My heart pounded. A part of me still wanted control — to take the story back before Caroline could twist it into something ugly. But this wasn’t about scoops or exclusives any more. This was about Aleks. About helping him stand in the light on his own terms. I could do that for him. I wanted to do that for him.
“Then let’s do it.” I got up from the sofa and gathered my clothes.
“Now?”
“Right now. Clean up, get dressed.” I dashed to the bathroom to follow my own instructions. And yes, his bathroom was the same size as my entire hotel room. I tried not to begrudge the reigning world champion his perks. Mostly.
When I emerged, Aleks was dressed, his hair combed and the sofa area tidied from our frenzied activities.
“Why the rush, Elena?” he asked, his voice soft, curious.
“While the motivation is strong.”
He simply nodded, then headed into the bathroom to finish cleaning himself up.
I picked up my phone and called Graham in London. He’d be rushing to get the day’s news out, but I knew he’d take my call after that press conference. He answered on the fourth ring.
“Elena, good job. I saw you on the broadcast. Great question!”
“Thanks, boss. Look, I’ve got a global exclusive follow up for you. Or I will have. Give me two hours and I’ll give you a video interview for the website.”
“Branching out are we?”
“It’s a one off. You’ll want this.”
“Who’s it with?”
“Aleksandr Volkov.”
“What the fuck? He’s agreed to go on the record? Long form? With you?”
“Yes. Do you want it?”
“Of course I fucking do!”
“Righto, boss. Hold the press.”
“No one says that, doll face. Good luck with the interview.”
I hung up and was still grinning when Aleks came back into the room.
“Ready?” I asked.
“Let’s do this.”
Chapter Thirty Six – Bahrain Race Weekend
Aleksandr Volkov – Bahrain International Circuit, Friday
I’d barely stepped out of the garage when Terri caught sight of me. She tried — and failed — to disguise the grin threatening to split her face in two.
“Morning,” she said, too brightly, holding out the day’s schedule on a tablet. “Sleep well?”
“I don’t sleep,” I muttered, scanning the document with half my brain.
“No, of course not,” she chirped. “Too busy breaking the internet, right?”
I shot her a sideways look. She winked. I said nothing.
