Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73568 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 368(@200wpm)___ 294(@250wpm)___ 245(@300wpm)
Posey glances at me, eyebrows raised in question. “Yeah… you should come and watch.” I give her a knowing smile, a secret between us. “You might learn something more for your article.”
And yes, there it is. The blush.
We walk back over to the lobby, which is the perfect place to do an on-camera interview. The cavernous glass and steel atrium with the backdrop of shelved trophies and retired race cars gleaming under the spotlights shows the prestige and power of Crown Velocity.
Ronan sits in a director’s chair, a stylist and makeup artist flitting about him. Maeve pulls Posey over to the side to watch and I plop down in the seat next to Ronan.
Immediately, I’m being fluffed and primped by two more ladies. Ronan asks, “So, how did the simulation go?”
“Not bad,” I reply, trying to talk around a soft brush being stroked over my face with God knows what on it. “The adjustments Gio and Emma made were solid. The new rear wing angle is helping with the oversteer in the fast corners, especially in turns three and eight on the Bahrain track. The car feels more planted now, and I didn’t have to fight it as much to keep it stable. When do you run?”
“In a few hours. Anya’s working on the tire pressure changes. Balance is good and the fronts aren’t overheating as quickly.”
I lean forward, holding my fist out for him to bump. “Sounds like one of us will be stealing glory at Bahrain.”
Ronan nods, his gaze sliding past me to Maeve and Posey who chat animatedly.
“Your little shadow is back,” he mutters, his tone dripping with disdain. “Looks like she’s ready to scribble down every word. I’ve got to say, mate, she’s a bit of a plain doormat, isn’t she? Doesn’t exactly do much for our image, dragging our reps down like that.”
I feel a surge of anger rise, and I turn to him, my voice low but firm. “What’s your problem with her, Ronan? Seriously. She’s just doing her job.”
He shrugs, a smile tugging on his lips. “No problem, just sharing my assessment of the situation. She doesn’t fit in with the crowd we usually roll with, you know? Feels like she’s more of a tagalong, and it’s not exactly doing us any favors.”
I narrow my eyes, my temper flaring. “She’s not dragging anyone down, least of all our reputations. So stop being an asshole to her.”
Ronan raises an eyebrow, clearly surprised by the intensity in my voice. “Whoa, easy there, mate. Didn’t know you were so protective of her. I’m just saying—”
“I don’t care what you’re just saying,” I snap. “She’s here to do a job, just like us. So lay off and be nice.”
Ronan studies me for a moment. “All right, all right. No need to get worked up. I’ll be nice, yeah?”
“See that you do,” I mutter, turning my attention back to the camera crew, trying to push down the lingering irritation.
“Sure. Yeah. How about we grab some dinner and beers tonight, just me and you? Low-key and chill.”
“Can’t tonight,” I say, gently brushing the makeup artist away. I give her a kind smile but tell her, “Enough.”
She bobs her head and retreats.
“Come on, mate,” Ronan cajoles, giving me his patented charming smile that works better on women than me. “It will be fun.”
“I can’t,” I reply, my eyes darting over to Posey.
Ronan’s gaze hardens. “Because you have plans with her.”
I don’t miss the condescension in his words. I turn to glare at him. “Yes, with her. I’m going to be staying here in Woking at an Airbnb she rented to be closer to HQ. Cut out the commute because it’s a pain.”
“You never thought it was before,” he points out.
“Maybe I did and I’m just taking advantage of a situation presented to me.”
Ronan makes a disbelieving sound low in his throat, but I leave it. I don’t feel like explaining myself to him, and besides… his dislike of Posey irritates me. She’s a nice girl, not here to hurt anyone, and if her story is believed by everyone who thinks she’s an actual reporter, they know she’s researching to write a nice piece about Crown Velocity.
A young woman interrupts us, a pretty blond with her long ponytail hanging through the keyhole of a black and red FI hat. She introduces herself as the influencer who will be interviewing us, and I forget her name as soon as I hear it. We do dozens of these interviews, especially leading up to the start of the season.
I look over at Posey, her eyes on me. She grins, gives me a thumbs-up, and I can’t help but grin back.
CHAPTER 9
Posey
I really love the Crown Velocity lobby. I love the futuristic feel, especially with the aerodynamic cars looking so impossibly advanced, it’s hard to believe they drive, much less fly like the wind. Lex and Ronan are sitting in chairs directly in front of the trophy case, getting some last-minute adjustments from the makeup artist, and I’m just trying to stay out of the way.