Page 101 of All That Glitters
“Of letting someone else do your dirty work. You knew it wouldn’t look right for you to replace me. You knew there would be questions and you chose to delay that as long as possible since you couldn’t outright release me from my contract, the one I had just signed two years ago.”
“None of that is true.”
“When did you decide?”
“Ashton…”
“When?”
“The night of the dinner party.”
I smiled. It wasn’t one full of joy or humor or any kind of happiness. It was simply one of knowing. “I overheard you and mother talking that night. Neither of you knew, but I heard the conversation and I knew you were going to find some way to replace me on a more permanent basis. I just didn’t think it would be while I was down.”
“You couldn’t have known that.”
“Your tone of voice. Your defensiveness whenever she questioned you. Have you approached Hale yet? He’s who you want now, right?”
For a split second, my father, the stoic Leonardo Glitterati, looked for all the world like I’d stabbed him. He looked shocked and unsure, like he didn’t know what to say, what to do. I caught him off guard asking about Hale and while I wanted an answer, it suddenly didn’t matter.
It only lasted for a moment, then he was back in control of himself.
I sighed, frustrated, hurt, and strangely okay. “Why him? Darien? Why him?”
Could I ever have a single emotion? Did I always have to be so damn messed up and all over the place?
“He came to me. He asked me specifically about you, your contract, and how much it would take to buy it.”
“An offer you couldn’t refuse, is that it?”
“Ashton…”
“I’m not just some employee. I’m not just someone you trade away. I’m your fucking son.”
I hadn’t even realized that I’d raised my voice until it echoed off the walls. There was no point rehashing everything I already knew, but I couldn’t seem to drop it. I couldn’t seem to let it go.
“And I don’t show favoritism.”
“No shit.”
“You were under contract with Glitterati Racing. You had sponsors. You had responsibilities and you couldn’t fulfill them. I gave you as much time as I could. You stopped going to therapy. You stopped taking your medications. You were picking fights, and holding onto some grudge against Hale Troye for a wreck that could’ve happened to anyone. I didn’t have a choice, Ashton. You didn’t leave me any other choice. You weren’t ready and you weren’t going to be ready anytime soon.”
I hated that he was right. I hated that he knew everything that had been going on with me. All except Helen. He didn’t know about Helen. But he knew everything else. I thought I’d been so clever. I should’ve known better.
My involvement with Helen had been the first time in too many months that gave me some clarity and even though we hadn’t gotten to the part of our arrangement that got me back behind the wheel of a car, it wasn’t her fault. I hadn’t given her many chances. And both of us had walked away from the things we wanted most. There was nothing she could say that would ever convince me she didn’t want to race again.
“Whatever you believe, Ashton, I never meant for you to find out this way. I hadn’t expected Darien to contact you so soon.”
“You had a few days to make the call. He’s on a schedule just as you are. He needs to fill seats the same as you.” I took a second before I asked my next question… It wasn’t the one I wanted to ask, but for now, it would do. “How will it feel when I’m racing against you?”
“It’s not me you’ll be racing against.”
I stood. “Don’t kid yourself.”
He stood as well. “It’ll be Glitterati cars that you’ll be racing against.”
“Glitterati cars are Glitterati Racing and Glitterati Racing is definitely you. You won’t find anyone as good as me. No one. Tell Mom I stopped by and that I’ll call her in a couple of days.”
I walked out and didn’t look back, not knowing if we’d ever be the same again. I felt betrayed and he felt… I had no idea what he felt. Nothing in his eyes gave anything away whereas I was doing a piss-poor job hiding anything.
