Page 36 of Fast-Track Fiancé

‘I’ll always have your back.’ Sophie smiled, leaning in to give her a deep hug. With a polite sniff, she whispered in her ear, ‘But I think you need to have a shower first.’

Nina arrived on the morning of race day at the brand-new Argentinian track to find the garage in utter chaos. At least half of the team was missing, and as she wandered around in confusion she spied the team principal, Jock, sitting on the floor with his head in his hands.

‘What is it? What happened?’ she said, looking frantically around at the worried faces that greeted her.

‘They’re all dropping like flies, that’s what,’ he said, running agitated hands through the little hair he had remaining upon his head.

Sophie appeared at her side, a worried frown creasing her forehead. ‘They went out to eat at a restaurant last night, with Daniele Roberts. At least a quarter of the team have food poisoning. Some of them have gone to hospital. Including Roberts.’

‘Oh, God, is he going to be okay?’ She felt her heart drop. ‘How bad is it?’

‘We’re not sure quite how bad it is yet, but with food poisoning he’s bound to be out for a couple of days at least. Even then, his recovery could be slow.’

‘We are screwed,’ the team principal growled. ‘I’m down five mechanics, we have backups on the way, but who knows what kind of speed they’re going to be? I can’t believe this. We were so close to winning the constructors’ championship.’

‘It will be okay. I’m good to step in as reserve.’ Nina’s mind worked furiously over the statistics and strategies they’d perfected recently. Their new star was good, but Apollo was still settling in. If he made a mistake in the first seat and didn’t secure a third-place finish at the minimum, they’d lose the constructors’ championship. If Nina took first seat and drove her very best...they still had a chance. But as she opened her mouth and began relaying her thoughts, the older man immediately scoffed.

‘After that stunt you pulled in Spain? There’s not a chance I’d put my faith in you, Roux. You lack the aggression required to drive in first. I won’t clear it.’

His phone rang and he growled, taking the call and walking away.

Apollo was already suited up and preparing for the first practice session when Nina walked into the opposite end of the garage.

‘Looks like you’re driving with me, Roux,’ he said, a brief attempt at a smile on his handsome face.

‘I won’t clear it, Falco.’ The team principal appeared, still bellowing into his phone. His face sweaty and red. ‘You think you can just call me up and demand I put your fiancée in my first seat? I’d rather walk.’

Nina frowned. Tristan? That was who was on the call?

‘I mean it, Falco,’ Jock cried. ‘I’ll leave.’

Whatever Tristan’s reply was, the older man’s face blanched and he threw his phone down on the ground with a growl, smashing the device to pieces.

‘I support the decision to seat Nina first,’ Apollo said matter-of-factly. ‘We won’t have to argue about it then.’

‘You actually agree with that madman?’ Jock bellowed. ‘In my thirty years at this team, I have never heard such ridiculous—’

‘I’d stop right there or you’ll be fired, Jock.’ Alain appeared behind them. ‘Then we’ll be down a team principal today as well as half our team.’

‘Alain! I wasn’t aware that you were back. Good, I might get you to talk some sense into that man who took over our team.’

Alain moved to stand behind Nina, his hand upon her shoulder. ‘I think you’ll find that it’s our team. As of today, our shares have been restored to us by Tristan Falco and I’ve been appointed as managing director once again. Myself and my sister have not agreed on many things, but the fact that she is the most qualified person here to lead this team today is not one that’s up for debate.’

‘Thank you, Alain,’ Nina said, a lump in her throat. ‘I know our contracts stated that Apollo was to be in first, and most of my experience so far has been in second...’

‘You can do it,’ Apollo said encouragingly. ‘Even with my experience, we all know it was the plan for me to drive in second seat today, Nina. I’ve seen you instruct our strategy team on how to help Roberts win; you are undoubtedly the natural choice for first driver today.’

‘Seems like you’re getting your way again, princess.’ Jock glowered.

‘You know what? I’ve had enough of you,’ Nina growled. ‘If it’s true that my shares are back...then I’ve been waiting a long time to say these words. Jock, you’re fired.’

Nina’s eyes widened as the team principal lunged towards her and her brother launched to her defence before shouting for security to remove the abusive old bat from the garage once and for all.

In the chaos that followed, Alain announced that he was going to be acting team principal for the day, a position that he’d hoped to wait until next season to assume after undergoing training while at the recovery centre. He didn’t need training, of course, he’d grown up on the track just as she had. He’d never shown any aptitude for the driving side of things, but he had always had a way with people. She looked at him, seeing once again how vibrant and alive he looked, and she realised belatedly that she had Tristan to thank for all of it.

Tristan, the man who had allowed the world to paint him as a frivolous playboy, swiping up a team in a sport he had no knowledge of or interest in simply to avoid the destruction of a long-respected Elite One racing team. When all the while, he had actually been their saviour. Yes, he’d made mistakes along the way. But didn’t everyone?

Closing her eyes, she leaned her head down upon a stack of tyres and took a deep breath, hoping and praying that all of her training would stand up as she attempted to pull off what was the most difficult feat of her entire career.

---