29. Nevaeh
My hands are sweating as Mrs. Lu’s secretary opens the door to my boss’s office, the usual frown on his face as he does so. I’ve barely slept since I got back home yesterday, which is why a yawn slips past my lips before I can stop it. It doesn’t go past Mrs. Lu, nor does it go past Ms. Martin, who raises an amused brow.
“I heard you went out with the drivers. Overdid it?” she jokes, and I wish that was the reason for me being sleep-deprived.
“No, I was working on my article for this weekend,” I lie to hide what the hell I was actually doing. Thinking about Adrian and the woman I saw him with. Picturing them together all sweaty and naked. Wondering for the millionth time why Adrian Romana has to be the one to stay in my head when he shouldn’t even be there in the first place.
“Come, sit. I understand from your email that you’d like to talk about the events of the race weekend,” Mrs. Lu says, and I obey, crossing my legs but leaning toward her before speaking.
“Yes, I hope that’s alright.” Mrs. Lu sits back in her chair and extends her hand, gesturing for me to go ahead while Ms. Martin keeps working on whatever it is that a COO does.
The smile on Mrs. Lu’s face makes me feel better about what I have to do.
“I really appreciate the job you have given me, and Gillian is a great boss, but I don’t think I’m a good addition to his team,” I start, hating myself for having to look like the ass here.
“Yes, Gillian has informed me about something similar. Lucky for you, I have eyes and ears everywhere. You will no longer be working for him, I won’t have it. You gave your all last weekend and ended up unwell because of poor leadership.”
My boss stands up, patting down her pencil skirt as she takes a few strides to get to her printer. Her fingers grab hold of a document which she hands me as she leans against her desk beside me. My eyes scan the paper, realizing this is the article I wrote on the plane yesterday and sent to her.
“You won’t be working for Gillian anymore. As a matter of fact, you won’t be working for anyone,” she says, and I feel my heart drop into my stomach.
This is it, this is where I get fired.
My anxiety makes a cold sweat break out across my skin. It doesn’t like failure. It usually makes my life more miserable if there is a possibility I could fail at something, whether it’s tests, interviews, or anything of the kind. Right now, it’s reminding me why it always shows itself during these situations.
To punish me for not being the best version of myself.
“Well, no one except Ms Martin and me, of course.” Relief knocks the breath out of me.
“I’m not sure I understand,” I reply, but Mrs. Lu’s warm smile calms my racing heart once more.
“I sent this article to all ten teams in Formula One yesterday. So far, most of them have responded with a request for you to write an article like this about their drivers. They are even paying more to have you take candid photos like you did with Adrian and the Velocità Rossa team,” she says.
Ms. Martin leans forward to chime in.
“This article is brilliant, Nevaeh. The emotion that spills from the pages with every word is phenomenal. So, we would like to offer you a deal,” she starts and tucks her graying hair behind her ear.
Mrs. Lu nods, clearly agreeing with her business partner.
“There are eighteen races left as well as nineteen drivers. Only sixteen have asked for articles like this, so we have a bit of wiggle room. Each race weekend, you will accompany a driver whenever they have time for you, which will most likely be less than with Mr. Romana because he took more time for you than he was supposed to,” Ms. Martin explains, and a smile creeps onto my face.
I loved writing that article about Adrian, and he sent me a text, assuring me he adored reading it. Getting to write more of them instead of working for Gillian, and taking more pictures, it all sounds like a dream.
“What about Mr. Fender? He’s expecting me to do whatever he wants without a single complaint next weekend,” I respond, my anger for my former boss coming to the top.
“I realize how uncomfortable it might be for the two of you to see each other daily now, but that’s where the last part of the deal comes in.” Mrs. Lu walks back around her desk to sink into her chair beside Ms. Martin’s and hands me a new contract. “Griffin Sports has a location in Monaco, and I’d like to offer you a position there. Moving costs would be covered, however, your living arrangements would come half out of your pockets, half out of ours.”
Monaco? Are they serious?
My question is answered when I skim over the contract. My bosses are dead serious. But I can’t just leave everything behind and move to Monaco! My family is here, but that reason shouldn’t interfere with my decision. I need to make it based on all the other factors like money, living costs, and what I want.
If I’ll be able to see my new friends more, too, well, then that’s a bonus.
“I know this is all very overwhelming, which is why I want you to take today to look this offer over and come back to me with an answer tomorrow.” Mrs. Lu smiles.
I have a hundred more questions, but Mrs. Lu stands up, cutting me off before I can even decide on one to ask.
“Now, Ms. Martin and I have a meeting, and you have a big decision to make,” she states while stepping out of the room, leaving me speechless and overwhelmed.
There is only one thing to do in a situation like this.
Mama, Papa, Nova, and Aileen sit at the dining room table, watching me closely as I take a deep breath. I hand Papa a copy of the contract since he’s the best at understanding them and let out a shaky laugh. Nova rests her arm around Aileen’s waist while both of them exchange a worried look. I’ve never asked them to come together all at once to discuss something, and the unfamiliarity of this situation clearly has them suspicious.
“Okay, you can all stop looking at me like I’m not the Nevaeh you know. I’m still me, just struggling with a huge life decision I need your opinion on,” I say and move my hands to sign the words at the same time, resting my forearms on the back of the chair in front of me.
Papa’s eyes have already gone wide from reading the offer, so he isn’t surprised when I explain it to the rest of my family. Nova sits upright, surprise written all over her face. Aileen smiles from excitement, but the one who doesn’t have to say anything to express her feelings is Mama.
Anger and sadness battle on her face.
“You can’t just leave to live in Monaco all by yourself!” she exclaims, capturing Papa’s attention. He places a hand on her shoulder, which Mama pushes off as she stands up. “You’re not doing it, I forbid you from taking this offer!” she goes on, storming out of the dining room and slamming her bedroom door moments later.
“That was definitely not the reaction I was hoping for,” I say, my heart sinking slowly.
“She’s only upset because she’s not ready for her little girl to move out,” Papa replies and signs the words as he takes a step toward me. He excuses himself from Aileen before turning entirely my way to look into my eyes. “Give me the facts,” he demands, handing the piece of paper back to me while a hint of a smile plays on his face.
“I have money saved up that could last me half a year in a small apartment in Monaco, I’d earn great money, a little more than I would here, and I would finally get the independence I’ve dreamed of for a long time,” I start, listing only positives to see his reaction. Papa remains quiet, waiting for what is holding me back. “I’m scared,” I admit, tears shooting into my eyes. “I’ve never lived by myself, and I didn’t expect that when the opportunity presented itself, it’d be in another country,” I explain and groan when my voice cracks.
Papa grabs me by the shoulders and lowers his head just enough to be on the same eye level as me.
“Do you want to take this offer?” he asks, and my eyes shift from one of his to the other. There has been one clear answer to this question since Mrs. Lu handed me the contract, but I’ve been too afraid to admit it to myself.
“More than I’ve wanted anything in a very long time.” My father lets go of me and steps back, a proud grin covering his face.
“Then don’t let fear take it away from you. You’re a warrior, Nevaeh, one who never hides from anything. Are you going to back down from your dream life?” A small laugh escapes me while I wipe my tears and feel a weight lift off my shoulders.
I’m sure my anxiety is going to be as happy as a kid in a candy store because of all of the worrying I’m going to be doing on top of all of the change and new situations I’ll have to expose myself to. But this feels right. This feels like everything I’m meant to be doing at this point in my life.
“You should probably book a flight and go visit Monaco to check out apartments and familiarize yourself with the country before you move there. It makes it easier,” my father says as a tear drops down my cheeks.
He wipes it away and gives me a comforting smile.
Nova, Aileen? What do you think?I sign although I’ve made up my mind already.
“I think you’re going to have the time of your life without me,” my sister complains but then hugs me and tells me how proud she is.
Aileen does the same before all of them leave, including Papa. I think about talking to Mama, but usually, it’s best to leave her until she’s ready, which is mostly after Papa has spoken to her. He has this way of calming her, it’s always fascinated me. Whenever I’m angry, nothing and no one can calm me except myself.
After booking a flight and hotel, I stare at my screen. There’s only one person I want to call right now, one person I want to share this with. The man who has me all sorts of confused.
The rule stands. I can’t date a driver, especially not now when I have to write personal articles about them. It’s one of the conditions at the top of the contract Mrs. Lu gave me. But it says nothing about being friends with them, and, right now, I need a friend. One that I know will be happy for me.
The phone rings, and I fix my appearance eight times. For some reason, I video-called him because of an inexplicable desire to see his face. Maybe not inexplicable. After all, he’s the most gorgeous guy I’ve ever seen.
A few rings later, his face appears on my screen, making a happy feeling spread through my chest.
“Hi, beautiful. To what do I owe this honor?” he asks, smirking, and I feel heat rush into my cheeks in response.
“I was wondering if you had time this week to show me around my new home,” I say, but Adrian furrows his brows. “Well, I just thought since Monaco is your home country, you could show me the best spots.” Adrian’s eyes go wide before he looks away from the phone only to smile and look back at his screen.
“Are you kidding me? That’s the best news I’ve heard in a long time!” An excited laugh leaves him. He lowers the phone and yells, “Val! Nevaeh is moving to Monaco!” She appears on my screen as both of them beam at me. I return their smiles, so grateful for the friendship they’ve given me.
“We’re going to have so much fun! Oh, and we will help you move, of course!” Val chimes in, and I feel tears flood my eyes.
This is slowly becoming the best day of my life.
“Actually, Val, I need your help apartment-hunting.”
An excited squeal leaves her, and we end up planning everything for my short trip to Monaco. I’m only staying for a few days, but Val is making sure I won’t be alone for a second of it.
“By the way, you are not staying at a hotel. Gabriel and I would love to have you stay with us.” I try to decline politely because I feel bad about intruding, but she won’t have it. “I will pick you up tomorrow,” Val simply says before disappearing so I can’t argue with her anymore.
Adrian is smiling when I look at his face again.
“What?” I ask, tilting my head to the side while a blush settles on my cheek.
I wish I knew why it keeps coming back when he looks at me. I’ve never blushed this much in my entire life.
“I was talking to James yesterday, about you more specifically, and I said to him ‘Man, I really wish Nevaeh would live here.’ Did you hear that, mon paradis?” he asks, and I narrow my eyes.
“Did you just call me heaven in French? Is that what you’ve been calling me every time I didn’t understand you?” I ask.
“Isn’t that your name?” he challenges, and I shake my head, hating and adoring how it makes me feel when he calls me monparadis.
“Stop calling me that,” I say, and Adrian chuckles.
“No. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
And with that, he hangs up before I can respond.
He spoke to James Landon about me, wishing I’d move to Monaco.
Interesting.
A smile so bright it hurts dances onto my face, and I almost sigh. Every single time I think my love life gets less complicated, Adrian pulls me right back in.