Page 4 of Formula Chance

Markus Reinhardt, the head of operations, clears his throat but it doesn’t dissipate the guttural German roll to his words. “I’m concerned we don’t have access to a decent test track. Montreal is the closest and that’s over nine hundred kilometers away.”

“I doubt she’s moving everyone at once.” This from Nadine Sheffield, the head of logistics, her voice clipped and precise—entirely British. I estimate her to be in her mid-thirties and she seems as pragmatic as they come. I speak to this with understanding since I’m a fellow Brit and I value efficiency.

“Very diplomatic,” Michel practically sneers. “Tell me you’re looking forward to relocating?”

Nadine blushes and averts her eyes.

“I certainly don’t want to relocate,” Hendrik Voss says. He’s also German and is the team’s chief engineer and my direct boss. While he hasn’t quite voiced his opinion in my presence, I get the impression he’s not happy with my hire.

I have to assume I was the most talented strategy engineer to apply for the job. Ultimately Michel made me the offer, but Hendrik has been dismissive of me this entire first week I’ve been part of the team.

I have a lot to prove and I’m more than ready. I’ve been working my entire life for this opportunity. There are not a lot of positions available for women in motorsports, but I’ve got all the credentials and experience to do this job well.

My interest in racing started as soon as I could walk, my father being the chief of the pit crew for Union Jack Motorsports. I got both my undergraduate and master’s degree from Imperial College in London in mechanical engineering with a focus on optimization theory, regression analysis and statistical models. My dad calls me “The Brain” and I’ve used that part of my body to excel in this world. After graduation, I secured a position as a junior strategy analyst at Bauer Performance Racing, an FI2 team based in Vienna. I worked my way through the ranks by demonstrating the ability to make quick, data-driven decisions under pressure, which is the crux of what a strategist does. In only three years, I became the lead strategy engineer for Bauer, helping them to secure multiple wins and a Driver’s Championship.

Michel reached out to me about this job, and I jumped at it as fast as possible.

Luca Moretti finally speaks up. He’s the technical director for the team, second-in-command only to Michel. He’s made a few comments here and there, but he seems objective. “The truth is, it’s going to be a burden to relocate to Pittsburgh. We not only have to worry about enticing people to make the move, but there are logistical hurdles, given the lack of a test track. Regardless, it’s not our decision and we better start wrapping our minds around it.”

Michel huffs in anger. “We don’t have to wrap our minds around it. We are the essential members of this executive team and without us, Brienne doesn’t have anything. We hold the power, and I say we insist on keeping the core team in Guildford.” He sniffs almost imperiously. “The nerve of her summoning us here to Pittsburgh as if we don’t have more important things to be doing with the race in Jeddah just a week away. We’re trying to get Bernie up and ready to take Tomas’s place and we’re here wasting time with this… this woman who thinks she knows racing.”

Hendrik nods, a slight sneering lift to his lip. “This woman might know hockey, but she doesn’t know racing.”

I glance at Nadine, the only other woman besides me on this executive team. I wonder if she finds their dismissiveness of Brienne as offensive as I do just because she’s a woman. Nadine keeps her gaze lowered to the table.

They continue with hushed tones, not wanting their complaining to carry out to the hall beyond the closed door. No telling when Brienne will walk in, and glancing at my watch, it could be at any minute now.

A voice cuts through the room again and I glance over at the only person besides me who has been quiet. Matthieu Laurent is the second driver on our team and will likely move to the number one slot with Tomas’s injury this past week. He’s known for being arrogant, cocky and far too sure of himself for someone who hasn’t yet proven anything. His French accent thickens the air. “With Tomas out, it’s obvious I’ll be number one. And I’m in agreement… I’m not moving to Pittsburgh and I’m willing to use that leverage with you.”

Matthieu’s ego fills the space like a balloon about to pop. I know he thinks he’s entitled to everything, just because Tomas was the “star,” but I know from my own history how fragile that belief can be.

“Now wait a minute,” Luca says, his Italian accent so subtle I hardly hear it. He’s in his early sixties and is an icon in the racing world. “No one is leveraging anything against Brienne. She’s our boss and while I have concerns, I’m not about to make a stand against the one person who can put me out of a job.”

Michel scoffs dismissively and looks at Matthieu with what might be fatherly pride. “You definitely have leverage as the number one driver now. We won’t forget that.”

There’s a ripple of tension, and I notice the subtle shift in the room. People are uncomfortable, and it seems sides might be forming—Michel, Matthieu and Hendrik the most vocally irate over being called to this meeting, while Nadine, Luca and Markus are a bit more objective.

And I remain quiet, not enough standing or experience to have a say in anything. I just want to keep my one-week-old job.

There’s a knock at the door—loud, decisive—causing me to jump. Everyone goes quiet, glancing at one another, unsure who it is.

There’s no time to ponder and the knock wasn’t meant to be a request. The door swings open and Brienne Norcross confidently strides through.

I did my research on this woman. Being from England and steeped in the racing world, I knew nothing of her. Hockey wasn’t on my radar as a sport I enjoy watching and given that she’s an American billionaire, she never reached my insulated world. But you can bloody well bet that I googled the hell out of her when it was announced that she’d bought Excalibur and it would be rebranded Titans Racing. I wanted to know everything about her and the more I read, the more I admired her. It was the achievement of my lifetime to be offered a job here on this team, but I must admit, a good deal of my excitement has had to do with a woman owning it.

I have no time to admire Brienne’s beauty or her fashionable tailoring, because walking in right behind her is the last person in the world I thought I’d ever see again.

Nash Sinclair.

He steps into the room, his presence commanding attention immediately. My heart does a strange leap in my chest, and I can’t help the flush that creeps into my face.

TheNash Sinclair.

I can’t breathe. My mind whirls.

Brienne looks around the room, her gaze sweeping over the assembled engineers and executives, and she beams a lovely smile at all of us. “Welcome. I’m glad you’re all here.” She moves to the empty seat at the head of the table, but I can’t stop looking at Nash. He’s yet to see me, his gaze pinned on Brienne as he closes the door behind him.

“I know this was short notice,” Brienne says as she remains standing, her hands clamping down on the back of the chair before her. “I know we have a race to get ready for, but this meeting was necessary. I also wanted to show you the new Pittsburgh headquarters and I hope you’ll indulge me after this meeting for a grand tour.”

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