Page 6 of Drive Me Wild
He narrows his dark eyes at me, not amused. “Let me reenact. William says, ‘I’m pleased to announce that James isour new CEO. We wanted to introduce you before the press release goes out.’ Then I go, ‘Welcome to the team.’ And then you projectile vomit matcha and a half-eaten muffin all over the table.”
If Blake ever quits racing, he could easily make a name for himself in Hollywood with that performance. Maybe be the next Bradley Cooper.
I sigh loudly. “Why are you asking me what that was if youclearlyhave a grasp on it?”
Running his hand through his hair, he glowers at me. “Are you done being an asshole?”
“Are you mad you’re not the biggest asshole in the room for once?” I snap. My head is pounding, and I’d like to talk about literally anything butthis. When I see Blake’s jaw start to tick, I briefly worry about my safety.
“Out with it, Walker.” He sighs after a moment. “What’s going on?”
Like ripping off a Band-Aid, I blurt out, “James Avery wants to murder me.”
Blake’s deep laugh fills the otherwise silent room. He thinks I’m kidding. I really wish I was.
“I’m serious, Hollis,” I say nervously. “He’s threatened to kill me.”
Numerous times, actually.
When he finally calms himself down, he tilts his head at me, his brows harrowing tighter. “Okay, humor me. Why does he want to kill you, Theo?”
“I dated someone he knows… and let’s just say, it didn’t end well.”
I don’t mention that the person happens to be his daughter, Christina. That period of my life is one I don’t like thinking about, because every time I do, guilt wraps around me like anugly scarf. It’s the reason I never told Blake what happened with her.
Christina Avery and I were not on the same page. Hell, we weren’t even reading the same novel. She was annotating a Nicholas Spark’s romance, and I was listening to a Stephen King audiobook. She’s the entire reason I triple-check with anyone I sleep with that they’re cool with casual.
He leans against the door and releases a deep breath. “You think he holds a grudge?”
“Yes,” I say without hesitation. Of course he holds a grudge. I not only fucked his daughter, but I fucking broke her heart.
“Okay, well, it’s not like the CEO goes to all the Grands Prix. Out of sight, out of mind, you know? He shouldn’t give you too much trouble.”
If only it were that simple.
“My contract expires at the end of the season,” I remind him with a tight smile.
Up until now, I haven’t given it much thought. I’ve been delivering consistent wins and points for McAllister since they signed me. Hell, I won two World Championships with them. But now, the new CEO, who once promised to ruin my life like I ruined his daughter’s, has a say in whether they renew my contract or not. And I bet he’s going to push hard for thenotoption.
“Fuck, Walker,” he swears.
“Why do you think I just spent twenty minutes on the bathroom floor, mate?”
I like being rock-hard, not stuck between a rock and a hard place.
“On a scale of one to ten, how bad are we talking?” he probes, his chiseled jaw tensing. “Seven? Eight?”
I take a moment to think about it. “Probably thirteen.”
Blake slams his fist against the bathroom door. The harsh sound reverberates against the tiled floor, and I’m surprised the wood doesn’t split in half. Or that Blake’s hand doesn’t break.
I worked way too hard to get here to let Avery ruin it. At McAllister, you’re the best and everyone knows it. There’s no way to be forgotten, but there is a way to be replaced, and there’s no way I’m letting that happen. I just have to prove why I deserve to be here. Because I do. My dad knew it and I know it, too.
THREE
JOSIE
Blake and Theo’srace weekends are planned down to the minute. Press conferences, strategy sessions with team management, time in the garage, practices, media interviews, meeting their fans. If something runs late or needs to get moved around, it throws everything else off.
