Page 75 of Crash Course

The problem is, I’m starting to believe him.

23

Jameson

“From the beginning, my goal in building our headquarters here was to solidify F1’s presence in the United States,” Luca says as he tours a small group of prospective investors around the ARI offices with his sons in tow. “Forget showing up first, it’s about who can keep going for years, decades, generations.”

I’m distracted by dark hair passing a window, but it’s not her. Not the girl whose voice I’ve been hearing in my head all week since the race, whose name I want to see on my phone every time it buzzes.

“Any update on who will race for ARI in a few months?” an investor asks, looking between me and Theo as if we’re prize cattle.

Months.

That’s the timeline for my future. The one I’ve been gunning for my entire life.

“That is still to be decided.”

After the race last weekend, I’m in the lead. But we have two more contests, one in November and one the start of December. That means two more opportunities for Theo, Knox, anyone to make their mark.

“Jamie pioneered an exceptional tire strategy last weekend that no one has executed before,” Luca continues.

“Was this your idea?” another investor asks.

Luca smiles. “I can’t take credit for everything.”

They all laugh, but I hate that he’s implying it was.

“It was a student’s idea,” I cut in. “And it flew in the face of everything we’re advised to do. But we ran the simulations and decided it was worth the risk.”

The investors exchange interested looks.

My father’s eyes narrow, fists forming at his sides. “Since he’s such a devoted spokesperson for Ashford Racing and its interests, Jameson has been undertaking a media tour this past week.”

A wave of nausea rolls over me. My father reveres media, but this wasn’t a reward.

“What of the rumors over Dekker’s dismissal not being for cause?” another man asks.

“They’re only rumors,” my father says without hesitation. It’s probably Ignite seeding gossip mid-season about our former driver’s dismissal to cause havoc. But the man who spoke holds up his phone.

“I just received an alert that Dekker filed an official complaint, and the racing federation has opened an inquiry.”

The hairs on my neck lift. This is news to me. From the way my father goes still, it’s news to him, too. “No further comment.” He recomposes himself, changing gears as smoothly as if he were in a car.

“We’ll let you boys get back to training,” Luca tells me and my brother before motioning the investors to follow him down the hall.

“Guess we’re dismissed,” Theo comments as we fall into step heading the other way.

“Think there’s anything to this Dekker complaint?” he asks, his voice lower so we’re not overheard by anyone in the offices flanking the hall.

“No doubt Ignite and other teams pressured the federation into opening an inquiry. Luca wouldn’t have actually done what they’re accusing him of.”

“Because tanking his own car would be insane.”

“It’s an unnecessary risk.”

Luca is strategic and aggressive, but he doesn’t overreact. Pushing Dekker out this year so he can stage this spectacle would be reckless.

“With this press tour, he’s really backing you publicly now,” Theo comments.