Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
Creed
I see the guys out and agree we will catch up before the Dutch Grand Prix. They all mutter something and I wave, shutting the door on them. Inhaling heavily, I hold my breath then let out a slow releasing exhale.
It wasn’t meant to be here but when there was a change of plans, I found myself offering my apartment.
I hated that she was unprepared. Hated that she shrunk back into the room. But I got it, plus, I didn’t really want them to be ogling her.
They knew who she was. Everyone in the paddock did. It wasn’t like her and Royce kept their relationship private. He flaunted her wherever he could.
Not that I blamed him.
Scrubbing my face, I pace towards the living room and flop myself down on the sofa. I felt angsty but I had another meeting, luckily virtual, in about twenty-minutes so that doesn’t leave me a lot of time to collect myself.
It was fine, though. This was the last meeting of the day then I could switch off.
Letting my head fall back onto the sofa, my eyes are glued to the ceiling.
I didn’t want to go back home, but I know I couldn’t hide out in Monaco for the foreseeable. It would be nice, though.
I knew it was in my retirement plan to move here and make this my new home, but not yet. I still had plenty of work to do at Saint Onyx before I could even think about moving.
I hear my laptop ping, and I roll my eyes.
Tony from Zeus Energy, one of our sponsors, was always up there with his punctuality. He was never late.
Ever.
Pushing up from the sofa, I walk towards the dining room and sit myself down in the same seat I have been sat in for the last three hours, forcing a smile as I accept his call.
“There he is, our favourite CEO.” Tony’s American accent fills the room, a beaming smile crossing his lips.
“Hey, you doing okay?” I ask as I start bringing up my emails and spreadsheet.
“Never better, my man, how about you? Enjoying the break?”
“I am indeed. It is very well needed.”
“Vacation looks good on you.” He winks, and I follow with a laugh.
“Have you been up to much?” I make small talk knowing that once we’re in the thick of this meeting, I won’t get a word in edgeways.
My assistant, Colby, joins the call, as well as Pascal and Glenn.
“Gentleman,” I greet them then blur out the background behind me. They all say their hellos before Tony gets down to the nitty gritty of the call.
He isn’t best pleased and wants us to be better. He sponsored an up-and-coming team and now wants us to win the Constructors’ Championship.
We all agree with him, of course, we’re on the same page. Still, it’s not as simple as just winning.
Pascal and Glenn start talking over the new design and the small changes that they have made ready for the start of the season, but Tony doesn’t look impressed.
“Is this car going to win the Constructors’?” His question is direct and blunt.
“There is a good chance,” Pascal says a little too confidently.
“Because at the moment…” Tony pauses. “You’re currently sitting seventh… seventh is not a good look this far in.”
“No, it’s not,” I agree.
I see the looks Pascal and Glenn give me, but I ignore them. Colby is making notes and giving over the top eye rolls every now and then.
“But do I think we have the potential to take it? Yes, I do.”
The silence is loud.
“We all need to work together..” I look at his screen.
“Tony, I get you want to be on the winning team, I do, we all do, but you need to give us time. The sooner you accept that it may not happen this season, it’ll be less bitter to swallow.
” I watch as Colby chokes on his mouthful of water, Glenn and Pascal sit shocked and Tony narrows his gaze on me.
He isn’t going to like it but honestly, I am in no mood to tiptoe around a situation.
His lips break into a smile as he points down the camera. “You’ve got balls, man. I appreciate the honesty.” He sits back in his chair, hands crossed in front of him on his lap. “Not many would say that.”
I shrug, a little bit of a smirk tugs at the corner of my lips but I stop it when I hear the door click. Eyes lifting, I see her walk into the room. Her gaze catches mine as she gives me a small smile.
“I think that concludes this meeting, don’t you?” Tony says a little louder.
“I do.” Shamelessly, I haven’t taken my eyes off her since she walked in the room and honestly, she looked at me for a measly three seconds.
If that.
I watch the way she checks the coffee machine, then dumps her bag on the breakfast bar before rummaging around to grab her vlog camera and her phone. She isn’t even aware that my eyes are tracking her, but I don’t care.
The sound of the meeting finishing echoes in my ear, my hand automatically reaches up as I close the lid down and push it back across the table.
Elbows perched, I continue to watch her like some lovesick fool.
Pathetic.
What was wrong with me?
“You okay?” she finally looks at me and I blink, snapping out of the hypnotic state she had me in.
“Yeah, tired.” I sit back, reaching my hands above my head and stretching out.
“Long day?”
“Feels like it.” I turn around to look at the clock behind me and groan. It’s just after twelve. “Felt so much later,” I grumble as I stand from the table and close the gap between the both of us.
“How was your morning?” I yawn, the coffee machine beeping.
“Okay. I spoke to Nora, trying to convince her to come out for a weekend before the craziness kicks back in.”
“Yeah? What did she say?”
“She’ll see.” She shrugs to indicate that she isn’t bothered either way, but I know she would die for Nora to be out here.
Nora hasn’t taken sides in the breakup, and she will always be Ana?s’ best friend, but she works under Royce. She is his damage control. Royce takes priority over her best friend and always will.
Harsh, but true.
“Hope she does.” I speak my truths, and she just blinks at me, but her eyes agree, replying, I hope so too.
“Do you have much more planned for the day?” she asks as she twists around and reaches for two mugs, assuming I want one.
“Nope, free as a bird now,” I admit, falling into the bar stool.
“I’m meeting Rue at one, if you fancy lunch?” she says all whimsical and my heart stutters in my chest that she invited me.
“If you don’t mind.” I try and sound unbothered.
“Never.” She fills my cup and hovers the milk.
I shake my head, and she passes it to me before tending to her own.
“One o’clock, you say?” I repeat, just making sure that she definitely wants me to come
“One o’clock. I have some work to do so I am going to crack on.” She swipes her gear from the side and moves to the dining room to set up.
“I have calls to make,” I lie, not wanting to sit around and just wait for lunch to roll around.
Taking a mouthful of my coffee, I groan into the large cup before I slide off the stool and go into my bedroom and close the door.
Dressed in chino shorts and a polo, I walk towards where she stands, waiting for me at the front door. She’s wearing a black summer dress, thick straps cross her shoulders with a bow.
“Hey.” She beams at me as she opens the front door, grabbing the key card.
“Hey back.” Winking, I close the gap between us and try and compose myself as her scent fills my nose, and I fear I am intoxicated as it consumes me wholly.
Following her outside, I wait to see where she is going. Pulling her phone out, she checks it then smiles when Rue sweeps down the narrow path and tugs her forward, throwing her arms around her back, a huge smile on her face.
“Hope you didn’t mind that I invited Creed.” She looks over at me and gives a small smile, and Rue gracefully walks over and kisses me on the cheek.
“Never.” She smiles at me then links her arm through Ana?s as they start to walk ahead, so I fall back and follow their footsteps.
I have no idea where we’re going but honestly, I don’t mind. For the first time in a while, I feel settled, my mind feels quiet.
Walking into Le Perles De Monte Carlo, we’re seated on the deck overlooking the water.
The air is salty, the sun is warm, and I am in great company.
We’re handed menus and make quick work on our decisions. Bottle of white, lobster Thermidor and six oysters to start. Both the girls turned their noses up but I asked them to just give them a go.
My eyes settle on Ana?s as she sips her wine and talks softly to Rue.
“When do you leave?” Rue turns her question to me as she places her wine glass down.
“Monday.” I frown, couple more days and I’ll be back home. It’s gone too quick.
“Back to the grind, then?”
“Yes.” I lick my lips as I drag my wine closer to me.
“Hard life.” Ana?s shrugs, and I watch the way her lips twist.
“It is.” I dramatise my sigh which causes her to laugh softly.
“At least you do something you love, right?” Rue asks and I nod.
“I do love it, actually. It feels like I was made more for this role than when I was a driver.”
“I can imagine being an F1 driver is demanding and very challenging.”
“Very,” I say on a sip of wine, “but also very rewarding when things go right.” I tease a smile at Ana?s.
“I loved being at the races.” She sighs, and I don’t miss the way her lips droop at the sides.
“Can you not attend anymore?” Rue turns her body to face her friend and Ana?s drops her eyes from mine for a moment.
“It’s a little different now, I suppose. Before, I was with Royce, and I could come and go as I pleased… but now.” She glances up at me. “It just won’t work.”
My chest tightens and I know there are a million things I can say right now, but I don’t.
I want to tell her she is always welcome in the paddock, always welcome in our garage, but I must remember the boundaries. Must remember that she is my son’s ex-girlfriend and with that title comes a line that I cannot cross.
Even though I want to.
If only once.
“Well, you can always watch the race with me here next year. My parents have an apartment overlooking the track that they rent out, I can snap it up for us.”
“That would be amazing,” Ana?s replies.
Before I can say anything more, the oysters are placed down in front of us with shallot vinegar and tobacco sauce. Ana?s scrunches her nose, Rue looks disgusted.
“How do I… I mean, what do I do…” Ana?s eyes widen, and I chuckle.
“Here, Ace, lemme show you.” I reach for the oyster fork, separating it slightly then spooning a small amount of shallot vinegar before I bring it to my lips and let it slide into my mouth. Chewing ever so slightly then swallowing before placing the empty shell face down.
“It looks like a big bogey.” Rue gags and I shake my head as I turn the oyster shell upside down.
“Come on, Ace, try one.” I fix it for her and pass it across the table. She is hesitant but takes it whilst eyeing it. “Don’t think about it, perch it on your lips and tip it back.”
She nods; her beautiful blue eyes widen on me. Tipping her head back, she slips the oyster in and I watch her expression with intent. The disgust soon turns to surprise before she is nodding and licking her lips.
“Okay.” She flicks her eyes between me and Rue. “Hear me out.”
“Better than they look, right?” I chuckle.
“So much better.” She hovers her hand over the iced plate and looks at me for approval.
I push it towards her as she mirrors my moves, getting her oyster ready.
“I think you should try it, Rue.” She hums as she adds the shallot vinegar, holding it before her lips.
Rue grumbles. “Fuck it.” She throws her hands up but asks me to get it for her.
Laughter escapes me and happily I get her an oyster. Ana?s has already finished her second one and placed it shell side up as Rue tortures herself a little more as the time ticks on.
“Just try it. The worst that happens is that you spit it in your napkin.” She smirks at her friend and Rue crinkles her nose.
“I dunno if I can.”
“You definitely can.” She nods and reaches for her wine, washing it down.
Rue inhales heavily before eating the oyster and it’s clear from her face that she hated every second of it. But she didn’t spit it out. So, bonus and all that. I finish off the oysters and once we’re finished, the waiter brings our mains.
We talk mainly about Ana?s’ work and what she is hoping to do after she goes home but it seems she isn’t quite sure if she is returning.
I cover the bill, much to Ana?s’ disappointment, and we walk back towards Rue’s shop. I hover, debating whether I should turn back and head home, but Rue invites me down to see.
It feels a bit weird, hanging around with them both, but I like their company. It’s refreshing sometimes to step out of your comfort zone and hang with people you wouldn’t normally.
Then again, Rue kind of came as a bonus when I started spending more time with Ana?s.
Walking into her bookshop, it’s quaint. Tucked away from the main streets, but not tucked away enough that it wouldn’t get any footfall. By the way Rue has spoken about it, she does well out of it.
She lists mostly romance books, the odd tour guide of Monaco, and even has some of the F1 biographies of the drivers. Some of the books are English, some are French. Rue slumps behind her desk and begins checking through her emails.
“We will leave you be,” Ana?s says before she walks over and kisses her friend on the cheek goodbye. “Call you later.” She steps back as Rue says something to her.
I hover by the door and say my own goodbyes, my fingers locking around the door handle as I pull it open and wait for Ana?s to join me.
She thanks me as she passes and we’re back to walking in silence as we pace to the apartment. Tension seems to thicken when we’re alone and I don’t know if that is a good or a bad thing.
“Thank you again for lunch.” Her voice is soft as it floats through me, my hands pushed into the pockets of my shorts.
“Never have to thank me, Ace.” I drop my head and count in my head. I’m unsure why, but it helps keep me calm because when I am around her and close to her, my heart drums a little faster, a little heavier… makes my head all dizzy.
Either that or I have heart issues that I need to get checked out.
“Hey.” I find myself grabbing her elbow and pulling her back as we approach the apartment, she’s slightly ahead of me.
Her eyes dart between mine.
“You know you don’t have to stay away from the races, you’re always welcome. I get if you don’t want to hang out with us at Saint Onyx, but you can go to Montcroix, they would have you in a heartbeat.”
She just smiles at me, blue eyes glistening like the sun on the ocean.
“I appreciate that, thank you,” she whispers.
Reluctantly, I let my fingers drop from her skin and watch as she walks away. I could follow, but I don’t.
I pull my phone out and call Colby, wanting to see if the paperwork for Cowan has come over and once, he confirms it has, I turn on my heel and walk towards the town.
I need out for a while.
Need to clear my head.
Need to just be alone.