Victoria leaned on her desk, arms crossed tight under her chest, and her black-painted nails tapped one single time against her biceps. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

"So," she said. "Let’s hear this great idea of yours, Blaze. How are you going to solve all my problems?"

Nash didn’t react at first. He just leaned back a little, with that infuriating smirk she hated.

She watched him for a long second before she finally sighed, dragged a hand over her face, and tipped her head back like she was begging the ceiling for patience.

"Of course," she muttered. "Of course you wanna use this for your stupid wet dream." She straightened up again. "Nash, get this through your thick head: Hector owns Monique. Monique owns Baby-Boom. There is no world in which I magically pay off their debt, and Hector just smiles and lets it happen."

Nash took a step forward.

"Thought the same thing at first," he admitted, shrugging. "But remember what you said. I’m not just a winning insurance because I’m on a strong team. I’m marketable. I bring sponsors. Fans. Attention. That’s the real power here."

Victoria frowned. One perfect eyebrow arched high, but she didn’t say anything. Just tilted her head a little, like, Go on, then.

Nash took another step closer, close enough that she could see the stupid confidence in his eyes.

"Why do you think sponsors have power? It’s simple, it’s because of the people. The fans buying tickets, jerseys, whatever. That’s the real game. Hector’s a problem, yeah, but even he can’t fight a system. Especially a system in which even he is deep inside. If we get the people on our side, sponsors will throw cash at us just to benefit from it. And Hector? He can’t stop it without looking like an idiot burning money over some childhood grudge."

Victoria rolled her eyes. She pushed off the desk, standing tall in those heels that could probably stab a man.

"You just perfectly summarized why I want to keep you around," she said dryly. "Congratulations."

Nash laughed, like it surprised him too.

"Yeah, but you’re still missing the best part."

Victoria’s jaw tightened. She waved a hand, annoyed.

"Then spit it out, king of rats. What am I missing?"

Nash grinned wider.

"What makes people lose their minds? The magic. A crazy-good breakball player doing the impossible. A whole team smashing records, looking unbeatable. That’s what turns casual fans into addicts." He leaned in, voice dropping. "So imagine the craziness of people if they learn about a draft between a fantastic player and a formidable team. The creation of a real team of destroyers."

Victoria frowned harder. Two little lines appeared between her eyebrows. She waited, arms still crossed.

"Baby-Boom’s already huge. Five idols with an army of fans. I’m the Underground’s rising star. If Blacklist announces we’re recruiting them, the entire scene will explode. People will be dazzled by the possibility: Nash Blaze and the five Baby-Boom idols on the same court. Games that everyone will want to see. Rivalries. Drama. Pure entertainment. No sponsor worth their contract would pass on that kind of heat. The money will flood in. The attention will become a shield. And that’s exactly where Hector loses his power."

Nash gestured sharply, like he was seeing the future.

"Everything down here is business at the end of the day. Once Blacklist reaches that level of popularity, the sponsors will have everything to gain by backing us. No one, not even Hector, will be able to interfere without looking like he’s torching money for personal reasons. The people won’t allow it. The investors won’t allow it. The numbers won’t lie. I’m not that smart, but I know that much."

Victoria went quiet.

She turned, pacing two slow steps along the desk while her brain worked at a million miles an hour. Her black nails tapped against her arm again. Nash could practically see the math in her eyes, all the risks, the rewards, the thousand ways this could blow up versus the one way it might actually work.

She stopped. Breathed out.

"You’re not wrong," she admitted, like it physically hurt her. "The hype would be... interesting. The kind of wave that attracts sponsors like a rotten cheese attracts a rat," Her eyes flicked back to him. "Or a bitch in heat attracts a bastard. But it doesn’t fix the biggest problem: how do we actually pay their debt? If the money comes from me, Hector will block it."

Nash glanced at the door like it had answers, then looked back at her with that cocky grin again.

"That’s the other part," he said. "The hardest part. But right now? I’m confident I can pull off anything." He met her eyes directly. "Tell me, Victoria... are you a good actress?"

For a second, she just stared at him. Then, she gestured at the office, the fancy desk, the glowing screens, all the money she’d clawed out of nothing.

"Everything you see around here," she said with dry amusement, "exists because I’m an expert at faking it until I make it. So yes, Blaze. I’m an excellent actress."

Nash’s grin widened.

Time passed slowly on the court, and it was awkward.

The girls huddled together on one side, whispering stuff to each other every now and then. The boys stood on the other side, shuffling their feet, looking nervous, throwing glances toward the hallway where Victoria had disappeared with Nash.

The air was so tense you could practically taste it. Even the usual sounds of the hangar were quiet, like the whole building was holding its breath.

Aiko crossed her arms tighter, looking super annoyed. She kicked at nothing on the floor and muttered under her breath loud enough for the girls next to her to hear.

"This was supposed to be, like, fun," she grumbled. "Not this depressing, stupid vibe. If it’s gonna be like this every day, I’d rather owe money forever."

Jaz elbowed her lightly, but even she looked kinda nervous, biting her lip a little.

Then, the doom sound of heels came from the hallway.

Everyone froze. The boys straightened up like soldiers about to get yelled at. The girls stood up, eyes locked on whoever was coming. First came Dahlia, hugging her notebook to her chest, then Victoria, looking as cold and unreadable as ever. And right beside her, Nash, walking like he’d just come back from a chill walk in the park.

Total silence.

Victoria stopped in front of the group, looking at each person like she was sizing them up. Nash stood slightly behind her, face neutral but with this tiny smirk that somehow made everyone more nervous. Dahlia hovered nearby, eyes darting back and forth like she wasn’t sure where to look.

Victoria gave Nash one last glance, something between annoyance and acceptance.

"There will be many changes in the coming days," she announced. "Some of you will like it. Five of you won’t." She paused, observing them. "Anyone who wishes to bail out, follow Drex’s example. Go to my office now. I will personally arrange your release. I have no interest in keeping mops who don’t want to be here."

A couple of the boys exchanged nervous looks.

Victoria’s voice got even sharper.

"Things are going to get significantly worse before they get better. Much worse. If you feel like leaving, do it now while I’m still willing to find you a landing spot. Later... you’ll be begging for the chance, and I may not be so generous."

The boys shifted again. A few looked like they were thinking about it, but no one moved yet.

Victoria turned toward the hallway.

"Drex," she called, voice flat.

Drex flinched, shoulders jerking. He shot Nash a glare full of pure hate, like, if looks could kill, Nash would be dust. But Nash just stared back, calm, almost... indifferent. That seemed to piss Drex off even more. His hands clenched into fists so tight they kept trembling at his sides. Then he spun around and stormed off without another word.

Mac stood there, frozen, face full of confusion. He’d expected shouting, punishment, maybe some kind of public execution of Nash’s position. Instead, Victoria’s calm announcement and Nash’s relaxed posture painted a completely different picture.

"Screw this," Mac muttered finally. "Drex is right."

He started walking after him, shoulders hunched, when a hand grabbed his wrist.

Mac spun around. Jinzo held onto him tight, shaking his head slowly, eyes serious. The message was clear: Don’t do it.

Mac glared, half-angry, half-lost, but Jinzo didn’t let go. After a few tense seconds, Mac sighed and stayed put, jaw clenched.

Meanwhile, the girls rushed Nash the second Victoria turned away.

Jaz grabbed his arm first.

"Nash! What happened in there? Are you okay?"

Nia slid up beside him.

"First time you’re alone with a woman, and she came back standing, something definitely went really wrong."

Alicia hovered close, eyes wide. Aiko stayed back, arms crossed, watching with her usual guarded look.

Nash raised his hands, chuckling.

"Relax, relax. I’m fine. Actually, it went better than I thought." He looked right at Aiko, voice softening. "Things are gonna change. Starting with... I’m taking you home."

Aiko blinked, confused, but didn’t argue.

The taxi ride back was quiet at first, city lights streaking past the windows like neon ribbons. Aiko sat next to Nash, legs crossed. She kept sneaking glances at him, trying to act like she didn’t care but failing.

Finally, she muttered, staring out the window.

"So... what happened? It sounded bad from outside. But you look way too smug. Did she chew you up and spit you out or something?"

Nash laughed quietly.

"No one got chewed up. Well... except maybe my boss, eventually."

Aiko tilted her head, curious despite herself. She leaned in a little, shoulder brushing his.

"Soooo? What’s that supposed to mean?"

Nash glanced at her, then pulled out his phone.

"Thought about a lot while talking to Victoria. We made a deal. We’re gonna save you, all of Baby-Boom. But everyone’s gotta step up."

He tapped his phone, typing fast.

"Tell Rei I’m not meeting her tonight. I already know what I need. Better if we talk directly from now on."

Aiko’s eyes lit up. She turned fully toward him, poking his arm.

"Hey. What’s going on? Don’t just say stuff like that and leave me hanging." Her voice got a little whiny, lips forming a cute pout. "You can’t drop hints like that and leave your girl hanging..."

Nash smiled and pressed a finger gently to her lips, shushing her.

"All we need to do for now," he said softly, "is what you do best. Play breakball. Put stars in people’s eyes. The rest... will follow. I’ll let you know our next move. But for now, we focus on Breakball."

Aiko stared at him, stunned. She wanted to ask more, but something in his confidence made her stop. That annoying attitude that makes him ten times more handsome... It was irritating, but she couldn’t get enough of it.

Nash’s sudden confidence might’ve seemed reckless. But he wasn’t the type to jump into something this risky without a plan, and she knew it. Whatever happened in Victoria’s office changed everything.

Stuff was moving behind the scenes, alliances forming, traps being set, something big was coming, something that’d shake the Underground.

For the first time since getting tangled in Victoria’s Quest, Nash felt like he could actually win.

The taxi stopped outside Baby-Boom’s building. Nash walked Aiko to the door, making sure she got inside safely before getting back in the car.

A few people were visible behind some windows, watching him leave. Perfect. Just perfect.

Things were about to get really, really interesting.