Another pause.“Ah, yes.There are personal conduct provisions.You cannot engage in romantic relationships with other competing Formula 1 drivers during the term of your contract.”
The words hit me like cold water.“So, I can’t date other drivers.”
“Well, that’s not a problem, right?”My mother asked it so casually, like she was confirming a dinner reservation.
I couldn’t bring myself to answer that question—not with who was lying in the other room.“And you think this is fine?”
“Of course, darling.It shows you’re serious and professional.That you’re there to race, not to… well.”She paused delicately.“Not to getdistracted.”
Something cold settled in my stomach.“Distracted by what?”
“Lily, let’s be realistic.You can be seen as a little overly friendly in the paddock.”
The words landed with careful precision.“Overly friendly?Mum, I’m just being myself—”
“Oh, come on, Lily.You bat your eyelashes, you laugh a little too loudly at people’s terrible jokes, and you touch their arms when you talk to them.It simply gives the wrong impression.The cameras catch it all the time, and your sponsors have noticed.They’ve invested large sums of money in you, and they want to know you’re focused on racing, not on flirting with half the grid.”
Heat flooded my face.“That’s just how I am!If I were a man, no one would—”
“But you’re not a man,” my mother said, her voice sharpening.“And whether it’s fair or not, this is how you’re perceived.They want reassurance that you’re focused on racing, not on your social life… which shouldn’t be a problem, seeing as how you aren’t dating any of the other drivers anyway.”
“And if I don’t agree to the clause?”I asked, trying to keep my voice down so as not to disturb Henri with the chaos whirling in my head.
“Well, we could go back and negotiate, but…” My mother’s pause was heavy with implication.“Some of the major sponsors you bring with you to Rennen may get nervous.They’ve invested significant money in you, Lily, and securing those contracts wasn’t easy.”
She paused, her voice taking on that practical tone she used when discussing business.“The personal sponsors you bring to Rennen are part ofyourvalue to them or to any team on the grid.Plus, we don’t want that media circus Georgia and Luca had to go through—it was almost a PR disaster for them.”
“I need to think about it,” I said quietly.
“Lily—”
“I said I need to think about it.”My hands fisted so tightly I could feel my nails digging into the skin.“I’ll call you back.”
I hung up before she could respond.The Vegas strip was visible through the window, glittering in the morning sun, but all I could see was the choice laid out before me.
My dream.Or whatever last night with Henri had been.
I heard movement from the bedroom.When I pushed the door open, Henri was already getting dressed, pulling on his jeans from last night.His back was to me, but I could see tension in his shoulders.
He turned, and the look on his face, closed off and distant, was nothing like the warmth from last night.“Hey.”
“Hey,” I said back, reaching for him.“You okay?”
“Fine.”He reached for his shirt, not quite meeting my eye.“Congratulations.I heard some of your call with Felix.”
“You heard?”
“Hard not to.”He focused intently on buttoning his shirt.“Eric’s seat.That’s huge, Lily.”
“I can’t believe he offered it to me.”I crossed to him, trying to recapture some of the excitement I’d felt earlier.“I mean, me?Driving for Rennen next year?”
He turned then, and pure, genuine joy lit up his face for just a moment.“I can believe it, Lily!I knew they’d be mad not to sign you.”He pulled me into a brief hug.“You’re going to be brilliant there.”But when he stepped back, the warmth was already fading, replaced by something more guarded.“When do you sign?”
“They’re sending contracts this week.There’s just something I need to think on…” I hesitated.“There’s a clause.Felix said my sponsors requested it.It feels… odd.It doesn’t feel right.”
He eyed me cautiously, like he was trying to find some words to say but just couldn’t get them out.“Lily, don’t let anything stand in the way of this contract.This is your best shot to be World Champion.Sign whatever they put in front of you.”
The certainty in his voice caught me off-guard.“But—”
