Chapter 1: Meeting at the Lights
Lisbon was wrapped in night, warm and heavy with the scent of the ocean. The narrow streets of Alfama buzzed with life: the sounds of fado spilling out of taverns, waiters carrying plates of grilled sardines, and the air vibrating with laughter and the clinking of vinho verde glasses. But at one intersection, near Praça do Comércio, a different kind of music played – the growl of engines, a promise of speed, adrenaline, and the thrill of the game.
Marta stopped her black Mazda RX-7. The engine purred low, like a cat about to pounce. She rolled down the window and leaned out slightly, her hazel eyes sparkling in the neon glow of a nearby sign. Petite, she looked every bit the queen of the night – confident, with a mocking smile and that look that always meant trouble.
On the other side, in a red Nissan 370Z, Alex raised an eyebrow. Elegant even here – he had taken off his jacket, but the white shirt underneath remained flawless. His green eyes were cool, controlled, but when they met hers, a glint of amusement danced in their corners.
– Afraid? – Marta shouted through the window, her voice sharp as a knife. – Want to stay a little gentleman with your watches, or show you can live on the edge?
Alex replied in a calm, almost icy tone:
– I always play elegantly, but I never play without risk.
The lights turned green.
Engines roared. The RX-7 shot forward like a missile, rear wheels squealing on the cobblestones. The 370Z followed closely, its red reflections shimmering on the wet asphalt. The crowd parted in cheers, phones flashing like fireflies – everyone wanted to capture this moment.
They raced through the night city: passing old buildings with laundry hanging above the streets, driving past the Sé Cathedral, its walls gleaming in the lights. Marta handled the car like an artist – taking tight corners with confidence and grace. Alex, cool and focused, controlled every turn of the wheel as if directing his own film noir.
At the roundabout by the Tagus River, Marta braked sharply, sending tire smoke into the air and spinning the car in a spectacular drift.
– Too slow! – she shouted through the open window, quoting The Little Prince with an ironic sparkle in her eye. – “The world is full of things to get angry about, or it would break!”
Alex only smiled. His 370Z slid alongside her, like a predator ready to strike.
The race continued for several more minutes – across a bridge, through narrow alleys, until they reached the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte viewpoint. There, they stopped their cars side by side, tires screaming as they skidded to a halt in a cloud of smoke.
Engines died, and silence filled the space. Below stretched Lisbon – hundreds of lights reflecting on the Tagus, the scent of salty air, and the distant laughter of the night city.
Marta stepped out, adjusting her hair, and looked at Alex.
– Not bad… for someone who looks like he forgot that a car isn’t a fashion runway.
Alex approached slowly, nonchalant, but with that dangerous aura that made hearts race.
– And you – he said softly – drive like someone who isn’t afraid to burn.
Their eyes met in the dim light. Lisbon pulsed below them, and in the air, there was more than the scent of gasoline – a promise of a game where the stakes were more than just the winner of the race.
