“I’ve done as much as I can.It’s up to you and Noah now.”
“I can talk to Barry,” he says.“Your work with the sponsors was apparently excellent.”
I am about to tell him exactly the tone of those conversations, and about the offer from Haas, but now is not the right time.
I glance over at him.“What are you going to say?”
Matt smiles.“That you’re the best team principal I’ve ever worked with, and if you go, I go.”
“Subtle as a V-8 engine.”
“Besides,” he says, sighing, “you’re kind of a hot commodity right now.At my expense, of course.”
I laugh, just as Roger comes spiriting back in our direction, followed by Noah, who has clearly lost control of two greyhounds who want nothing more than to run.
“Hey, buddy,” says Matt, crouching down as the dog races toward us and curls up between his legs.He slips a finger under the collar as Noah arrives, panting with the lead clutched in his hand.
“Shit, he’s fast,” Noah says, doubling over.
“Speaking of which,” I say, looking at my watch.“We got two hours until qualifying, and you two need to get back.”
“Yes, boss,” says Noah, saluting.Then he stops and looks between Matt and me.“You two old bastards made up yet?”
CHAPTER 28
Matt
Las Vegas Grand Prix
Race Day
Barry is shouting down the phone at me as I rush into the paddock, late.But no one will be mad after my incredible qualifying run yesterday.I’m starting eighth today.A huge improvement, and Arden’s first top-ten start on the grid.
“Matt, we’ve always been straight up with each other.Word is you’re going to retire?”Barry is beside himself.
“Not today, Barry.”I nod hello to a couple of old Rossini colleagues as I walk through the gates, absorbing the camera flashes of the waiting photographers.
“Well, you can’t walk out on all we’ve built,” he says.
“AllChloebuilt,” I correct.
“I’m mad as hell at that girl.”
“Thatgirl?”I say, raising an eyebrow, as I look toward the direction of the paddock club.
“I gave her a shot!Idid!You think Red Bull would ever hire a woman?”he says, exasperated.
“You hired her because you needed the PR,” I say, almost laughing.I want to put him out of his misery, but on the other hand, it would be nice to hear him grovel.“And by the sounds of the results of the sponsor meet-and-greet the other night, she did a lot better than me.”
Barry falls silent.“I don’t want Chloe to go.I like her.She’s spirited and smart and I have no idea what the hell she’s talking about most of the time.”
“Thaaaat’s better, Barry,” I say.
“But I don’t think I’ll have a lot of choice in that.I heard Haas have been sniffing around.”
“Proving my point even more.”Good for Chloe.After this race, I’m going to Brackley.I know she’ll be back there too with her family, and we can catch up properly there without fear of prying eyes.Today, I have to think about finishing high up in the single digits.A fifth or even a fourth.That’s my goal.
“Listen, Barry.I’m going up to the paddock club to do some press.”
