The room went quiet. Every eye found Jax.
They rolled footage of the screening match—Zinnia's face twisted with anger as she stormed off after losing.
Jax leaned into the mic, calm. "A bet's a bet. Miss Reed knows the terms. I'm sure she'll honor them."
The crowd reacted with a mix of laughter and gasps. Someone whistled.
The announcer pushed. "And when will this... arrangement take place?"
Jax let the moment stretch, then smiled. "Soon. Very soon. But I'm in no rush. Good things take time."
Noise swelled again. Questions and flashes filled the air. In the VIP section above, Paige Rayne watched without showing her feelings. An assistant whispered to her, and she waved him off.
The announcer signaled for quiet. "Well, there you have it, folks! Jax Rayne, ever the enigma! Now, let's present the trophy!"
Ava and Jax stepped up. The pedestal rose with a hiss, lifting the trophy into their hands. It felt heavier than it looked—solid and cold.
