CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE #3
My brows furrowed as I tried to place the connection. Then I saw it. Her hair wasn’t wispy and she wasn’t smiling, but the pale green eyes, thin lips and faded yellow-blonde hair were uncanny.
‘Netti?’
For the first time, Hough smiled. Despite the creases that form around her eyes, she looked younger.
‘Yes. She took up an interest in racing some time ago and I have done what I can to encourage her, to provide her with what she needs. She has access to an excellent drake, the training facilities and all the equipment recommended … yet yesterday, when she told me about your visit to the track, was the most animated I’d seen her.
‘I’m sure you know how many young girls dream of joining Volitant, Miss Paldon.
I imagine that it has been your own dream for a very long time.
Yet I don’t think you realize what you have done.
In taking Thorne’s place and revealing yourself on the racing cast, you have taken those dreams and changed them.
Those young girls who saw you, they no longer have dreams – they have plans. ’
I felt my throat start to thicken. I’d seen the reports on the casts, the articles in the papers, but that wasn’t what they had been saying. It had been scandal and drama, not stories from people who liked me.
‘So, yes, I think you can help. While I admit to having personal motivation in seeing you return, I am still a business woman and don’t do anything for free.’
‘What kind of business do you run? I don’t mean to be rude but I don’t actually know who you are.’
She looked me up and down. I could have sworn she was even looking through the table at my legs too. ‘You expect me to believe it’s a coincidence you’re wearing those clothes?’
I played with the hem of my sleeve. ‘Oh, well it was—’ I realized what she meant. ‘These are yours?’
Miss Hough nodded. ‘Yes, as well as other labels under the same branch. This is an issue we’ve been facing – getting recognition with younger women. With you as a face of the brand, wearing the clothes and flying the name on your armour and dragon wings, it shouldn’t be a problem going forward.’
I decided not to mention that the price was likely her biggest problem.
‘Of course, since you’d be aligning with the Hough brand, I have a condition that needs to be met.’
There it was, the catch.
‘I only invest in winners, Miss Paldon. I can buy your way back into Kiestral for the final race—’
My mouth dropped open. She waved a delicate hand as if to waft away my surprise like a bad smell.
‘And that will give you a chance. If you finish in first place, I will sponsor you for next year. With the teams keeping their options open ahead of the Decennial, there are still spaces to fill.’
‘Fuck me!’ It wasn’t a particularly articulate response, but it was all I could muster from under the waves of shock. ‘If I don’t win?’
She arched a well-curated eyebrow. ‘Then I’ll find someone else. It will set the plan back a few years, but I can find a junior rider and prepare them.’
Panic surged through me. ‘I’ll win. It’s fine – you won’t need anyone else.’
‘Good.’ She raised a hand. ‘Sandra.’
A young woman materialized from the next booth along, I hadn’t even spotted her on the way in.
‘Tell Eduard Moss he’ll have the contract tomorrow.’
‘Yes, Miss Hough.’
My jaw dropped. ‘You already have a contract?’
She nodded. ‘Of course. I’m not going to propose a deal with you if I can’t fulfil my end of the bargain. Sandra is getting your contract – you can sign before you leave.’
‘But Lotiere and Thorne are the Kiestral riders.’ I was feeling dumber by the second as she offered resolutions so quickly.
‘Mr Lotiere is injured for the final race – you will be taking his spot. Once you’ve signed the contract I will begin speaking with the other teams for next year.’
I couldn’t sign myself away fast enough. Her condition of winning felt like nothing as hope flared inside me. Then I remembered I had a condition too. More important than winning. One I couldn’t go ahead without.
‘There’s something I need you to agree on before I sign.’
Hough raised her over-groomed brows.
‘I need my strategist with me. I won’t fly without her.
I know I said to Cooke that I did this all alone, but I had someone helping me.
Her name is Josie and she’s literally the smartest person in Volitant.
She’s a keeper too, but made sure I knew what I was doing during the races.
We agreed to do this together, so I won’t say yes without—’
Hough twitched up her hand. It was rich people speak for ‘Shut up’.
‘Done,’ she said.
I’d been ready to continue my impassioned speech for far longer. Instead, the last few words stuck in my throat. ‘Uh, that’s great. Thank you.’
Sandra reappeared and slid a neat stack of pages on to the table, gently placing a pen next to it. I couldn’t help but smile.
I picked it up without hesitation. The details didn’t matter – I would do anything to race again.
‘It’s a pleasure doing business with you, Miss Hough,’ I said, then signed my name.
I was going to fly again.