“He…” I swallowed hard, trying to organize the chaos of emotions swirling through me.Pride.So much pride it felt like it might burst out of my chest.“He did that for me, so the Ollie article on the threats would be buried.”
“I suspect he did it for both of you,” Felix said.“But yeah, the timing probably wasn’t coincidental.Obviously, we don’t want these threats circling around the media until we’ve been able to investigate ourselves, so this article couldn’t have been timed better.”
I pressed my palms against my eyes, trying to process all the words I’d just heard.Henri had exposed his deepest vulnerability and made himself the story to protect me.The same Henri who guarded his privacy like Smaug the dragon hoarding gold.The same Henri who’d been so terrified to even tell his engineer.
Or his sister.
“Felix, I—”
“I know,” Felix sighed.“I’m proud of him, too, Lily.And honestly?I’m proud he came forward about the threats too.That took guts.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak yet.
“Felix, I need to ask you something.”
“Go on.”
“The morality clause in my contract.”I steadied my voice, forcing it into something resembling calm.“I want it removed.”
“Lily—”
“Luca doesn’t have one.You never insisted on it.My mother was the one who negotiated it in because she thought it would make me look professional, make the sponsors feel safe.But it’s been hanging over my head all season, and it’s not fair.”I was speaking faster now, the words spilling out with a conviction I hadn’t felt in weeks.“Your two drivers are dating other drivers, and so far?We’re winning the Constructors’ Championship.It’s not hurting the team.It’s not hurting the sponsors.The only thing it’s hurting is me.”
Another pause.Then Felix laughed—a warm, genuine sound that loosened something heavy in my chest.
“You know, I was going to bring this up with you after the race.Thomas and I discussed it yesterday.”I could hear him smiling through the phone.“Consider it done.”
“Really?”
“It’s unfair.It always was, and I should’ve have pushed back on it sooner.”His voice softened.“I think we can manage this with Hermes.I already do with Valkyrie.”
I leaned my head back against the garage wall, blinking up at the strip lighting.“Felix, thank you.I’ll have my… new manager… reach out.”
“New manager, huh?”Felix leaned back in his office chair.“Good for you.Feels like its time.”
I laughed, the sound cracking through the emotional dam I’d been holding back all day.“Yeah.Yeah, it does.”
I walked straight to my hotel suite after leaving Felix’s office, my mind still buzzing with everything—Henri’s article, the morality clause, Ollie’s article.But underneath the warmth of those revelations, there was something harder.Something that had been festering since the beginning of the season.
I needed to talk to my mother.
I swiped my key card and pushed open the door, already rehearsing what I wanted to say.But the words died in my throat.
My mother was sitting on the sofa in my suite, with her legs crossed and a glass of sparkling water in her hand, like she owned the place.And sitting across from her, leaning back in the armchair like he belonged there, was Ollie.
They both looked up when I walked in.My mother smiled.Ollie at least had the decency to look uncomfortable.
“Lily, darling,” my mother said, rising to her feet.“I was just telling Oliver how well things are going.Have you seen the engagement numbers since—”
“Get out.”
The words came out quieter than I intended, but they landed like a grenade.My mother blinked back surprise.Ollie shifted in his seat.
“Lillian—” my mother started.
“No.I want to know whyhe’sin my room.”I pointed at Ollie without looking at him.“Why is he here, Mum?”
“He came to see me, and I thought we could all have a civilized conversation about—”
