Still wearing his wicked smile, Johan leans back, watching me closely.

  “Sam’ll be with Furioso and Felina. Should be fun,” Zoe comments, as if utterly oblivious to the sudden dark aura of this man.

  “It is fun traveling with them. Every day is a lesson,” Johan gestures as he speaks, returning to an almost relaxed position.

  But his calculated movements give him away. He’s a businessman, and now he’s serious.

  “You’ve traveled with them?” I ask, surprised.

  “Yes, a few days a year, I travel with them. But I like people too much — my wife, my home, and my grandkids. Even the meetings… I miss them all.

  On the other hand, Sam can go months without seeing anyone and days without speaking. That would drive me insane.”

  “Not surprising.”

  “And when an idea gets stuck in his mind, Sam spends most of his time lost in his own world — it becomes an obsession. Maybe that’s great for work, but it’s not exactly ideal for socializing.

  Let’s just say it’s best not to even try talking to him in that state because he gets irritated by constant disturbances.”

  “He gets angry over any interruption?” Ella watches like she’s turned into a drama series.

  “Of course he does,” I reply, recalling his threats. How could I forget that knife in my stomach?

  “No, he’s actually pretty quiet and calm.” Why does it always feel like we’re describing entirely different people when we talk about Sam?

  “Sam is quiet and keeps most of his thoughts to himself, though his face might as well have subtitles,” Johan remarks, ignoring my sarcastic comment.

  He looks at me and raises an eyebrow. “Yes, and when he reaches his limit. It’s like a bomb going off. Sam worked well with others for a full year — we thought everything was fine. And then, he snapped.”

  “Yikes.” I feel bad for them. He probably nearly killed someone, and that’s the only reason he’s not in jail. But who knows? Maybe it’s just a matter of time.

  “The atmosphere got tense, but everyone’s work became more efficient. Once clear boundaries were set, Sam was given more space. I sensed that he relaxed more, and his work got better. Sam needs space to function. Unlike most people, a big part of what he does depends on creativity.”

  “Johan! Here to check on the truck? Bask in some well-deserved praise?” William Grant approaches, nodding at us. “Good afternoon.” His smile widens when he looks at me, then shifts back to Johan. “I thought I’d get to meet the mastermind behind this masterpiece.”

  Shit. I bet this was that damn Sam’s idea.

  Is it too much to wish I’d never see him again? Or avoid any topic that involves him? Just hearing his name fills me with both rage and… embarrassment.

  “Sam wanted to hear about your experience in the kitchen firsthand. Did you find it efficient? Is there anything that could be better? He believes an expert and daily user would notice things better than an engineer.”

  “Every preference I listed was met, and I found it extremely easy to stay organized and find everything.

  Clearly, a lot of careful study went into professional kitchen design.

  I’ll definitely be ordering two more units — and I suspect many more will follow.

  This is a dream come true for anyone wanting a restaurant on wheels. It has better infrastructure than some actual restaurants.” The older man grins.

  “I’ll let Sam know that in a few months’ time, you might have some feedback for him.” Johan chuckles. “Sam is always looking for ways to improve. He thinks saying something is ‘good enough’ is a waste of time.

  But I, on the other hand, am happy to accept praise.”

  “I like that. I don’t tolerate serving mediocre dishes, either. Constructive criticism is always welcome — I demand it from all my chefs, always striving for better.”

  “It shows in your delicious dishes and your dedicated recipes,” Ella comments, glancing at her husband, who silently nods in polite agreement.

  “Thank you. I’ll bring over a dish I’m testing — I want your honest critique.” His warmth spreads through his wide smile as he walks away, excited.

  A beam of sunshine after the stormy, oppressive presence that is Sam.

  “You two are on school break, right?” Johan asks, looking at Zoe and Wally, who both nod.

  “You might not know this, but some of my branches worldwide, besides selling and servicing vehicles and parts, now also rent out cars very similar to racing models.

  Would you like to try them out while you’re here? Maybe even take a trip during your remaining days off?” He finishes, looking straight at me.

  So that’s what made him smile like that? Clever.

  He knows that if I leave the hotel to stay in one of the cars, it’ll be fantastic publicity — especially with so many people around at this festival.

  “A truck like Sam’s?” Zoe perks up.

  “If you’d like, sure. In fact, Sam’s truck is a prototype that’s about to go into production.

  I just delivered the second one to him, which he’s already working on improving.

  But Sam likes to live in whatever project he’s working on, so his original truck is available.”

  “I thought he built everything from scratch.”

  “He builds from scratch like he usually does with first prototypes, or Sam provides a basic design, lets the factory produce it, and then he fine-tunes it.

  Since this was the second generation, he made some basic modifications to the original design, and the factory produced it.

  Now, he’s going to test new ideas that better suit the changes he requested.”

  “Will we be able to stay in Sam’s truck?” Zoe asks excitedly, seeking her father’s permission.

  He looks at me, fully aware that the man’s real intention depends on my answer.

  “Come on, Dad, it’s way better than a hotel room! When will we ever get a chance like this again?”

  “It would be a pleasure, Mr. Johan.” As soon as I say, his polite smile widens just enough to reveal a hint of greed — the dollar signs flashing behind his eyes as he waits for my response.

  “The pleasure is mine.” He pauses, his expression shifting from satisfaction to curiosity. “How long will you be staying in Australia? Are you working on any new projects soon?”

  “I have a few offers in mind, but I haven’t made a decision yet.”

  “I see. You know, I really admire your work. I’m curious — considering that you’re already well-known for playing certain types of characters, do you still want to reinvent yourself with different roles? You do realize that the audience might criticize or even reject that, right?”

  “They’re going to criticize me no matter what.”

  “Yes, but I get the impression you’re doing this purely to challenge yourself. However, if your reinvention fails, it could damage your already well-established career.”

  “I am challenging myself, but it’s not just about that. After hearing your conversation with Grant, I thought you’d understand that this isn’t some frivolous ambition — unless you underestimate me and don’t expect me to be as dedicated as you are, or perhaps you’re just hoping for constructive criticism. Or maybe… you believe I’ve already peaked.”

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  “Far from it. I didn’t mean to belittle you or your career. I actually admire your courage to take risks. Furthermore, I was only voicing the concerns I’ve heard from some people in your industry.”

  “Yesterday, you made a great impression on the main sponsors, and out of curiosity, we gathered some information on you. Through a few contacts, we found out that you’re actively trying to reinvent yourself by pursuing roles that don’t quite fit the characters you usually play.”

  “Why did you spend so much time researching me?” I feel myself going on the defensive, but I force my shoulders to relax and challenge him with a calm, cocky stare. His wealth and countless connections don’t intimidate me.

  “Like I said, I’m a fan. And people got curious — whether you were already cast in something new, what your expectations for the future were.”

  Rational. Some fans know things about me that I don’t even know about myself—habits, quirks. It’s not some outlandish conspiracy that they’d look into it and find out. It’s not like I was actively hiding it.

  “Have you ever considered being a host?” I glance at him, raising an eyebrow.

  They didn’t research me just to have me narrate or act as some kind of journalist for their events… right?

  “Yes, the idea came up. The thought of you being at the finish line — drawing in the audience — crossed their minds, especially after you went through some difficulties and came to understand the importance of preparation and the car's trustworthiness.”

  “I don’t understand technical terms. I wasn’t joking when I said I’m completely clueless about this stuff. I had no idea what to do beyond trying to push the damn car.”

  And I don’t want to earn this commission just so they can slap my face onto their products — while my image continues to be tied to nothing but my image, with no real substance. Especially since I don’t know a damn thing about this industry.

  “I figured you wouldn’t like the idea, which is why I spoke to a producer friend and his screenwriter.” I turn to him, raising an eyebrow.

  Is he seriously trying to pitch me something he knows I won’t accept? He can bring in as many producers and writers as he wants — it’s still not what I’m looking for.

  I do want to reinvent myself, but not that much. That would be an entirely different career path. I want different roles, maybe deeper ones, ones that might finally earn me real recognition.

  “What did they say?” I try not to sound rude or shut it down before hearing him out.

  “All the teams participating in the Outback Way have media crews. Some are just there to document the event, but others are running full-scale productions covering the entire journey, featuring drivers, adventurers, survival experts, and even renowned engineers — all people already connected to this world.

  Why do they want you at the finish line? To attract a different audience. The people here, the ones who already follow this kind of news, they know who we are. They already buy our products. But with you, we’d be targeting an entirely new demographic.”

  “I agree. But if I have nothing to contribute to the project beyond… fame, I’m not interested. Since you did your research, you must know I’ve turned down roles far more appealing than this.”

  “Who says you have nothing to contribute? Isn’t it obvious that your lack of experience is exactly what’s missing? A lot of people don’t take on these challenges — not just because they’re afraid of adventure, but because they don’t have the skills, they’re intimidated, embarrassed by how little they know.

  But you have the guts to admit you’re clueless. And that’s the point. What you bring to the table is the courage to face the unknown — to say, ‘I don’t know a thing about this. I might look ridiculous at first, but I have the guts to try and learn.’

  Could there be a role with more depth than that to reshape your image? One that proves you’re not just a pretty face but someone who struggles, overcomes and grows?”

  Alright, I can’t deny that it would add some depth and reduce the objectification — but I know all too well that would be career suicide.

  “Well, he certainly wouldn’t be just the heartthrob. And there wouldn’t even be a romance,” Ella adds.

  But accept this wouldn’t just be reinvention; it would be complete and utter destruction. Worse than those reality show contestants who walk away disgraced after a public meltdown — I could get canceled just for exposing how clueless I actually am.

  People would see the brutal reality of what happens when I’m in a truly bad situation. Not like in the movies, where even dirt and exhaustion are carefully crafted to look appealing. No perfect lighting, no flawless makeup —just a real, unfiltered mess. And that’s exactly what he’s suggesting.

  But isn’t that the point? To not be objectified?

  At the same time, I don’t want the people who once looked at me with desire to now see me with disgust or pity. No, this isn’t the kind of project I’m looking for.

  Hell, I could even end up blacklisted from the industry for doing something this ridiculous.

  “What exactly would I do? How would this production work?”

  “It would be a mix of documentary and reality show. It would chronicle your journey and your struggles while providing insights on how to overcome obstacles — what to do, and what not to do.

  You’d be surrounded by experts, and your interactions with them — your learning process — would be the main focus, along with your attempt to overcome challenges and maybe even win the competition.”

  “So you want this to inspire other inexperienced people to take on the route.”

  “To show that it’s tough, but not impossible.”

  “But I’d still have experts by my side. For an actual beginner, this might still be too dangerous.”

  “Of course, which is why we’d start filming a week in advance, covering your basic survival training. A crash course — something every tourist who takes on the route has access to.”

  “And I’d be advertising your products while trying to survive on camera?”

  “It wouldn’t be live. You’d just be constantly filmed, with moments of reflection on your progress.

  As for advertising, the products would be there, but I won’t push annoying ads. They’ll sell themselves when people see they’re reliable and easy for anyone to use. I trust my brand.”

  “But will people believe anyone can use them if I’ve got a bunch of experts explaining everything to me? What if they’re not intuitive at all?”

  “Don’t worry about that — I’ve already thought it through. You’ll have a full media and support team filming everything. But you’ll still experience the journey just like any other beginner would. The specialist will be there, but only one — and he won’t talk much.”

  “No!” Ella blurts out, and I stare at the man, dumbfounded.

  “Sam would be perfect for the expert role, wouldn’t he?” He cannot be serious.

  Of course not! Only a complete lunatic would agree to this — especially not with Sam. And Sam would never agree to this.

  I mean, the guy doesn’t even want to work anymore, and I’m supposed to believe he’d willingly spend a whole month stuck with me on this? We can’t even last a few hours in the same room without plotting each other’s demise!

  Maybe… “Does he know about this? Is that why he quit?” Suddenly, everything clicks.

  “No, Sam doesn’t know yet. I was going to propose it to both of you, but I didn’t get the chance to bring it up.”

  “I don’t know who would be harder to convince — him or me. If he already quit once…” I can’t help but laugh.

  “Sam didn’t really quit. He just craves freedom — and I can give him that. Along with an entire infrastructure that will make his creative process easier. It’s an offer he won’t be able to refuse, and he knows it.

  Sam wasn’t walking away from work itself. He was just proving that staying in the factory had nothing left to teach him for the development of his projects. The factory is only good for production now.

  And I agree — he belongs on the road.

  Where do you think I got the inspiration for my company’s slogan? Driven to redefine limits.

  That’s why I’ll give him the infrastructure, the fierce competition, and the opportunity to test his inventions in the hands of a total beginner — someone who will give him the most honest, constructive feedback he could ever get.”

  “No. I’m not falling for this trap.” Not in a million years. And definitely not with Sam.

  “It’ll be a challenge. You’ll get to reinvent your image, and it’ll be an incredibly constructive experience — one filled with lessons you’ll carry for the rest of your life.”

  “Oh, I’d definitely carry it for the rest of my life. My ruined image, me floundering, completely clueless, while Sam makes me look like a total idiot.

  Constructive? Because he would teach me something? More likely, he’d construct traumas I’d spend a lifetime trying to get over.”

  As soon as I finish, Ella’s jaw drops, and Wally bursts into laughter.

  “Sam’s not that bad. He gets better once you get to know him,” Johan offers as if that’s supposed to be reassuring. Not that bad? He is the worst.

  “That’s the best you can say about him?” I deadpan.

  “When Sam opens up, he’s actually really friendly.”

  “Like a grumpy dog that secretly enjoys affection?” I suggest sarcastically.

  Johan nods. “Exactly.”

  “Not with me. If I so much as try, I’ll lose a few fingers.”

  “If Sam is your only issue, I can place you with another team. Though I still think he’s your best option.

  You’d have the best engineer — someone who can get out of any situation — and the best vehicle, competing for the biggest prize. A win like that would do wonders for your image.”

  “It’s not just about him.”

  “You’ll only look perfect all the time if you stick to heartthrob roles. But if you’re afraid to be seen any other way, you won’t be able to reinvent yourself.”

  “Acting in a controlled environment where I pretend to get wrecked is one thing. Actually getting wrecked is another.”

  “So you’re afraid of the route?”

  “No. If there’s a course beforehand, and if even a beginner like me can make it with the right resources, then sure — I’d be interested.

  As a tourist. After the Outback Way competition.”

  “Only pioneers are remembered.”

  “I don’t want to be remembered as an idiot.”

  “You won’t be. Learning comes with challenges. But overcoming them makes you stronger than the people who stay in their comfort zones.

  You know that. That’s why you’re not satisfied being boxed into the same roles anymore.

  I’m not saying you’ll get everything right the first time. Or that you won’t feel lost or ridiculous at times. But the secret is not giving up.”

  “Why don’t you talk to Sam first? See what he thinks?” Ella cuts in before I can refuse again. She whispers to me in secret. “I just want to see his reaction.”

  She just wants to watch the world burn.

  “Want to come with me?” Johan asks, suddenly enthusiastic as he gets up.

  What’s in it for him? If we both say no, wouldn’t that just hurt his chances?

  His unusual strategy sparks my curiosity more than my self-preservation instincts warn me to stay away from Sam.

  “Let’s go.”

  Well. That escalated quickly.

  JJ just wanted a peaceful morning, and now he’s somehow being roped into a survival challenge with the human embodiment of passive-aggressive silence (aka Sam).

  Meanwhile, Ella is living for the drama, Johan is playing 4D chess, and Wally is way too amused by all of this.

  So the real question is: Will JJ say yes? Will Sam even survive being stuck with him? And, more importantly, will Ella get the reality show-level chaos she clearly desires?

  Stay tuned. The next chapter is about to be glorious. ????