That’s Disney, isn’t it?
Nico pulled it out. The cover didn’t look like Disney.
She read the fine print. It wasn’t. This one was a Swedish film based on the original Andersen fairy tale. Where did Charles get this?
Nico turned to him. “What happens at the end ofThe Little Mermaid?”
Charles smiled. “Ariel marries Eric, and the two live happily ever after.”
“That’s the Disney version. What happens at the end of the original one—you know, the Andersen fairy tale?”
“Oh.” Charles’s smile disappeared. “In that one, she can’t bring herself to kill the prince, so she saves his life by killing herself. She jumps into the sea and turns into sea-foam.”
“Sea-foam.”
“Uh-huh. Sea-foam.”
Nico shoved the DVD back into its slot.
Big. Nope.
Charles sighed. “At least annoying, arrogant, asshole, prick didn’t recognize you. I figured he wouldn’t.”
“Wait until you hear the last thing he said before he left.”
Staring at his phone, Charles’s blue eyes ballooned. “That he’d be trying out the simulator on Friday early in the morning so he’d put in his order now—a double espresso for him and a cappuccino dusted with cinnamon for Dario. Some jelly doughnuts would be nice too.”
Nico frowned. “How did—”
Charles held up his phone. Nico grabbed it.
@RacingRocco
It’s official. I’m joining the Maverick Racing team. And what do you know? I’ll be racing alongside one Nico Angelini. Let me be the first towelcome Nico to Formula 1. I’ll be testing the simulator on Friday at headquarters early in the morning, so I’ll put in my order now. I’ll have a double espresso, and for Dario, a cappuccino dusted with cinnamon. Some jelly doughnuts would be nice too.
Nico stared at it, speechless, feeling like she’d had the wind knocked out of her.
Charles shook his head. “That boy deserves a spanking. I certainly wouldn’t mind doing the job.”
Nico made a face.
Charles tried to turn that glimmer in his eye to a glower but failed miserably.
She started pacing. “He hasn’t given a thought to stopping the social media snark. I suppose he thinks me—the demure woman—will just remain silent.”
“You? Demure?”
“Not to mention he went ahead and made the announcement. Not just about himself, but about me! And the way he did it, as though I were just an afterthought. Like the big news is one Rocco Vittori joining the team rather than a woman racing Formula 1!
“They specifically asked me not to make it known publicly. They wanted to wait until they had everything set up and then have a press conference. And now he just goes ahead and shits all over what should be a historic moment! I have to come up with some kind of response.”
“You don’t have to.”
“Yes, I do. I can’t just let that sit there.” She shoved the phone in Charles’s face. “Look at all those likes and comments.”
Charles huffed. “Male chauvinists! We need to put our heads together and come up with something.” He grabbed a scoopful of popcorn and shoved it in his mouth.
Nico began to pace. “How do I hate thee?” she hissed. “Let me count the ways.”
