Chapter 18
Chapter Eighteen
Ana?s
“How you feeling?” Nora asks me as I stand with my camera ready to capture some videos.
“Meh.” I smirk, nudging into her. “Honestly, I feel okay.”
“Good,” she says as she walks forward and busies herself.
I hear the sound of footsteps, and I know who’s they are before he even walks into the room. Royce enters the garage and his eyes lock on mine straight away. His lips pull into that smile that hooked me two years ago and he crosses the room and edges towards me.
“Make sure you get my best side, all right?” He winks and then scruffs my hair up.
I swat him away. “Always.” My smile is tight, and I press up onto the balls of my feet.
“Good to see ya,” he mutters, turning around and walking towards his coach, Luan.
“Likewise,” I whisper.
Kai follows after and makes a beeline straight for the car. It’s sleek, with a black front wing which fades into a light grey and blends out the back in fluorescent yellow.
He doesn’t look happy. Shaking off the feelings of doom, I snap a photo of Kai.
It’s side profile, you can see the worry that masks his face.
With all the rumours flying around, how could he not be worried?
I snap another one then bring my camera away as I look at the photos. Happy with them, I go about my workday.
Sitting in the team lounge, I am cross legged, laptop resting as I dump the photos so they’re ready to be edited when I go through them.
I am in charge of the main Saint Onyx account alongside Maura, who is my new colleague. I’ve been thrown in the deep end as she is on leave but it’s fine, I work best under pressure.
A soft knock on the door has me lifting my head and I see Nora.
“Am I interrupting?” Her voice is cool, and I call her in. “Just wanted to see how you’re getting on?” She sits down next to me, phone in hand.
“Yeah, I’m okay. Taking ten minutes before the next practice begins.”
“How was it with Royce? I saw him walk over.” She side eyes me.
“Yeah, it was fine.” I nod, smiling at her.
“Good, I was a little worried.” She laughs.
“Well, no need to be. We’re both adults, we’ve had some space, and this is work. I would be mad at him and myself if we let our breakup come between us and our job.”
“Makes sense.” She sighs.
“How about you? Having a good day?” I ask, unplugging the camera and closing the lid of my laptop down.
“My days are always good, unless something goes terribly wrong. The last big thing to shake Saint Onyx was yours and Royce’s break up.
“Great,” I mutter, putting my laptop in my bag and slipping it down the side of the sofa.
Pushing up, I pull my trainers back on and stand.
I’m dressed in the, grey and fluorescent yellow race polo, with the Saint Onyx logo sitting above my breast, sponsor brands mixed in too, a black cargo skirt, and trainers. The weather is warm in the Netherlands, so this felt appropriate.
“Anyway, better get going. I want to get some videos to post on the teams stories.” I begin to walk for the door, and Nora follows.
“Dinner later?” she asks as I step into the corridor.
“Yeah, sure. We’ll catch up once the day is over.” Giving her a toothy grin, I walk back to the garage, and she disappears down another corridor.
I watch on the screens as Royce sets the fastest middle sector, and the garage is getting excited.
I know it’s only practice, but it’s still something to get worked up about.
If they drive this car as well as they are now, qualifying could be just as great.
Of course, practice and qualifying you are on your own, but once the race starts, that’s when things change.
It’s not just you on the start line, it’s nineteen other cars.
Crouching, I get a video of the car pulling out of the garage and put it into slow mode. I view it back and smile.
Footsteps approach and I feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Looking over my shoulder, I see his shoes first before my eyes drag up his body. There he is, the man who left me in Monaco, standing, hands fisted into his pockets and a stupid smirk on his face.
“Great,” I mutter, rolling my eyes as I stand carefully, not wanting to flash anything.
I turn and place my camera on the side and dust my hands down. I can’t deny the pull I feel, nor can I deny the way the tension wraps around us like a fluffy blanket, but I have to ignore it.
There was no way I was going to fall into him again.
Sure, it was going to be harder now because we work with each other – but it’s a blessing in disguise as well. He is my boss. Human Resources’ nightmare.
“How’s it going?”
“Fantastic, thank you.” I lift my nose, walking out of the garage but he is behind me, shoes hitting the floor heavily.
“Not going to ask how I am?”
The audacity of this man. Stopping in my tracks, I spin quickly to face him.
“No,” I say, crossing my arms across my chest. “I am not.”
His brows furrow.
“Goodbye.” I wave him off and run for the ladies room. I needed to stay away from him.
Pressing my back against the door, I inhale heavily, close my eyes, and exhale slowly.
I can do this. It’s just like the saying, ripping the band aid off. My first encounter is done. It will only get easier.
Walking towards the sink, I wash my hands and grab a paper towel, then dab my neck and face delicately. He got me all hot and bothered and that annoys me. Tossing the paper towel into the bin, I hold my head high and move into the garage. I would not let Creed Lexington consume me.
Race weekend is in full swing; we qualified in the top ten which was amazing for us.
Kai qualified eighth, Royce fourth. He lowers himself into the car and I focus the camera on him, trying to catch the emotions that play across his face.
His eyes are locked forward, his fingers resting on the steering wheel as the pit crew keep the tyres covered under the blankets.
Creed walks into the room, dominating it with his stride. I keep my eyes down before shutting off the camera and stepping back.
I watch as he crouches down at his son’s side and pats him on the helmet. Slipping his hand under the halo, he gives Royce’s hand a reassuring squeeze. I watch the sincerity on his face as he stares at his boy, and my heart constricts in my chest.
That one moment of weakness is when he catches me. Green eyes lock on mine and as much as I try to pull them away, I can’t. He closes the gap between us in four long strides, and I suck in a breath as he stands toe to toe.
“Good afternoon.” His lips twitch and I glance away.
“Afternoon.” My tone is clipped before I turn on my heel and walk into Kai’s garage, leaving Creed behind me.
I will not fall for his games.
Standing at the back of the garage, Nora and I watch the race and my heart is in my throat.
Two DNFs have already happened, and it was a close third with Red Force.
Kai has dropped back to eleventh and is spitting feathers over the radio that Griffin of Montcroix should have been given a penalty and to give his position back.
I side eye Nora and she shrugs. Catching Creed out the corner of my eye, his intense gaze burns into me.
The garage is buzzing with excitement as Royce holds fourth position. He is mixed with the big boys and unless we get a safety car, he isn’t going to move up.
With held breaths, we watch as Royce crosses the line and keeps his position and the whole garage erupts into cheer.
I stand for a moment and slither of sadness cuts through me as I watch them all run to where he will pull his car in. Before that would have been me, but now, I sink back into the darkness and lose myself in my work.
Logging off, I pack my laptop up and load it into my bag as I begin walking out of the paddock when I hear a whistle. Turning, I see Creed and Royce closing the gap between us. Swallowing down the lump, I force a smile onto my lips.
“Great racing today,” I chime and awkwardly touch his arm.
Royce looks down before teasing his eyes back to me. My cheeks turn pink.
“What a race, man.” The excitement is clear on his face, and I feel the infectious happiness seep into me.
“You drove really well.” I nod, trying my hardest not to look at his dad. The man who left me crumpled back in Monaco.
“He did, didn’t he?” Creed pats his son the back and he looks at him with adoring eyes.
I roll my lips and tighten my grip around the strap of my bag. “Anyway, I am going to go,” I mutter, dropping my face and walking towards the paddock exit.
Relief swarms over me when I don’t hear the sound of footsteps following me, but I was sadly mistaken when I feel fingers wrap around the back of my elbow, pulling me back. Grazing my eyes over my shoulder, they land on the hand before they trail up to him.
My ex-boyfriend's dad.
Slowly, I tug my arm out of his grip, and he turns his head to the side, eyes narrowing, brows furrowing.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” The false sincerity nearly has me fooled.
“I am fine.” My tone is short, and I roll my eyes.
“There is no need to be a brat, Ana?s. I am still your boss at the end of the day.”
“Yes, you are.” I step back, shaking my head. “Unfortunately.”
Walking away, he chases after me, grabbing me again.
“Get off me.” My teeth are clenched.
“You’re going to make this an issue, aren’t you?”
“I didn’t make the issue in the first place, Creed.” I keep my voice low as I look past him and see Royce speaking to some of the press.
He slips his hand down the side of his head, clearly frustrated.
“Can we talk?” Creed dips his head, voice low.
I think over his words for a moment and inhale heavily.
“No,” I quip, turning my back on him and walking out of the paddock before he even has the chance to catch up with me.
I knew what talk meant. I would end up getting twisted around him again and I couldn’t afford to do that. We both slipped down once, and I managed to catch myself, but I wouldn’t be doing it again. It wasn’t fair on me or him, or Royce, if I was being honest.
Laid on the sofa in the apartment I share with Nora, I stare at the ceiling. This day wiped me. I need to edit my footage and get it onto the team’s social media but first, I need to decompress. Nora’s working late so I have the place to myself.
Reluctantly, I move and run a bath. I needed to shake off Creed.
He still clung to my skin like an unwanted cardigan.
One that belonged under the bed, one that needed to be forgotten about.
Lowering myself into the tub, the hot water scatters goosebumps over my skin as I relax.
I have contemplated whether taking this job was the right thing because of my history with Royce and my near miss with Creed, but I couldn’t let them stop me from getting to where I wanted to in my career.
I know it’ll calm down eventually and we will be like passing ships in the night. Until then, I just need to keep my head down and keep out of his way.
Wrapped in a towel, I pad into the bedroom when I hear a soft knock on the door.
“One minute,” I call out, towelling my hair as I walk towards the noise.
Nora must have forgotten her key or maybe it was a delivery. No idea. I hadn’t ordered anything. Slipping the door open, I poke my head around to see Creed standing there.
“No, thank you!” I call out and push the door to, but his stupid foot stops it from closing.
“Let me in.” His hand curls around the door as I try and push it harder.
“No.” I shake my head, one hand pushing, the other clinging onto the top of my towel.
“I need to speak to you.” His voice is soft and not at all demanding.
“Wait until tomorrow.” I roll my eyes.
“It can’t wait, it’s about Royce,” he mutters.
I still for a moment which was a rookie mistake because he swoops in with a stupid smirk on his face. His green eyes tease over my damp skin. Turning quickly, I storm towards the bedroom and slam the door.
“I’ll just wait out here, then.” His voice booms around the small apartment and I flip him off behind the door.
Asshole.