Like the rumors of the affair you had behind your wife’s back?I bite my tongue against the retort. I’m already skating on thin ice with William’s warning; I don’t want to give him a reason to pull out.
“There will never be rumors of anaffairbetween me and Victoria.” But, if I’m going to work with William long-term, he should know the truth. “I intend to make that woman my girlfriend, then fiancé, then wife. As soon as she’ll have me.”
Shock flits through my sponsor’s expression, followed by puzzlement. “I’m… sorry?”
So am I.Being this committed to someonesucks.“If you don’t want to deal with the potential publicity around that, I completely understand. The optics aren’t great, though I think there are sufficient ways to mitigate the damage. But let me be clear.” I lean forward, expression hard. “As soon as she agrees to it, I’m making Victoria mine. Permanently. If that means we can’t work together,I’m deeply disappointed, but I won’t hold it against you. If that’s an issue, say so now so I don’t waste your time.”
My tone comes out harsher than intended… but it seems to have theoppositeeffect than intended. A slow smile spreads across William’s lips, and he claps my shoulder. “I had no idea you were a committed man.” He practically beams. “In fact, I much prefer family-oriented business partners than floaters and stragglers.”
I frown. “Huh? I thought—”
“I don’t want to deal withaffairs,” William says pointedly. “I already have enough rumors swarming around over a secretary who came ontome, then told anyone who would listen that we’ve been dating and sleeping together in secret foryears. If anyone had taken a step back from the gossip mill and looked at the facts, they’d have realized that I’ve onlyknownthat woman for a single year, and I fired herbeforeshe decided to start a scandal.” He rolls his eyes, jaw clenching. “It’s been hard on my wife, whom I love very much. Even our daughter got bullied at school for a while.” Something dangerous flits through his eyes. “I shut that bullshit down quickly.”
I stare at him in open astonishment.Itrusted the rumor mill that suggested he was unfaithful blindly, because what billionaireisn’t?
If he’s to be believed, this one. And I don’t detect any signs of deception on his face.
“I’m… sorry you had to go through that.”
He runs a hand over his tie. “As am I. It’s been quite frustrating.” He clears his throat. “In any case, my earlier point is that I will not acceptscandal. If what you’ll bringme is commitment on multiple fronts—not just to your sport, but also to your personal life—I welcome that with open arms.”
Despite every cell in my bodyscreamingfor me to corner Victoria and get a moment alone with her, I don’t. I work the floor for a bit, even spend a while chatting with Elio. Victoria’s attached to Barbie’s hip for the duration of the evening—it seems Barbie’s introducing her to every bigshot venture capitalist she can. Amanda might be bubbly and irritating as fuck, but she’s high-society stock, and makes for a very valuable ally in these circles. No wonder Elio keeps her close, even if he’s kind of a prick to her.
The gala’s winding down hours later when fate intervenes. I didn’t used to believe in such notions, but Victoria’s leaving the ladies' room just as I’m heading into the men’s. The hallway is a ways off from the gala, and entirely abandoned. It’s just the two of us.
She’s even more beautiful up close than she was from afar. Thatfuckingdress is a man-eater, and I think she might be wearing heels, because she’s a bit taller than I'm used to. She has makeup on, too; smokey shadows around her eyes that make her grey irises look almost silver.
“Oh. Hi,” she says, a tad awkwardly.
A smile curves my lips. “Hi. Funny seeing you here.”
She nervously tucks a strand of hair behind her ear. “Amanda invited me. Her dad wanted to chat about my algorithm, now that I’ll be…” she trails off and bites her lip.
“Giving it to the team.” My smile fades. “Ilya told me.” I’m almost mad at her for making such a sacrifice on my account, especially after how I treated her. I don’t deserve it, but I’m sure as fuck not going to waste it.
Her eyes flare with surprise. “Yeah.”
“You didn’t have to do that.” I fuckinghatethis stilted awkwardness between us. I want to go back to how we were. Even trading insults is better than this.
“I did,” she says softly. “There was never a choice.”
Because she cares for methatmuch. Everyone who’s been telling me I don’t deserve her from the start has been right. I don’t.
Not gonna stop me from chasing her to the ends of the earth, though, or waiting for her until the end of time. “Victoria—”
“I have to go.”
And that’s the last I see of her until the flight to Montreal.
Chapter Fifty-One
Asher
“Thefuckdid you just say to me?”
Ilya gives me an unamused look. “Was I unclear? Allow me to repeat myself. Victoria’s going to be on the pit wall consulting, but she will not be your engineer for the race.”
Panic chomps its sharp, needle-like claws around my heart.No. How am I supposed to do well without her? It’s… I can’t—
