Chapter 48
Chapter Forty-Eight
ROME
I sit beside Vince inside the glass-walled conference room, and surprisingly, I’m calm. The past week took my nerves and unraveled them one by one, now leaving me unperturbed for this FIA hearing.
Jerry, one of the only stewards I know by name, pops up on the screen first, with the rest of the FIA members following shortly after.
“Vince,” one of them says, nodding at my boss.
Vince nods back. “Leo.”
“How is Noah?”
Vince drums his fingers over the conference table. “He’s awake and talking. They discharged him yesterday, and he’s at home where Rose is monitoring him closely.”
Jerry nods. “That’s good to hear. Considering he’s a Halston, I assume he’s itching to race again.”
Vince chuckles. “It was the first thing out of his mouth when discharged. But it’ll be at least four to six weeks until he’s fully cleared.”
Which means Beck will get his chance to drive.
“Well, why don’t we get started,” Jerry says.
I swallow and sit up taller in my chair.
They start off by listing article numbers and regulations, repeating the incidents that followed after Noah and Beau crashed on the circuit, none of which I need a reminder of.
“Clearly, your actions after the collision had nothing to do with the incident itself, but we assessed the footage, and we cannot disregard the unsportsmanlike conduct between you and Lucas Pierce.”
I’d do it a thousand times over again.
“Understood,” I say.
“For the physical altercation, we have decided that a two-race suspension within a twelve-month timeframe is punishment enough for your actions. I’m sure you are familiar with it, but that means if you have another altercation with any other driver, you will serve the two-race suspension immediately following. ”
So, in other words, I’m on probation with the FIA.
Which is shockingly lenient, given the situation.
I clear my throat. “I understand.”
“Now…” Leo’s gaze is shifty, and it puts me on edge. “As for the conflict of interest brought to our attention by Lucas Pierce.”
Fuck.
Vince interrupts them. “What conflict of interest?”
Leo glances at me, and I take it as a warning for what he’s about to say.
“Lucas Pierce informed us of a romantic relationship between Rome and his head engineer…”
Also known as your daughter.
Vince remains still; he doesn’t utter a word.
I’m a dead man walking if the FIA has possession of the photo.
The only one who saw it before I threw my dad’s phone across the room was the steward in the bottom left corner of the screen.
Leo gestures to him. “With the photo that Lucas showed Robert–”
“About that…” Robert interrupts.
Leo pauses, and I swear there’s a slight uptick of his mouth.
“It could have been anyone or anything,” he says. “I didn’t get a good look at the photo.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Vince look in my direction, but he’s pulled back to the screen when Leo clears his throat.
“Well, given recent events and the investigation regarding Pierce Racing, it would be unfair to take Lucas’s word for anything without physical proof, given his unethical behaviors as of late.”
Thank God.
“However…”
I hold my breath.
“If there were a conflict of interest…we would strongly recommend reassigning positions within Vanstone Racing to avoid such an issue again.”
“Understandable.” Vince nods.
After saying our goodbyes, each steward’s face disappears one by one as they hop off the call. My palms sweat, and my stomach knots, but in the last few months, I’ve grown humble enough to turn and face him to repent for my wrongdoings.
I don’t regret falling in love with Tessa, but if I could go back, I’d do it right.
We could have avoided the mess we found ourselves in, and maybe I’d be able to sleep at night if she were beside me, instead of tossing and turning with thoughts of her keeping me awake.
Vince waits patiently for an explanation. He doesn’t glare or press me. He just waits.
I exhale and force myself to look him in the face. “I won’t lie to you,” I say.
“I know you won’t.”
“Tessa and I were in a romantic relationship–”
“Were?” he asks.
A slice of pain cuts into my chest, and I nod.
“I don’t want what happened between us to affect her as one of Vanstone’s head engineers.
She’s phenomenal at her job, even when I didn’t make it easy on her.
I will gladly step down and remove myself from this team if that’s what it takes for her to remain in her position. ”
I start to list all the different scenarios I’ve come up with in the last several days with Vince listening intently.
“I know Beck isn’t as seasoned as you’d like, but when Noah is back on his feet, Beck could take my place. That way, you’d still have two active drivers representing Vanstone–”
Vince clears his throat. “Are you trying to terminate your contract? Because as far as I know, you haven’t breached it, correct?”
“Well…” I take a breath. “I don’t think I’ve breached it.”
“You haven’t,” he says.
I open my mouth, only to close it a moment later. My mind runs in circles.
“Right now, I’m going to speak to you like a father instead of like your boss.”
Here it comes.
The reprimand.
I knew it was wrong to get involved with my head engineer. His daughter.
“The most important thing in the world is family and having someone to lean on. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for my children.”
I nod, but there’s a sadness behind the action.
Somehow, over the last few months, Tessa became the most important thing to me, and Vanstone turned into the family I never knew I needed. And now, they’re all slipping right though my fingers because of a man who was never really there for me to start with.
I forcefully swallow and drag my attention to Vince. He reaches out and puts his hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze.
“And son…you deserve that too.”
Son.
My throat grows tight, and suddenly, I’m a young kid again.
He squeezes my shoulder again before letting go and turning to gather the papers in front of him.
“Why do you think I left her out of the contract?” he asks.
What?
He’s grinning from the side and continuously flipping through the papers.
“I’ve already discussed this with the others, but Van will be your engineer moving forward.
Tess will work with Beck until Noah is back on his feet.
Oh, and they’re well aware that I knew what your father was up to years ago, so you don’t need to worry that they’ll hold this against you. ”
“You’re–” I clear my throat, noticing the rasp in my voice. “You’re sure? You don’t mind Tessa and I working…near each other?”
“No one has been able to tame that girl besides you, Rome.” He chuckles to himself. “Even when you two were kids running around the paddock.”
Just like no one’s ever been able to make me stop dead in my tracks with a single glance in my direction besides her.
Vince stands, but before he’s able to leave, I turn around abruptly. “I’ll do it right this time. With Tessa,” I clarify. “I’ll wait as long as I need to, but I’ll do it right.”
He nods and walks out the door, leaving me in shock.
A few minutes later, the group text goes off.
Beck
Well? What’s the verdict, Rocky?
I snort.
Van texts back before I can.
Van
Two-race suspension within 12-month timeframe.
Beck
That’s it?! Probation?
Me
I’m just as surprised.
Graham
Congrats on not getting booted out of Vanstone.
Beck
Or the family.
Tessa’s typing bubbles pop up, and my pulse skyrockets.
I walk out of the conference room and over to the balcony that overlooks the bottom floor of Vanstone, hopeful I can get a glimpse of her.
Tessa
Beck, I swear to God, if you don’t get here in the next ten minutes, I’m going to lock you in the sim room all night long.
The thought of racing without her in my ear pulls the knot in my stomach tighter.
Noah
I can be there in three.
Tessa
YOU ARE NOT SUPPOSED TO BE LOOKING AT A SCREEN!
I’m calling Mom.
I chuckle at their texts and head to the elevator.
Noah
Are you kidding? You seriously called her?
Tessa
Yep. Now put your phone away.
Van
Rome, are you coming down anytime soon, or are you going to stay up in the conference room all day?
Me
Stepping into the elevator now.
I hit send, and the doors open to reveal my heart living right outside my chest.
Tessa inhales sharply, her phone in her hand. Our eyes lock, and my world stops.
Will it ever get easier? Seeing her and not being able to touch her?
The only thing I want to do is back her into the small space, press her against the wall, and beg her to let me in again.
I step into the elevator, just as she steps out.
Our arms brush, and I’m rooted in place. I turn slightly toward her floral perfume, but I keep myself from following after her and push myself farther into the elevator.
I’m leaving the cards in her hands, and when she’s ready—if she’s ready—I’ll be here.