Chapter 12
JEDDAH, SAUDI ARABIA
I ndy held her breath as she watched Thiago and Charlie battle for P2. As she stood in the media pen next to Scott, arms folded beneath her breasts and attention entirely focused on the two cars almost driving wheel to wheel inside a narrow corner, she couldn’t help but nibble her lower lip.
A bead of sweat made its way down her neck, not only because of the heat, but mostly because of the nerves rattling her body.
At heart, she was a die-hard fan of Primavera Racing because her father had raced for them in his early F1 days, and she also thought the team was at its peak with their two talented drivers.
On the other hand, she genuinely admired Imperium Racing—their rapid cars, their two drivers who were unbeatable and stronger than anyone else on the grid.
But she was now a journalist, so she needed to stay neutral and objective. She couldn’t act as though she was in Kamari’s living room, squealing with excitement when Thiago managed to overtake Charlie. Couldn’t hold her breath when Huxley took a turn too wide and nearly let his car come in contact with a wall, and exhale in relief when nothing happened to him. Couldn’t curse when other drivers at the end of the grid were acting reckless and colliding into each other.
So all she did was keep her thoughts inside her head, her expression blank, save for the tiny winces every time an incident was on the cusp of happening.
She was also taking notes to ask each driver during the post-race interview she’d be conducting in a few minutes. Only ten laps were left before the chequered flag would be brandished.
“What a race,” Scott muttered, mostly to himself, but still made Indy nod in agreement.
The transcription of the radio exchange between Miles and his race engineer appeared on the bottom of the screen, causing Indy to frown. “I think I’m losing power. Can you check?”
“Checking now.”
On the left side of the screen were the twenty drivers’ positions, Miles being at the top as he’d been leading the race since the beginning. Thiago, who was right behind, was over five seconds away, but the gap between them seemed to be decreasing.
“Put mode eighteen on,” AJ commanded. “Should be good to go.”
“I swear to god, AJ, if you fuck this up…”
“You’re allowed to go flat-out on the last couple of laps.” Even if it would degrade his tyres, Miles could allow himself to do it because he was so far ahead of the rest of the drivers.
Lap after lap, Miles continued to lead the race, roaring off the track with unbridled speed.
When he passed the chequered flag, Indy kept her smile from growing, pride flooding inside her chest.
The public could say whatever they wanted about Miles—some of them hated his arrogance and dominance during most races, while others admired his ferocity—but it had never stopped Indy from applauding his sheer talent.
Someone came to stand beside her, and Indy didn’t even have to turn to know who it was. Tara’s perfume was overwhelming and strong, and not in a positive way. Indy didn’t like holding any animosity against anyone, especially against her colleagues, but Tara was toeing a dangerous line. Only few knew how venomous Indy could be if someone ever struck the wrong nerve.
“Heard a rumour,” Tara said.
Indy forced a smile, turning to face her colleague. “Nice.”
“Do you not want to know?”
“Burying my nose where it doesn’t belong isn’t my thing.”
Tara scoffed. “Even when it concerns you?”
“Do tell, then,” she answered with a sigh, her annoyance ready to bubble to the surface.
“Heard you’re roomies with Huxley.”
She arched a brow. “Who did you hear this from?”
“Are you confirming it?”
“No,” Indy said with a chilling calmness. “I’m just wondering why you’re so interested in something that clearly doesn’t concern you.”
Tara’s brows were lifted in slight puzzlement. “What, exactly, are you doing, Indy? Your daddy paid enough money to get you this job, and now you’re dating Huxley? Just to hold on to your spot? It doesn’t work that way. Besides, you don’t even know what you’re talking about when you’re on live TV.”
Those accusations were absolutely insane.
“Sorry,” Indy said, “but who’s conducting the interviews and doing the pit lane walk with Carmen every race day? Apparently, it’s not you.”
“Yet.”
She was fuming on the inside, her stomach churning with frustration. “Listen, Tara, I wish you all the success and happiness, and I hope that one day you can get promoted to be a presenter. But you don’t know anything about my situation, so I’d suggest you walk away.”
Utter disdain was etched on Tara’s face. “Huxley would never date you.”
Indy blinked, listening to the sounds surrounding her instead of letting her anger take over. She took a small breath. “Ooh, I get it. Is this why you’re working in F1? Not to prove we, women, belong here too, but to score a driver? Come on, Tara, we’re better than this.”
When Tara simply scoffed, Indy decided to walk away. She could feel the tension straining her shoulders, the slow, burning anger seeping through her veins.
How dare she say those things? How dare she assume she’d arrived here without breaking a sweat when all she did was struggle to forge her place into this universe? How dare she?
Walking furiously through the crowded paddock, Indy texted Scott to let him know she’d be back in a minute. He responded with a thumbs-up emoji, having certainly heard every word of the conversation she’d had with Tara since he was standing right beside them.
Don’t let her get to you. Don’t let her win.
By storming off like a mad woman, she was probably making a mistake, and she’d probably be scolded by her boss for it. But she needed to breathe to calm herself. She couldn’t conduct the interviews while being angry.
“Indy!”
Now was not the time.
“Why are you walking like you’re pissed off?”
Okay, maybe it was fine that Miles had fallen into step beside her, Ava on her other side.
“I’m fine,” she muttered.
“Doesn’t work with me, Daisy.” When his fingers delicately looped around her wrist, she halted. “What’s going on?”
Gently, Miles pulled her behind the wall of Imperium Racing’s motorhome. “We have exactly three minutes before you need to start with your interviews, so talk to me.”
“I’m going to wait for you…there,” Ava announced, pointing to a table in front of the motorhome.
Indy folded her arms across her chest. She felt her torso rise and fall with every breath she took and released, a knot building in her throat. “She said I got this job because my dad paid Thunderbolt Sports to have me as a lead presenter.”
Slowly, bewilderment drew itself upon Miles’ face. “Who?”
“Tara.”
“Who’s that?”
Indy was a better woman than that, but fuck, she couldn’t control the little smirk of victory ghosting over her lips. “My coworker. She’s an assistant. Provides all the texts I need to read on live TV and such.”
He nodded. “Got it.”
“She also said I was dating you to keep my job. Like, that doesn’t make sense? God, I’m so angry right now!”
“Hey,” Miles coaxed softly. “You know she’s just trying to piss you off?—”
“Well, congrats to her because she succeeded.”
He chuckled, as if amused by her frustration. “Don’t let her get to you. You’re letting her win by acting this way. Everyone knows you didn’t need or want Zach’s help to get this job. Everyone who’s listened to your podcast knows how hard you’ve worked to get here.”
Exhaling, she felt her shoulders drop, the tension slowly fading away. That was when she realised he had run after her to make sure she was okay.
Miles Huxley would always break his rules for her, and she couldn’t exactly fathom why.
Wearing a cap atop his damp hair, his face flushed and sweaty, his racing suit unzipped and hanging at his hips, Miles was utterly enthralling after winning a race.For a beat, Indy forgot about her anger and distress, mesmerised by the tall man.
Regardless of her strong attraction for Miles, she refused to let people think she’d gotten the job to be with him. Refused to let them say she had it easy when it was anything but.
He took a sip of water, his attention still focused on her as he blatantly ignored the people gawking at them.
“You’re right,” she said, exhaling heavily. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t apologise. Your feelings are always valid when you’re with me, remember? Just don’t let anyone break you. You’re not worth their childish behaviour.”
“Right. I’m too pretty for that drama.”
He chuckled. “There she is.”
Ava peered around the corner. “I hate to interrupt, but you need to head back to the media pen, Ind.”
“Crap,” she said, turning on her heel. “See you in a minute.”
“You better run,” Miles suggested amusedly. “Wouldn’t want you to get in trouble.”
“Watch me.”
Trotting in her high heels, she waved at Alex photographing her. Then, she looked over her shoulder to smile at Miles who stood there, hiding his grin beside Ava who was laughing heartily.
“Thank you, Huxley!”
And what he did next almost sent her toppling over a bench. His voice was loud and clear, sincerity woven into his tone: “I’ve got you!”