Page 63 of Over the Limit

Our eyes lock. I’m fucking sucker punched.

Blair.

Our look is brief but it’s enough to tell me that the want between us didn’t dampen. Not in the fucking least.

I tear my eyes away, knowing Rossi’s watching, and I’m on camera. I swallow forcibly as I wrack my brain for what question Hannah asked.

I struggle to find words.

“All I can say is that my focus is one hundred percent on Team Apex and making sure we get the most out of this current season. What happens after that? I’ll leave it up to the agents and lawyers.”

“Fair enough,” she says. “Thank you for your time. Good luck in the race.”

“Thank you.”

And when I look back up, Blair is gone.

But it’s Rossi’s stare I can still feel.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Blair

The water laps at the hull of the boat.

It’s a subtle sound but one that has the stress slowly draining from my body.

The soft growl of a motor is the other constant as water taxis bring people toward the extravagant superyachts in the Monaco harbor.

I look over to Monica Chamalet as she sits down with a glass of champagne across from me and curls her legs up beneath her. The diamonds on her fingers and ears glisten in the sunlight and seem so very commonplace while sitting on this massive boat. In her mid-sixties, she is flawless in every way possible—from her style to her manners to her aging. The inherited owner of one of the largest luxury watch companies in the world, Monica is the definition of affluence, success, and always a force to be reckoned with.

And, strangely, she’s taken a liking to me during our numerous exchanges with the community outreach program.

Her involvement with Formula 1 has been accompanied with numerous scandalous rumors. Ones that center around the notion that upon her husband’s death, when she found out about the many—and I mean many—lovers he’d taken during their marriage, she repaid the favor by spending ridiculous amounts of money on the sport he, for some reason, abhorred.

Her involvement has been more hands-off with a large focus on the charitable aspect, but behind the scenes there are murmurs she’s looking to make a large investment in buying a portion, if not an entire team.

She’s a good person to know—professionally and personally—because doors open automatically for her by simply being associated with her.

Consequently, I never decline an invite when it’s extended.

“Darling, I’m so glad you could join us today,” she says in that rich, velvety voice of hers.

A soiree on a superyacht in the Mediterranean? Who in their right mind would say no to that?

“The sun. The sea. Champagne. Good company. It’s what the doctor ordered,” I say and lift my own glass of champagne to my lips. I glance around at her other guests. A few I know, a few I know of, and others I’ve never met but feel like I have since they frequent movie screens. “And I have to thank you. Tori Michelle’s agent said you put in a good word for me and tipped the scales to agree to perform at the gala.”

Her smile is sly. “It was mentioned in passing and I thought I could help. I knew I was overstepping, might have even added in some heavy guilt about the charities the gala benefits and how her donated performance would be wonderful publicity for her.” She rolls her eyes and flutters her fingers. “And I’m so very glad I did. She can afford it.”

No one ever complains when Monica oversteps. I sure as hell won’t either since it’s usually a good thing.

“Well, I appreciate it. Truly.”

“Anytime, darling.” She perks up a little brighter in her seat and lifts her glass in a mock toast to someone across the deck. “And you’re well? Over the whole Rossi thing or maybe with a few more glasses of this liquid gold and a hot romp with one of these gorgeous men here, you will be?” she asks.

The woman knows everything about everyone and somehow knew about my split with Rossi when she called me. In fact, I believe that was the basis for her call and invitation and why she informed me she wouldn’t accept no for an answer.

“I am. I’m good. I think the breakup was a long time coming. I’m in a good place. I really am.”