Chapter 3
A new path taken
“I’ve never done anything like this.” I’d been babbling ever since Jeremy left the room, leaving me alone with Richard and King. Surprisingly both men simply sat and listened. They didn’t make faces or interrupt. “I have no idea how a logo is created or what plan of action should be put in place. I don’t even know how long stuff like this takes!”
I couldn’t tell if I was more flustered by my sudden uptick in responsibilities or that I’d be working closely with King—the guy who made my lady bits ache, my heart skip beats. He gave me the nervous sweats.
“Do you feel better now?” Richard smiled kindly. He really was a very nice guy and a great boss. Who else would take the time to teach his employees how to be better at their job? Good bosses, that’s who.
“Why did you guys let me babble like that?” It was cathartic while I was doing it but now I just felt ridiculous.
Again.
What was with today? Was it Ridiculous Day? Was there a full moon or some sort of gravitational pull in the sign of Scorpio?
King cocked his head slightly to the side. “Because when you’re overwhelmed it helps to let it out. Just be grateful you’re doing it in a conference room and not on the track like I do.”
That was the moment I knew I’d never want to do anything on live television. This was embarrassing enough. To have it recorded and shown over and over again for years? The idea made me nauseous.
“Look,” Richard leaned forward. “You don’t have to worry about any of that stuff. It’s why I’ll lead this entire process. You’ll be the brains while I make it happen, and King here will make it work.” He patted King on the shoulder.
King did not seem to enjoy the physical contact. His gaze slid back to me. “Your plan is good and that’s all that really matters.”
“But experience matters too!” Even I could see I was overly hung up on this particular nuance. I was a twenty-two-year-old grad student, not an eighteen-year-old freshman. I had the knowledge, the skill, and this was all my freaking idea. I just never had to put anything into action before.
“Maybe you’re right,” King mused, “I’m the second youngest guy on the circuit. I take shit day-in and day-out for my youth and inexperience. I can’t have someone shaping my brand who doesn’t believe in me.” His eyes glittered with challenge.
And dammit all, I rose to it. “That isn’t what I said.”
“Ah. But you did. You said you didn’t have the experience despite being totally qualified. Like me.”
He was twisting my words to make a point. A good point, but still. “Fine, it’s not my age or experience that’s the problem.”
His eyebrows rose. “Then whatisthe problem?”
I fidgeted. Twisted my fingers together. Looked anywhere but at his challenging brown eyes. When I didn’t think they’d let me sit silently another moment I blurted, “Because I don’t belong here!”
King and Richard glanced at each other, then back at me. “I’m not sure I understand,” Richard said very slowly.
I took a chance and looked at King. Gorgeous King in all his glory. He was probably about to become the best driver in history...if Braun-Evans would put their effort behind him. He was too talented. He fit in this world of fast cars, technology, and money.
I did not.
So I took a deep breath and tried to explain. Unfortunately I was the kind of talker who used her hands. A lot. The next few sentences might as well have been given in sign language. “I’m a researcher. I study things. I accumulate data and look at it for hours and then have someone else look at it for hours and then debate that person about the results...for hours. I write up results and delve into the potential meaning of the observed data. My classes are in a basement.” I waved around the glass room of light. “I don’t know how to operate in this world.”
Richard continued to frown but, if I wasn’t mistaken, King understood. There was a crinkle between his brows that people generally get when they’re putting two-and-two together. Plus he leaned into his hand and scrubbed it over his stubble. “That’s all?”
Not exactly the words I was hoping to hear.You’re fired. Go back to your cubicle and update clicks. We’ll take it from here.All acceptable answers.
King saying, “That’s all,”confused me.
Even more so when he kept talking. “You can’t hide in the Ivory Tower of academia forever. I know it’s scary here and pretty cutthroat but give it a shot. I’ll help. Please?”
Help?How on earth...“I’m sorry, what?”
He sat forward, his eyes lighting up with excitement. “I’ll be your guide; walk you through it all. I know how hard it is to find your place in Braun-Evans. While you and Richard make your plans a reality, I’ll work on your acclimatization into the racing culture.” His eyes glittered. “Consider it an ethnography of racing.”
Ethnography?How the hell did King even know that word? And was it really, really dismissive of me to assume he wouldn’t know? Probably. I knew he was smart but understanding the particulars of a specific area of study like anthropology would be a stretch for anyone.