Page 63 of Formula Chance

Luca frowns, leaning forward in his chair to cross his arms on his desk. “What are you saying?”

“You said it yourself,” I remind him. “You and Brienne were in agreement that if I caused problems, I’d have to go. It’s clear that I’m the expendable one and frankly, I don’t want to get fired so my résumé stays clean. So, with that,” I say, rising from my chair, “I’m giving you my resignation, effective immediately. I’ve already got a strategy planned out for Suzuka that we were going to be tweaking over the next two weeks. Hendrik can use it or toss it in the rubbish bin.”

“I don’t know that resignation is the answer,” Luca says, standing from his chair.

“It’sananswer,” I say sadly. “The best one for me because you and I both know it’s not going to get better.”

Luca sighs, rubbing his hand over his thinning hair before pinning his gaze on me. “I understand. And I’m sorry this didn’t work out. I thought you had a bright future here.”

So did I, Luca. So did I.

I nod, my throat tight. “Thank you for the opportunity.” I toss my thumb over my shoulder. “I’ll go to my office and clear out my personal stuff.”

Luca just shakes his head. “Best of luck to you, Bex.”

By the time I’m back at my desk, the weight of everything crashes down on me. I type out a formal resignation letter, read through it twice. The words blur as tears sting my eyes. Leaving Titans Racing feels like giving up, but staying feels impossible.

With a shaky breath, I hit print. The paper feels heavier than it should as I sign my name at the bottom.

This is the right decision.

It has to be.

CHAPTER 22

Nash

It’s almost noonwhen I pull into the Guildford headquarters, my car skidding slightly as I take a sharp turn into the lot. I’m ready to get going on preparations for Suzuka, which is in a little less than two weeks. Today’s agenda includes a strategy meeting to discuss ideas for the upcoming race and then I’m going to get in a much-needed workout since I was a slug yesterday. I spent much of it sleeping to catch up on the jet lag, forcing myself to leave Bex alone. I know she’s got to work through her feelings and the only way she can do that is to continue to go through her data so she can come to the same conclusion that everyone already knows.

She took a calculated risk based on evidence and sometimes shit happens to make things go sideways. She’ll figure that out, accept it and we’ll move the fuck on.

And then, she and I can move on too, because I’m thinking it’s probably time to start accepting that we’re meant to be together. I’m glad my parents forced the conversation on me the other night and gave me the important reminder that I’ve faced scarier comebacks and should be willing to take risks. Just like Bex took the risk in that race, I should be willing to put my heart back on the line for her.

In fact, I plan on finding her before our first meeting and telling her exactly how I feel because to wait another minute seems silly.

Striding through the entrance, I smile at the receptionist, who beams at me. I whistle a jaunty tune as I head straight for Bex’s office, rehearsing what I’ll say to her about not giving up—about not letting Matthieu or Hendrik or anyone else make her doubt herself—and more importantly, I’m ready to jump back in with her.

When I get to her door, though, I stop short. The room is empty. No papers scattered across the desk, no photos on the shelves. No trusty laptop, which is her life.

Just a blank, sterile space and I’m utterly perplexed. Did she move offices?

“Nash?”

I turn at the sound of Alex’s voice. He’s holding a clipboard, his expression cautious, like he knows something I don’t.

“Where’s Bex?” I ask, my voice clipped.

Alex shifts on his feet, glancing at the empty office. “She resigned. Yesterday.”

“What?” The word comes as a harsh bark of anger, but I don’t care. “She resigned? Why didn’t anyone tell me?”

Alex winces. “I thought you knew.”

“No, I didn’t know.” I move closer to him and lower my voice. “I can see you know what went down, so spill it.”

Alex looks left and right, but we’re alone for now. His voice is barely a whisper. “The word is that Hendrik went to Luca and demanded she be fired for incompetence. His argument was that neither he nor Matthieu had faith in her. My understanding is that Bex resigned rather than be terminated.”

Fury rolls through me and I’m not sure who I’m going to kill first, Hendrik or Matthieu.

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