Nico’s expression shifted, almost imperceptibly. “Not always.”
And there it was. The opening I needed.
“The media’s brutal,” I said casually. “One wrong move and they’re all over you.”
Thiago snorted. “Speak for yourself, Michaels. Some of us don’t give them anything to write about.”
I ignored the jab. “I’m just saying, living under a microscope takes its toll. Especially when personal shit gets dragged into the spotlight.”
Nico glanced at me, his eyes narrowing slightly. “True enough.”
We reached a water station and slowed to a stop. I dismounted, grateful for the chance to catch my breath. The humidity was already climbing, sweat trickling down my back despite the early hour.
“You handled your situation well,” I said to Nico as we refilled our water bottles. “Few years back. The whole...” I waved my hand vaguely.
“Paternity scandal?” he asked, his voice neutral.
“Yeah. That.”
Thiago raised an eyebrow but said nothing, taking a long drink from his bottle.
Nico studied me for a moment. “Why the sudden interest in ancient history, Michaels?”
I shrugged, aiming for casual. “Just curious. Media’s always looking for the next big story to sink their teeth into. Good to know how to weather the storm if it comes.”
“If?” Liam muttered, just loud enough for me to hear.
I shot him a look.
Nico wasn’t fooled by my nonchalance, but he played along. “It was a nightmare,” he said, capping his water bottle. “Worst six months of my career. Sponsors threatening to pull out, team principal breathing down my neck, journalists camped outside my hotel.”
Christ. That was my future if I didn’t get ahead of this.
“How’d you handle it?” I asked, trying not to sound too eager.
He leaned against his bike, considering. “I didn’t wait for it to blow up.” He took a slow sip from his water bottle. “The moment the rumors started, I got ahead of it. Announced it myself, set the record straight. No speculation, no guessing games. Just the truth.”
I frowned. “You didn’t try to deny it? Or downplay it?”
“No point,” he said simply. “The press would’ve kept digging, twisting things to make it worse. If I acted like I had something to hide, they’d never have let it go.”
Liam let out a low whistle. “That’s risky.”
“It was calculated.” Nico pushed off from the railing, adjusting his gloves. “I controlled the story. Told them what I wanted them to know, then shut it down. After that, I stopped engaging.”
“And they just… let it go?” I asked, sceptical.
“Not immediately. They tried, but I gave them nothing. Eventually, they got bored and moved on.”
I turned that over in my head. Maybe I’d been going about this the wrong way.
Liam shot me a sidelong glance, like he could see the wheels turning in my head. “Sounds like it worked for you.”
“It did.” Nico tightened the strap on his helmet. “But you need to mean it. You can’t announce it and then waver. The second they smell uncertainty, they’re on you like sharks.” Helooked directly at me. “If you’re dealing with something, and you plan on facing it head-on, you better be ready to stand by what you say.”
It sounded so fucking simple when he said it.
“Why all the questions, Griffin?” Nico asked, his voice gentle but probing. “Something you want to share?”
