"Is that the key?"
Richard smiled.
"Yes."
"Could I hold it?"
He laughed.
Not loudly.
But enough for two other employees to hear.
"That key is worth more than your car."
Elena looked at him.
"Probably."
That answer surprised him.
Before he could respond, another voice came from behind.
"Richard."
A blonde woman approached.
Sophia Vale.
She was the dealership's marketing director and Richard's girlfriend.
She looked at Elena, then at the key.
"What is she doing here?"
Richard shrugged.
"Apparently she's interested in the X9."
Sophia smiled.
"Interested?"
Elena felt her face grow warm.
But she didn't leave.
Instead, she looked at the car one more time.
Then she said quietly:
"I'd like to take it for a test drive."
Richard laughed.
Sophia laughed too.
Even the young receptionist behind the desk looked up.
Elena stood perfectly still.
Then she reached into her sweater pocket.
She pulled out a small black key fob.
And placed it on the hood of the hypercar.
Richard stopped laughing.
Sophia's smile disappeared.
Because the key wasn't a dealership key.
It carried the same symbol as the X9.
And beneath the symbol were two tiny letters:
E.B.
Richard stared at the key.
"What is that?"
Elena looked at him.
"The key."
"I can see that."
"It's for the X9."
Richard's expression hardened.
"That car belongs to Sterling Apex."
Elena nodded.
"I know."
"Then where did you get the key?"
Elena hesitated.
"From the owner."
Sophia laughed.
"That's impossible."
Elena looked at her.
"Why?"
"Because the owner doesn't hand keys to random visitors."
Richard reached toward the key.
Elena picked it up first.
Richard stopped.
"Don't."
Elena frowned.
"You just asked where I got it."
"I want to inspect it."
"You can look."
She held it out.
Richard examined the emblem.