Page 31 of Racing for Redemption
We walk in companionable silence, our shoulders occasionally brushing. When we reach her sleek, ice-blue Porsche, she turns to face me.
“Well, this is me,” she says a little awkwardly, a hint of reluctance in her voice.
“Right,” I reply, suddenly at a loss for words as I scratch the back of my neck. “Drive safe.”
She smiles, shrugging off my jacket and handing it back. “Thanks for the loan. And for… being here tonight. It was nice.”
As she turns to unlock her car, I don’t want this evening to end. And I still haven’t completed my mission.
“Violet,” I say softly.
She stops in her tracks, her eyes lingering on mine, eyebrows slightly raised, as if silently asking me for reassurance or clarity.
I take a deep breath. “I’m really glad you took a chance on me. Not just for my career, but… I think we could be good friends.”
Violet’s expression softens, a small smirk on her lips. “Friends, huh?” she says, her tone teasing, but not unkind. “I thought I was just your boss.”
I chuckle, running a hand through my hair. “Well, yeah, you are. But… I don’t know. There’s something here, isn’t there? A connection. And I’m not just talking on the track. We share the same passion for this, and it seems you don't hate my guts, so…”
She studies me for a long moment, her dark-brown eyes unreadable in the dim parking lot lighting. Just as I’m starting to regret my boldness, she speaks.
“You’re right,” she says softly.
My heart leaps at her words, but I try to keep my expression neutral. “I am?”
Violet’s expression softens slightly at my words. She looks conflicted, like she’s wrestling with something internally.
“William…” she starts, then pauses. “You’re right, there is a connection between us. And I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy spending time with you tonight.”
My chest tightens, and the thudding of my heart echoes in my ears. A warm flush creeps up my neck, and my palms begin tosweat as I try to process what she just confessed. Though, I sense a “but” coming.
“But,” she continues, confirming my suspicion, “I'll make this clear; the media is watching our every move. If they got even a hint there was—and I’m not saying there is—something more between us…”
“I know,” I say quickly. “I’m not suggesting anything inappropriate. Just… friendship. A chance to get to know each other without the pressure of the paddock. Just two people complaining about problems at their workplace, and having a pint or two together to wind down. Maybe go to a local venue together. I don’t ask for much; I’m a simple guy.”
Violet studies me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. "So, basically, you want to complain about work to… your boss?" Slowly, a small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, hopefully, I don't find reasons to complain, but you know, the coffee machine near engineering hasn't been working well, so… I need to vent to someone."
That earned me a bark of laughter. “Friends,” she repeats, as if testing out the word on her perfect lips. “That’s a rare word in my vocabulary these days. I suppose I could use more of those.”
A surge of warmth floods my chest at her words. “Great,” I say, trying not to sound too eager. “So, friends, then?”
She nods, her smile widening slightly. “Friends.” After pausing for a moment, she continues. “But, we need to set some ground rules.”
Of course, she’s setting rules. Damn. This woman loves her rules. She loves control. And if… No. I shouldn’t go there, but oh boy, if she’s like that in private, I—
Focus, William.
“Absolutely,” I agree, trying to contain my excitement. “Whatever you’re comfortable with.”
She takes a deep breath. “Alright. We can spend time together outside of work occasionally. But no public outings that could be misconstrued. And at the track, it’s strictly professional. Deal?”
“Understood,” I say solemnly, holding up my hand as if taking an oath. “I promise to be the very picture of professional friendship.”
Violet laughs then, a warm and genuine sound that makes my heart skip a beat. “Somehow, I doubt that, Foster. But I appreciate the sentiment.”
We stand there for a moment, smiling at each other like idiots. Then, she clears her throat, breaking the spell.
