“Best kind of exit, then.” He clapped me on the shoulder. “Come on. Let’s get you two settled before someone spots us conspiring.”
Axel walked us through the hospitality area, and the difference hit me immediately. Engineers occupied most of the seating, laptops open, voices overlapping as they argued about something technical. Someone had left their jacket draped over a chair and no one was shouting at him to tidy it up before some Z-lister came through. The coffee bar had actual grounds scattered across the counter.
The whole space felt lived in, not like the showroom Aedris maintained for Julian’s ego.
We passed through a narrow corridor lined with team photos. Drivers mid-celebration, mechanics hoisting trophies, candid shots of the garage crew laughing over lunch. Not a single one looked staged.
We followed Axel into his small office and I almost smirked. If I needed a sign that I’d made the right choice, this was it.
The space was compact. It had a desk, three chairs, a shelf stacked with technical manuals and a framed photo of his wife and kids.
I could breathe in here.
Axel leaned back, lacing his fingers behind his head. “So. You’re actually serious about this.”
“Wouldn’t be here if I wasn’t.”
He studied me, hopefully evaluating whether I meant it. The silence stretched long enough to make my jaw tighten.
Finally, he nodded before opening his desk drawer.
“You’ve seen this already, but let’s make it official.” He produced a folder and slid it across to Dominic.
“Two years, standard performance clauses tied to constructor points. All the usual.”
Dominic scanned it again, but all I cared about was one thing.
“We’re clear on the family accommodations clause?”
Axel nodded. “Your daughter comes first. Sensible stuff really.”
“Julian doesn’t think so.”
“Julian’s a fool who thinks drivers are robots.”
Axel chuckled and I smiled. He wasn’t wrong.
“Let me be clear, Griffin,” he said, his tone sobering. “A driver with something to go home to is a driver who thinks. Who doesn’t take stupid risks for a single point. You having Hazel in your life makes you a better asset, not a liability.”
Just like that. The knot that had lived in my gut for months started to unwind.
“Now, for the other issue.” Axel grimaced. “Thiago.”
“What about him?”
“He’s fast. He’s hungry. And he’s a creature of habit. Doesn’t like change.” Axel scrubbed a hand over his jaw. “He’s been driving in Nico’s shadow for three years. He sees Nico leaving as his chance to finally be number one.”
“So he’ll see me as the one standing in his way.”
“He will when he finds out.” Axel nodded. “We try to run a level ship here, leave the egos at the door. But egos are egos. I need you to know what you’re walking into. He won’t make it easy.”
“I can handle it.”
Axel’s mouth quirked. He tapped the contract. “Then let’s get this done.”
Dominic slid the folder closer to me. I picked up the pen Axel offered and took a deep breath.
Before Hazel and Violet, I didn’t believe I had a racing career outside of Aedris. But the two year contract staring at me said otherwise, and it was kind of surreal.
