Fast & Hard (The Fast 1)

Headline: Gibbes Captures Cherished China Pole Position

Headline: Gibbes Outclasses DuPont on Stunning Qualification Lap

Headline: Celeritas Front Row Lockout at Shanghai International Circuit

Mallory

China is kicking my ass.

Between the jet lag, sneaking out of Lennox’s hotel room before dawn, and my

parents terrorizing me, I am beyond exhausted.

Lydia and Robert aren’t speaking to me, which is fine. The manipulative texts from my mother have ended, thank god. Emma could never be bothered with me in any capacity, so she’s radio silent. But before the race began today, I had to hear from Cody that my own father met with the company legal department to consider a libel suit against me, saying that my behavior at the gala damaged his reputation.

Cody thinks it’s another ruse or Dad’s throwing me under the bus because Mitchell Media stock is tanking and Dad needs a scapegoat. He doesn’t think Dad has a case but he has in-house legal so he can antagonize me indefinitely at no cost. Even if he doesn’t win, my reputation will be dragged through the mud again regardless. I don’t know what to do, I don’t know how to do it when I’m 7,000 miles away, and I don’t know how to keep up with the expanding media and sponsor events Sandra is throwing at me.

At least Lennox is doing well. He was on pole position yesterday during qualifying and took another second place today. Digby ended up in first so Lennox was a bit of a dick for the immediate post-race interviews. But Lennox won the fan’s Driver of the Day award and drove an amazing race, so tonight I plan to show him how proud of him I am.

As soon as he gets out of the debriefing they’ve been stuck in for the last hour, that is.

In the meantime, I’m in the dining hall waiting for him, sucking down as much espresso as I can to keep me awake without causing heart palpitations. I’m Googling ‘frivolous libel lawsuit’ on my laptop when Jack joins me with a triple espresso plus a giant mug of black Americano.

“I know why I’m tired but what’s keeping you up at night?” I point to his caffeine collection.

“The whole paddock knows why you’re tired,” he says before slugging down the triple shot.

“WHAT,” I croak at him. Lennox tiring me out is not what I meant, though he’s also technically making me lose sleep. Not just exhausting me with secret orgasms and make-out sessions in nooks and crannies of the track and motorhome when no one is looking, but we’ve also been talking and actually getting to know one another. Last night I caught myself looking at the old direct messages Kate sent him because I was jealous. I was disgusted with myself and stopped, but I know myself. I know when I’m starting to get a case of the feelings.

Reign it in, girl.

“I’m just teasing you,” Jack replies. Thank god. “You might want to keep it down, though. No one on the floor got any sleep last night with your caterwauling.” When my jaw drops open he once again tells me he’s kidding.

“I’m going to murder all three of you by the end of this season.”

“Probably.”

I shake my head at him and go back to my laptop. Do I get a lawyer? How exactly does one handle it when a parent sues his child? My phone rings and I expect it to be Cody with more news but it’s Sandra. I tell Jack I’ll be right back and step outside to take the call. If there’s any justice in the world, she’s calling with kudos about the Driver of the Day award and new sponsor we met with.

“Ms. Mitchell,” she starts. She doesn’t sound pleased, but she’s the kind of person who is perpetually miserable. “Listen, I’m very pleased with how you are, oh let’s say, taming the beast.”

I’m getting a little sick of how she talks about Lennox but that’s probably my dumb feelings sneaking in again. Also, I sense a but coming.

“But... well, our largest backer is getting uncomfortable with so much attention being received by Mr. Gibbes.”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Alix. I don’t understand.” What the hell is she talking about?

“Please treat this as confidential, Ms. Mitchell. The DuPont family is upset regarding a few incidents.”

“Digby?” The DuPonts are the largest backers? I assume Sandra means they’re mad Lennox ran into him on track, but what am I supposed to do about that? Contrary to my long-running nickname, I am not his nanny.

“Yes, and his family. Chiefly, the problem list includes today’s Driver of the Day award, all the fan interaction appearing online and garnering interest, the large donation made at the charity gala…” She may as well run down a list of all the positive work we’ve done.

“They’re upset that Lennox made a donation? To children’s cancer research?” I emphasize.

Sandra sighs. “Apparently Mr. and Mrs. DuPont are longtime supporters as well and had to increase the size of their annual donation so as not to be… outshined.”

“Umm, ok,” I understand enough about people like my parents where it’s possible to offend them through competitive social climbing via charitable donation. That was not what Lennox was doing, at all, but I’m certainly not getting into that with Sandra. “And Driver of the Day, that comes from the fans, I can’t control that.”