‘Quite impressively, you managed to undermine me in every single thing you said. You made me look like a total…’
I raise my eyebrows, waiting for it, but of course it won’t come. She’d actually have to admit she’s a scheming psychopath.
‘And what the hell was the “friend” thing about?’ she pivots. ‘You don’t know me.’
‘It’s a figure of speech.’ I also said Tom was my friend. I’m lucky he’s such a chilled dude – not that I’d know first-hand, we don’t exactly run in the same circles. He’s a podium kind of guy; I’m a flight back to Miami with a sore neck and sorer pride kind of guy.
‘No it’s not,’ she argues.
‘Was anything I said a lie?’
‘It was all lies!’ she bites back.
‘Nothing I said was a lie. You might not like how I framed it, sure, but I never lied.’
‘Why would you do that?’
I shrug. ‘Slow party.’ Like hell can I admit the truth. I now have the upper hand; I’m not about to give it right back.
‘You’re an arsehole,’ she seethes.
‘Yeah, yeah.’
‘Fuck you.’
‘Right back at ya, sweetheart.’
Chapter 8
TIAGO
SHANGHAI
‘Aaand action!’
‘¡Hola, mis amigos!’I say, doing my best to wave from inside an airtight ear of corn costume.‘Head on down to your local Casa Verde this Grand Prix weekend to get a free corn salsa with every meal when you say the phrase: Go, Tiago, go! While I’m racing,’I point at the camera, and a polyester leaf droops over my arm,‘you’re winning.’I beam at the camera, wondering if it’s obvious I’m dying inside.‘Casa Verde. Big flavours, bigger smiles.’
‘Cut,’ calls the director. ‘That was great. You really got it on that twelfth take. Now, let’s do the one for the Mexican market. Do you want a look at the Spanish script again?’
‘I think I got it,’ I mumble.
I know this is Leone mandated PR, and I know JC and I had a long talk about priorities, and I know no team’s going to want me if I act like an ungrateful jackass, butreally? Anearofcorn? I’ve had a wedgie for the past four hours but this costume’s so pumped up, I can’t get anywhere near it.
The flaccid second costume catches my eye from the far side of the stage. What a surprise my teammate’s not here. Again. He only shows up when Leone’s social team want to film TikToks,at which point I instantly feel one hundred. I’m no Gen X, but I swear I’m the only person older than twenty-two, and all their super niche references go way over my head. If I have to mouth along to one more soundbite, I’m going to lose it.
When we finally break, I waddle to a quiet corner and FaceTime my brother.
Unfortunately, Isa picks up. ‘HAAAH!’
I frown into the phone. ‘Only God can judge me.’
‘Oh really? I’m doing a pretty good job of it right now.’
‘Can you put JC on the phone please?’
‘Love your hair.’
My heart seizes. ‘What’s wrong with my hair?’ I reach up and my fingers brush synthetic fabric.
