Page 7 of Formula Chance

“Um… Ms. Norcross.” Nadine’s hand goes up, asking permission to speak.

“It’s Brienne,” she replies graciously. “What can I do for you?”

“Is it your intent to move the team to Pittsburgh and if so, when might that happen? My logistical brain is in overdrive.”

Brienne pauses, looks around the room. “While I had wanted to discuss this with Luca first, I need you to know it’s my intent at the start of next season we are fully transitioned to operate out of Pittsburgh. This year, however, we are going to have to figure things out.”

Nadine nods tentatively. “It’s just… I’m worried about some of our workforce not wanting to relocate.”

I glance at Matthieu, who adamantly stated to the team just moments before Brienne walked in that he wasn’t relocating. His gaze is focused on a piece of dead skin he’s picking off his finger.

“And we don’t have a test track available,” Hendrik adds, apparently feeling safe to talk. “It’s important we are able to get our cars on a track.”

“All valid concerns,” Brienne assures them. “And problems I can’t control right now.”

“Which means we need to stay in Guildford,” Hendrik cuts in over her.

Brienne’s responds, not with anger, but amusement. “I am in the process of purchasing a private cargo plane that we can use to transport our cars to Montreal for testing. Also, I’m pleased to tell you that I’ve purchased a wind tunnel that will be based here in Pittsburgh. I assume that will help the engineering department?”

Hendrik’s eyes nearly bug out of his head, and I feel a slight tingle of excitement course up my spine. A wind tunnel could be a game changer.

It will also go a long way toward enticing all the engineers to move here to Pittsburgh. Brienne Norcross is so freaking savvy, it’s a little scary.

“A wind tunnel would be incredible,” Hendrik stammers. “When will we have access to it?”

“Very soon. We purchased it from NC State University’s engineering department as they’re upgrading, but it should give us everything we need.” She looks around the table. “Now, if there aren’t any more pressing issues, I’d like to meet with Luca and Nash so we can work out the details of a contract offer. Perhaps we can all gather in a few hours to tour the new facility together.”

Everyone stands, Markus leading the way out of the room. I don’t look back at Nash, not wanting to see either hate or apathy, two emotions I’m sure he’s keeping in check around me. We’re going to have to talk though, and soon, because as of now… it appears we’re teammates.

Not only that, my job as the chief strategy engineer means we not only have to work closely together, but we might butt heads on occasion. Given the hard feelings between us, that could cause problems and I don’t want to risk my job. Nash Sinclair has priority standing over me—I’m expendable.

As shocking as this job offer was to me, I didn’t have it on my bingo card that Nash Sinclair and I would ever speak to each other again. But somehow, I’m going to have to make this work.

CHAPTER 3

Nash

The door shutsbehind the last person out and the tension in the room snaps like a rubber band. I have to hold back my sigh of relief, not from the tense back-and-forth over whether I’m worthy, but from having come face-to-face with Bex after all these years.

The minute she walked out that door, I could finally breathe.

Brienne takes the seat at the head of the table, her posture poised and professional. She motions to seats on either side of her, and Luca and I take our places.

I inhale deeply, letting it out slowly. I try to expel the unease that’s been gnawing at me since Brienne dropped this bombshell in my lap, which only grew exponentially knowing that Bex was a part of the Titans Racing team.

But she’s gone and we have business to discuss.

Brienne suggests I get Greg on the phone. As my manager and agent, he’ll be the one to advise me on any offer put on the table. I pull out my cell phone, get Greg on the line, and very succinctly tell him that Titans Racing wants me.

“Let’s deal,” he says via speakerphone.

Brienne leans forward, crossing her arms on the polished tabletop. “I’m prepared to offer Nash a one-year, ten-million-dollar contract with performance bonuses. But no guarantee beyond that.”

That’s a lot of money for one year behind the wheel.

There are twenty-two races left in the season.

Two hundred and twenty thousand per race.

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