Page 23 of Kiss & Collide
“Your new team principal is throwing a party on Sunday after the race, right?”
“I guess?”
“Come find me there. Let’s have a drink.”
Over Clive’s shoulder, he could see Violet, eyes wide, nodding furiously. “Ahh, sure thing.”
“I’ll let you get back to qualifying. Good luck out there.”
“Thanks.”
Clive Pennington left and Chase turned to Violet. “What was that about?”
“That was me getting you a sponsorship deal.”
“He didn’t say anything about sponsorships,” Chase said, sweeping his hair off his forehead in preparation for pulling on his balaclava.
“Ofcoursehe didn’t. And he won’t until you chat him up a little more.”
He was more confused than ever, like Violet had heard an entirely different conversation than he had. “You think he really might be interested in sponsoring me?”
“I think he was intrigued by the story I pitched him.”
“What story?”
“You know, plucky American kid from the hardscrabble streets of Chicago—”
“We lived in the suburbs.”
“—moving to Europe as a teenager, living with his elderly grandma in the Spanish countryside, all to pursue racing—”
“My grandma lives in Madrid. She’s a lawyer—”
“—driving reserve for half a dozen teams—”
“—three teams—”
“—before being plucked from obscurity and offered a seat in Formula One.”
“Okay, that part is true. But Violet—”
She grasped his upper arms, staring into his eyes intently. Good god, her eyes were pretty. “Listen to me,” she said. “I crafted a narrative that intrigued him. I baited the hook. At the party tomorrow night, you’re going to reel him in. Got it?”
He chuckled. “You are so devious.”
“I’m good at my job. So tomorrow?”
He saluted her. “Whatever you say, General.”
She opened her mouth to complain, but just then Imogen popped up behind her. “Um, Mr. Navarro—”
“Imogen, I told you to call me Chase.”
“Okay, Mr. Chase Navarro. Emil says you need to get ready.”
He inhaled deeply. “Right. Let’s go.”
9
