arm,” she said flatly.

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. You’re bleeding through the bandage.”

“I said it’s fine.”

“Duane.” She was surprised by the sharpness in her own voice. “You need to change your bandage.”

“I’ll do it when I get home.”

“Home? You’re staying at the mansion tonight. My mother wouldn’t allow you to leave again.”

Duane’s jaw tightened. He hated that she was right. But he wasn’t about to admit it.

“Just drive,” she said. “And try not to crash. I’d rather not be in another accident.”

“It wasn’t my fault.”

“Pull over.”

“What?”

“Pull over now.”

Duane pulled over.

Ivory looked at him. “Let me see your arm.”

“It’s fine—”

“I said let me see it.”

Duane stared at her. She looked almost concerned. but he could see the fakery, so obvious

Carefully, he pulled up his sleeve. The bandage was soaked with blood. It had seeped through the fabric.

Ivory’s face paled. “Your arm needs to be treated. Did you change the bandage at the hospital?” Ivory asked sarcastically

“No. I left before they could.”

“Are you insane?! You could get an infection!”

“I’ve had worse.”

She stared at him, completely lost for words.
—

Bennett’s Mansion – Evening

The car pulled into the driveway.

Duane got out first. His arm was throbbing. The pain was getting worse.

Hazel ran out the front door. “Duane!”

She hugged him, squeezing tight around his shoulders.

Duane winced—just barely—but Hazel felt it.

“Oh my God—your arm—”

“It’s fine,” Duane said, stepping back. “I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding!”

Diana walked out of the house, her eyes wide when she saw Duane’s arm.

“Duane, your arm—”

“I’ll take care of it,” he said quickly.

Ivory got out of the car and walked past him toward the mansion.

“Goodnight, everyone,” she said flatly.

“Hold it,” Diana said. “Ivory, you’re going to clean his wound.”

Ivory froze. “What?”

“You heard me. You were the one who argued with him and threw him out last night. So you take responsibility. The first aid kit is in the hallway, and Duane is going to stay in your room tonight to rest. You’ll stay there and watch over him.”

Ivory’s face went red with fury. “Mum, are you serious?!”

“Dead serious.”

Ivory couldn’t argue. She knew her mother was right. She cared a little but she wasn’t gonna touch him, talk more of touching his wound, the thought alone make her wanna puke. But She had no choice so she just went to her room, boiling with rage. Duane followed with bleeding arm.

—

TBC