Page 77 of Falling Fast
‘Look!’ Emika’s hand on my arm almost makes me jump out of my skin. ‘It’s our pop-up store!’
She doesn’t wait for a response, tugging me across the lobby to where a temporary Rask store has been set up beside the entrance to the casino. It’s decked out in chequered flags and there’s even a replica of this year’s car, along with cardboard cut-outs of Leif, Corey and Quinn, for people to take selfies with. Even better, they seem to be doing a thriving trade in baseball caps and T-shirts. I take a couple of quick pictures and post them online. We want as many people as possible to know we’re here.
‘You two are roomies.’ Vienna comes over to hand us our key cards. ‘Drop your bags off and then get back down here asap. We have a lot to get done before the gala tonight.’ She strides off towards the lifts.
I stare after her. ‘What gala?’
‘For our sponsors. It’s in the schedule.’ Emika gives me a strange look. ‘Are you OK? No offence, but you seem kind of jittery.’
I clamp a hand to my stomach as it starts churning. No, I’m not OK. If there’s a gala for the sponsors, Leif will definitely be there. How could I not have known about it? How could I not have even looked at the schedule? I love schedules! It’s like I don’t know who I am any more …
‘Jet lag.’ I push the words out.
‘Ah.’ Emika nods sagely. ‘You get used to it. Come on, we’d better hurry up and do what Vienna says.’
TWO HOURS OF FRENETIC activity later, I’ve tried everything I can think of to get out of the gala. I’ve suggested I skip it to get more work done. That I could help run thepop-up store so some of the merchandising team can go instead. I’ve even offered to help install wiring in the motorhome, not that I have any idea about electrics. Short of feigning a sudden illness – not that I’ve entirely discounted the idea – I’m all out of options. I’m going to the gala.
Fuckity fuck fuck.
‘What do you think?’ Emika emerges from the bathroom looking like Rita Hayworth, or some other 1950s Hollywood siren. Her hair is set in short, glamorous waves and she’s wearing a plunging red dress with a slit all the way up her thigh.
‘You look stunning,’ I tell her.
‘Thanks.’ Her flawlessly made-up doe eyes drop to my outfit. ‘Um … is that what you’re wearing? Because you know this is Vegas, right?’
I look down at my crew-neck Rask summer dress and gold wedges. Since I didn’t pack anything other than work and travel clothes, it’s the best I’ve been able to manage (along with cool tone make-up and a braided bun), although it’s actually perfect since I don’t want to be noticeable tonight. I want to blend in with the crowd. It’s my only hope of dodging Leif.
‘I know.’ I feign a look of regret. ‘I packed in a hurry.’
‘Don’t worry. I brought a back-up.’ She rifles in her suitcase. ‘We’re about the same size. Here, try this.’
‘Oh, I don’t know.’ My eyes widen as they take in the one-shouldered, dark purple bodycon dress she’s holding out to me. It’s gorgeous, but …definitelynoticeable. ‘I don’t want to stretch it.’
‘You won’t, and this colour will look great on you.’
I’m too tired to think of any more excuses so I change quickly and then head downstairs with her into a ginormous,crowded ballroom. Merchandising have gone all out here too. The walls are streaming with Rask banners and the waiters are all dressed in racing overalls. Suddenly I feel grateful to Emika for not taking no for an answer. There are so many glamorous outfits that I would have been more noticeable in my plain one.
‘You know, if someone had told me in May that we’d be hosting a party like this by October, I would never have believed them.’ Emika swipes a pair of champagne flutes off a tray. ‘We’ve come so far this season! If we keep it up, we could be real contenders for the podium next year.’
‘I hope so,’ I murmur, though I’m distracted, looking for Leif. There’s no sign of him yet, but he must be here.
‘Hey, ladies …’ Yuto appears through the crowd, stopping briefly to give us a twirl in his burgundy suit. ‘What do you think? Pretty hot, right?’
‘Scorching.’ I give him a thumbs-up, then drink half the contents of my champagne flute in one go. It’s probably not a good idea on top of nerves and an empty stomach, but I feel like I need it.
‘So, Vienna wants us to mingle and tell everyone how excited we are about Quinn,’ Yuto says. ‘And if we stop smiling for even a second, we’re all fired.’
‘Got it. Hey, have you met Quinn yet?’ Emika asks. ‘She was in a meeting with her race engineer when I went to find her earlier.’
‘Yeah, she’s over there talking to one of our IT sponsors.’ Yuto points to the opposite side of the room. ‘Come on, I’ll introduce you.’
‘Great. You coming?’ Emika looks back over her shoulder at me.
‘Not right now.’ I wave them away. ‘You go. I’ll mingle.’
I drink some more champagne and try to pull myself together. I can see some representatives from another of our sponsors, a financial services company, a few feet away. I should probably go and reintroduce myself. Plus, there’s a scattering of journalists I want to thank for supporting us when the Philip Sawyer article came out. I just need to get my professional face on and –
‘Ava?’
