Chapter 5
Chapter Five
TESSA
A million thoughts fill my head, crashing like waves in the ocean. One revolting thought after another. And for the first time, I don’t have a solution to any of them.
My first thought is to accuse him. “You’re lying.”
Rome’s brow hitches. “I’m a lot of things, but a liar isn’t one of them.”
I doubt that.
“My father wouldn’t hire you.” I say this more to myself than him. “You’re a Pierce.”
His surname rolls off my tongue bitterly. The taste left behind is as sour as the three lemon drops I had.
Rome’s knuckles turn white, his grip against the sink firm with frustration. “And?”
I scoff, my arms tight against my chest. “And being a Pierce means you’re shady…and entitled. Arrogant. That isn’t how Vanstone Racing is portrayed.” My lip lifts with disgust. “You and your father both think you’re untouchable! Why do you think my father left?”
Rome runs his fingers through his dark hair, the same hand going back to the sink to hold himself up as he leans against it in the most superior way. His flexed jaw catches my eye, the edges of it sharper than a knife.
It's no wonder his face is on all the billboards.
Next time I see one, I should climb to the top and slash Xs over his eyes.
Rome hums, and I pull my gaze from his stupid, edgy jaw.
His eyes are fiery, like two blue flames driving into me. “So that’s why you think your father left? Because we’re arrogant?”
Silence bounces off the walls of the stuffy, dim bathroom. Remnants of Lysol and bleach surround us, which has to be the reason for my short breaths.
“I know that’s why,” I say. “So what are you really doing here? Did you come all the way to Las Vegas to snoop?”
I push off the bathroom door to eliminate some of the space between us.
I straighten my shoulders but keep my arms crossed against my chest. “Or did you come here to intimidate my brothers? Thought you might try to fuck with their heads before the season starts so you have a better chance at winning?”
Rome’s cheek twitches, and I want to smack him.
He shoves himself off the bathroom sink and is in front of me before I have a chance to spew any more reasons why he’d be here.
I raise my chin.
Rome Pierce’s blue eyes alone are an intimidation factor, but I’ve never been one to back down from a scuffle. That’s what having four older brothers will do for you.
Even as he reaches forward to wrap his large fingers around my chin, I remain steady on two sturdy feet.
“You know,” he drawls, dropping his gaze to my mouth. “Vanstone’s Princess shouldn’t use ugly words like that.”
I grind my teeth back and forth.
He clearly knows that label pisses me off. Rome Pierce, on top of his arrogance and haughtiness, is also observant.
Good to know.
When I say nothing, he chuckles darkly.
“Especially fuck,” he says smoothly.
I bounce my eyes back and forth between his, my heart beating faster and faster with every passing second.
“That word alone may give a guy the wrong idea,” he says, the smirk deepening on his annoyingly chiseled face.
My lips part.
His insinuation shocks me, but it’s fleeting.
I take a quick step back and place my hands on his shoulders. I ignore the hard muscles beneath my grip and bend my knee.
It collides with his muscular stomach. He buckles at the waist, wheezing.
I should’ve aimed lower.
“I wouldn’t fuck you if my life depended on it.” I grip the door handle. “Now go back to where you came from. There is no reason for you to be in Las Vegas.”
With a sick grin, he looks up at me, still crouched forward with his arm wrapped around his waist. “You sure about that, Tess?”
I swing the door open.
Of course I’m sure.
Pierce Racing likely got word that my father is stepping down, and that’s why Rome jumped on a plane to Las Vegas. He’s here to rattle his biggest rival. To apply pressure where it hurts most.
Unfortunately for him, Vanstone’s Princess doesn’t crack.
“We are not telling Dad.”
All four of my brothers stare at me—Van from across his desk, Beck sitting on the edge of it, and both Graham and Noah in the chairs placed at the foot of the maple wood with their long legs stretched out in front of them.
I pace the office.
The office my father graciously handed over to Van.
“I agree,” Beck says.
Graham rolls his eyes. “You only agree because you don’t want Dad finding out you were three sheets to the wind and about to end up in handcuffs.”
“I wasn’t that drunk,” Beck argues. “And even if I wasn’t drinking, I still would’ve punched him.”
“I think Dad should know,” Noah interjects. “Even if he is somewhat removed from the business, he should know.”
“Why?” I stop pacing and place my hands on my hips. “What’s the point? Rome was here to screw with our heads. He knows that things are shifting within Vanstone, and he took the opportunity to play on it. It’s water under the bridge as of today.”
It wasn’t on my bingo card to discuss Rome Pierce the morning of my first official day as an employee for Vanstone, so if we could wrap this up, that’d be great.
Plus, the sooner we get to work, the sooner I can figure out who is joining our team as our second driver.
One thing is for certain: it’s not Rome Pierce.
“She’s right.”
Beck, Graham, and Noah give Van their attention.
Of course I’m right.
Beck jumps up from the edge of the desk. “You’re siding with her?”
Van sighs but slowly nods his head.
It’s eerie to see him behind my father’s desk because they resemble each other so much.
Both with light-green eyes and the same angular face with a faint scruff against their hard-lined jaws.
The only difference between them is that my father has a light dusting of gray sprinkled throughout his hair.
“I knew this would happen,” Noah says jokingly. “Tess is already taking over.”
I lift a shoulder. “It’s not my fault I’m smarter than the three of you put together.”
“You’re clearly not,” Beck chuckles. “You can’t even count. There’s four of us.”
“Van isn’t included, idiot.”
Van, busy staring at his phone, glances upward. He swings his attention around the office, stopping to look at each of us briefly. “Just got word that our new driver is here.”
My heart skips a beat, and butterflies swoop low in my belly. “Are you going to spoil the surprise?” I ask eagerly.
His eyebrows rise at the same time he does. “I’m just as lost as you are. Dad wouldn’t tell me who was joining the team, and I didn’t want to press him.”
Oh?
That’s…conflicting.
Nothing but my brothers’ footsteps follow as I walk over the glossy marble floor toward the lobby. Nerves eat away at my insecurities, and I pray that my father informed our new driver that I’d be their head engineer.
I can’t imagine many men would be glad to know a woman is going to be calling the shots, especially in such a male-dominated sport.
Before I get too close to the lobby, I run my hands over my teal Vanstone polo to smooth any wrinkles. I put a smile on my face and round the corner, only to slam into something hard–or someone.
My face collides with his chest, the scent of expensive cologne mixing with my senses. Two strong hands wrap around my upper arms to steady me, and I hear Beck's voice in the distance.
“You’ve got to be fucking kidding.”
I snap to attention.
Two icy-blue eyes peer down at me, and a smirk that sends me to the red curves across Rome’s lips. “Nice to see you again…Tess.”