“Yes, you’re right.I’m sorry.Let’s focus on work.On finishing this season strong,” I mutter.
She sends me a knowing half smile in return, picking upthe carbon fiber part she was playing with when I arrived.“And on that subject,” she says, swallowing.
“Yes?”My throat is dry too.I’m suddenly thirsty.
She turns the part over in her hands.“I was sitting here thinking of how we can claw back time, and I had an idea.”
“What kind of idea?”I steady my voice.
“About a head of aerodynamics,” she says.“You know, we can’t afford the kind of person we need.I understand Barry is under pressure.But there is someone...”
The thought comes to me like a bolt out of the blue.
“Jasper Cox,” I say, almost gasping.What an idea.
“What happened to him?Everyone says he was fired.A drunk?”
“He wasn’t fired, but he was a drunk,” I say, raising both eyebrows conspiratorially as Chloe stands a little straighter.“He went through some family stuff and Rossini waited as long as they could.But, Chloe...”
“He’s retired.Living in Mexico now,” she says, nodding.
“Apparently.So, what are you thinking?”
“Are you going home before the next race?”she asks.
I smile, catching on to her train of thought.
“No,” I reply, pulling my phone out of my back pocket.“Due to fly to the Mexican Grand Prix day after tomorrow.”
“Let’s go earlier,” she says.“Let’s find Jasper and see if he wants to help us beat Rossini.”
CHAPTER 15
Chloe
I’m really not used to private jets,” I admit, rolling my trolley from the black Mercedes taxi toward Barry’s plane the next morning.I’m tired as hell, and not sure how Matt is functioning.
“Yet,” says Matt, laughing, as he nods toward the little stairs where we will board.“When you get used to them, you’re ruined.”
“Ruined?”
“Yes.It’s very hard to go back.”
I laugh.“I find them a little bit embarrassing.”
“You’ll find them amazing in a few hours,” Matt says, laughing at me, his smile broad and relaxed.“But honestly?I always fly commercial.”
“Aww, Matt, you fly economy.With all your millions?How sweet.”
“I saidcommercial,” he replies, laughing.He is a completely different person today.Good-humored, amiable.But he’s also keeping his distance.And there is almost no eye contact.Like a colleague.
I’ve had so very little time to unpack everything that’s been going on, but for now, having Matt keep himself at a bit of a distance is exactly what I need.
Barry is already on board when we get there, and I use his complete availability to corner him and go through the long, long list of issues I want to tackle ahead of Mexico.Matt heads for the back of the plane and straight into one of the small cabin beds.
“Shout if you need me,” he says.
“What’s so urgent you two needed to come on my flight today, then?”Barry asks wearily.
