Page 71 of Falling Fast
And afterwards – I really do smile this time – maybe I’ll send out a memo.
I reach into my desk for some Post-Its, realize I’m humming to myself and quickly turn it into a cough. It’s just so hard to hide my good mood. I’m high on endorphins and my body is all relaxed, like I’m floating in a hot, foamy bubble bath. I have to constantly battle the urge to dance around theroom like some kind of loved-up cliché. I’m so distracted I don’t even register the fact that I’ve answered my phone until Vienna’s voice at the other end startles me.
‘Ava!’ Her tone is sharper than usual.
‘What’s up?’
‘Fucking Philip Sawyer is what’s up.’
‘Oh no.’ My stomach twists. ‘What has he done?’
‘The bastard wrote a newspaper article implying our upgrades breach current regulations.’
‘He’s accusing us of cheating?’ I gasp, putting my phone on speaker. ‘Isn’t that libelous?’
‘Unfortunately not. Our lawyers are looking into it, but he knew what he was doing. He stayed just the right side of getting sued.’
‘Is there any truth to it?’ I exchange a look with Emika as she comes over to listen. ‘I mean,doesthe car breach regulations?’
‘No!’ Vienna sounds outraged by the question. ‘But now that he’s raised it as a potential issue, there’ll probably be a formal investigation, meaning a heap of bad PR for us, which he knows, the underhand, conniving piece of human excrement.’
‘What can we do?’ I ask, feeling a rush of anger towards Philip Sawyer.
‘Damage limitation. When you’re asked, which you will be in about five minutes, say that we have complete confidence in our cars, our engineers and our team principal. Then start calling our sponsors. Tell them this is all just a formality and there’s nothing to worry about. Get Yuto and Charlotte on it too.’
‘Right. Do Leif and Corey know yet?’
‘No, but I’m calling them next. They’re going to be pretty pissed off. Whatever way this plays out, it’s going to be hanging over us when the season resumes next week.’ She makes a sound somewhere between a sigh and a scream. ‘I’m in London now and I’m meeting Bastian, Mika and Nova in an hour. We’re going to try and get this resolved as soon as possible. In the meantime, good luck over there. It’s going to be a long day.’
‘OK. Let us know how it goes.’ I pressend call.
‘Shit.’ Emika looks like she needs a stiff drink. ‘This is bad.’
‘Yep.’ I feel like I could do with some gin myself. ‘We just have to stay calm, right?’
‘Right. There’s no need to panic.’
The words are barely out of her mouth before the phones start ringing. And ringing. And then ringing some more. We’re both so busy fielding calls, it’s over an hour before I get a free moment to text Leif.
Hey. Did Vienna call you?
Yes,he responds straight away.It’s total bullshit. There’s nothing wrong with the car.
It’s crazy here. I’m probably going to be working late.
Do you need me to come in and help?
Thanks, but we’ve got this.
OK. Message me when you’re finished. I could bring dinner to your place?
Sounds perfect x
BY THE END OF the day my throat is sore from talking to journalists and my head is aching from repeating the same lines over and over.Total confidence, just a formality, a difference of opinion… I’ve said variations on the same thing so manytimes I’m pretty sure I’ll be saying them in my sleep. I only hope I’m telling the truth, because if I’m not then we’ll be back near the bottom of the Standings and it won’t be long before Philip Sawyer gets exactly what he wants. I clench my fists at the thought. The idea of Rask going under, of being beaten by a backstabber like Sawyer … We can’t let that happen. This team is too special.
‘Here.’ Emika places a mug of tea and a napkin containing a pink doughnut on the desk in front of me. ‘You look like you need this.’
‘Thanks.’
