“Matt, hell of a drive.How does it feel to grab your first podium of the year?”
“Like a shrimp cocktail.Good, but I want the main course,” he says without hesitation, pointing to the next reporter.Laughter fills the room.
“Hi, Matt.Sky Sports.What a drive.It feels like Arden has come alive.Want to share any insights?”
“You’ll need to ask the team principal,” he says, pointing at the next raised hand.
Archie nudges me and grins.It is a nice thing to do, keeping my title front and center, giving the credit to me.
“The car has had incredible speed through the straights.Did it take you by surprise how much the upgrades have impacted the performance?”
“No.Because Chloe Coleman oversaw them, and Jasper Cox came on board to refine them.”
I bite my lip, beaming with pride.
“You seem to be a big fan of your team principal,” jokes the next reporter.
“Aren’t you?”
More laughter ripples round the room.
“No one is asking the other drivers a single question,” Archie whispers to me.“Look at them.”
My eyes shift from Matt to the two Rossinis, who are starting to look a little annoyed by the lack of attention.Holy shit.This is better than I could have hoped.The story shouldbe the podium one-two for Rossini.But it isn’t.Arden is the story.Matt’s third-place comeback is the story.
He glances across at me, catching my eye, and he tips his chin toward both me and Archie.
And then I hear a familiar voice.
“There’s a rumor in the paddock that you and Coleman are more than old friends.Care to comment?”
Jack Sheppard.
I watch Matt’s face remain completely impassive.
“No,” he says.
“No, you don’t care to comment, or no, it’s not true?”
“No, it’s not true.Can someone get this dickweed out?I want to talk racing.”
All the faces of the press now turn their attention to Jack, who squirms in his seat.
“You want to talk racing, or do you want to fuck off?”Matt says, all his old bravado surfacing at exactly the right moment.Jack’s face hardens.He looks furious, which gives me silent pleasure.But the damage has been done, and if Matt isn’t careful his fiery response is going to elicit more rumors.
Calm down, Matt.
“You’re both from the same town.Has thatspecialcloseness helped?”says another reporter, this time from theDaily Mail.They won’t give a shit about racing.They’d love to break this kind of scandal.
A few photographers turn their lenses on me, and Archie nudges me and starts laughing.I follow suit with a confused chuckle, likeWhat the hell are they talking about?
“No,” says Matt firmly.“That’s an inaccurate report and undermines the incredible story of this woman who hasfought and clawed her way to the top.I didn’t know sexist reporting was still in.C’mon, guys.”
A lie.A bald-faced and very necessary lie that he delivers perfectly.I hold my breath, as Jack shrinks further into his seat.
Matt is saying too much.
“You’re both single, right?”says another.
