Chapter 12 #2
Sitting in the back of a small-town car, we weave through the traffic and head towards the city. I watch as the lights whizz by before I turn to look at him.
“Stop staring at me.” I frown and he laughs softly.
“Can’t help it.” He sighs, resting his head on the headrest of the car.
“Sicko.” I smirk, as I peek through the middle of the car at the slowing traffic. “So, who’s the sponsor?” I ask, settling back.
“Zeus Energy,” he mutters, tapping his fingers against his thigh. “They’re our main sponsor. They wanted a dinner, which normally happens before the season starts. They threw this on us last minute. I’m unsure why.”
I watch him with intent and he seems nervous. “Could it be something bad?” I ask the weighing question.
“Who knows?” He lifts a shoulder. “Dad doesn’t seem to think so, but even if he was worried, he wouldn’t show it.”
I give a weak smile. “I am sure it’s nothing, just a dinner, that’s all,” I try and reassure him, my hand skating across the leather seat as my pinkie grazes his.
His eyes fall, lips tugging into a smile. “Yeah, you’re right.” He shifts in his seat.
I drag my hand back into my lap and for the rest of the car ride, we sit in silence.
We walk into Rendezvous hotel and Royce’s arm snakes around my back as he leads me towards the restaurant 7 Paintings that is tucked inside. Flicking my gaze up, my breath catches.
“This looks fancy.” My voice is small as I stay close to him.
“Don’t stress, it’s just food.”
I swallow. “I don’t do fancy,” I whisper.
His fingers drag across my lower back before they intwine with mine. “Neither do I,” he whispers into my ear just as we wait for the ma?tre d’.
“Good evening, sir.” He looks to Royce, then to me.
“Evening, we’re here meeting Tony, from Zeus Energy.”
The guy skims his pen down his long list then his brows raise and a subtle aha leaves his lips. “Please, follow me.” He steps out from his stand.
Dipping my head, Royce ushers me forward, those fingers trailing across my lower back again and it’s getting harder to ignore the butterflies that flutter in my stomach.
I spot Ana?s and Creed before I notice anyone else.
Creed stands, shaking his son’s hand and then places a kiss on my cheek.
We continue around the table doing pleasantries.
An older man sits to the left of Creed, he gives me a smile and I return it.
“Tony,” Royce says as he cups my hand into his, “this is my girlfriend, Athena.” He smiles proudly at me, my eyes softening at the corners, my heart beating a little quicker.
“Pleasure to meet you.” Tony leans across the table and places a kiss onto the back of my hand. His American accent is thick.
“Same to you.” I slip my hand from his grasp and shrink back into my seat.
Ana?s gives me a wink and a smile causing the nerves to settle ever so slightly.
Cowan hasn’t taken his eyes off me all night, the timid girl sitting next to him has noticed too and has decided to drown her sorrows in wine.
It’s not like she hasn’t tried to get his attention, but he seems to want to rile Royce up any way he can.
A low noise, which imitates a growl, vibrates in Royce’s throat and his eyes crease at the corner as he narrows his gaze on Cowan. Creed catches it and clears his throat trying to gain Royce’s attention.
“Royce,” Ana?s swoops in, “I have some new social media ideas… How would you feel driving Athena around in one of the safety cars, but we’ll add something fun to the mix, like a bowl of flour or something?”
Creed’s brow raises but it seems to work. Royce unlocks his heated gaze from his rival and lands it on Ana?s.
“Sounds good.” His voice is low.
She beams, clapping her hands together. I watch as Creed leans in and places a kiss on the side of her head before whispering something into her ear which has her blushing from head to toe.
The food is delicious, the wine is exceptional, and Royce really had nothing to worry about. The impromptu dinner is positive, and Tony wants to extend their sponsorship for another five years which is epically good. Or so I am told.
We sit in the dimly lit bar in our hotel, tucked over by the fireplace.
Royce sits in the leather armchair, legs wide, his soda water resting on his knee.
The buttons to his polo are undone, his foot bouncing up and down.
His ice blue eyes seem hooded, burning into me as his head is slightly tilted.
An elbow rests on the arm of his chair; index finger pushed into his cheek whilst his spare fingers and thumb curl around his chin.
“What you thinking about?” I ask, sipping on my passion fruit martini.
“This evening.” He hums. “That dress.” His brows raise high in his forehead, the glint of a wicked smirk appearing on his lips. “Cowan.” He sighs.
“A lot then.” I rub my lips together as I place the delicate cocktail glass on the table.
He shuffles slightly, but not enough to change the way he is sitting.
“Safe to assume that Cowan gets under your skin?”
A breathy laugh passes his lips and he shakes his head.
“I can’t stand him. He is entitled.” He pauses and I fight my smile.
“I know.” He rolls his eyes. “But he is different. I don’t kknow, he just rubs me up the wrong way.
” He drops his elbow and takes a mouthful of his drink, clearly agitated by the conversation.
“What was Kai like?”
“Annoying, but we got on. We worked well. Sure, he did things that pissed me off and vice versa, but not like Cowan. He wants to be number one. Wants to be Saint Onyx’s golden boy…” He trails off and looks across the quiet bar.
“But you want to be it too.” I give a soft nod.
His glare locks on me. “I will be it; there is a difference.”
A sombre mood settles over us and awkwardness bubbles in the depths of me.
“You’re very cocky.” I push my tongue into my cheek.
“Have to be.” He shrugs. “I can’t be delicate about it. I know what I want. I am aggressive and confident. No one wants a cautious driver.”
“But at the same time, you don’t want to cause accidents.”
He scoffs. “No one wants to cause accidents, but they happen. A few years ago, I got taken out, which caused me to spin, and I ended up in the side of one of the other boys causing him to flip the car. We drive over two hundred miles an hour, most of the time on narrow tracks. It’s going to happen.
Sometimes it’s our fault, sometimes it isn’t.
But I just feel like with Cowan, he will do anything to fuck my race up. ”
“That’s just because you want this so badly,” I whisper, “and that’s okay to feel like that.
As much as I want to say he wouldn’t do that, there are some knobheads in the world that would do anything to use you as a stepping stone in their career.
” I huff, reaching for my glass and swallowing the contents down. I wince.
“Has that happened to you?” His head tilts to the side slightly.
I shake my head. “But it’s like any job, right?
I’m just little old me. Can’t even string a sentence together and haven’t been able to in a few years, and yet here I am, sitting in Australia about to embark on this crazy ride and for what?
Ugh.” I face palm myself. This wasn’t meant to be about me, and yet it’s circled right back around.
“You’ve got this.” I feel his hand on my knee, and I ignore the way my body pricks with anticipation. My skin pebbles, a gorgeous shiver dancing over my flaming skin.
“I doubt it,” I whisper. “I am just going to be a hindrance to you,” I say, slowly dropping my hands from my face.
He is staring straight into my soul. He is perched on the edge of the leather seat, elbows resting on his knees.
“You’ll never be a hindrance, kid,” he murmurs. “And I swear, this book…” He pauses and imitates a rocket taking off with his finger.
I don’t want to tell him that two minutes into orbit it will crash and burn.
“We’ll see.” A fake smile masks my lips before we decide to call it a night.