Page 15 of Double Apex

Before I can cobble together a reply, he continues.

“Of the one hundred two points distributed per race,” he says with his quiet intensity, “at least twenty should consistently belong to Emerald. Do we agree on that?”

“Yes,” I manage just above a whisper, too nervous to look at him.

He reaches across the table for my hand. “Good. And do you know of the company retreats some workplaces hold? With activities for, hm, ‘bonding’?”

A ripple of dread goes through me, and I meet his eyes. “Uh, yeah. They’re touchy-feely horseshit. Please don’t get all ‘holistic racing team’ and make everybody do that.”

“I don’t plan to make everybody do this. Only you and Cosmin.”

I withdraw my hand and fight down a sip of water, shooting eye poison at Klaus like one of those spooky toads. “Very funny. Not doing it.”

“Youare. A small trip after the GP—two nights next week in Santorini, Greece. You’ll stay in my cottage.”

I almost open my mouth to protest again but catch his somber expression. The cottage in Santorini was where he and his wife used to vacation. He rarely goes now, and it’s an honor that he’s sending me.

I adore Klaus—I can’t hurt him by saying no.

“Thank you.” I offer a smile that most likely doesn’t reach my eyes. “That’s…generous. There’s more than one bedroom, right?”

“It’s cottage style, but large. Four bedrooms, in addition to Elena’s—she is my housekeeper and an excellent cook.”

Klaus sips his wine, studying me. I push my plate away, appetite gone.

“This animosity between you and Cosmin,” he says gently, “is corroding the critical bond between driver and race engineer. A racing team is like a family, Schatzi. You know this.”

“Wewerelike a family back when Augusto and Arvo were driving,” I grumble.

“Things change. You are so agile and responsive with newdata, yet you cannot let go of this rigid view of Cosmin. He is equally bewildered by you.”

“Did he say that?” There’s a twitch in my chest, imagining Cosmin talking about me.

“He doesn’t have to. I observe.” Klaus swirls his wineglass. “This will be good for you both. I want you to do things together. Walk, talk, have meals, go shopping, enjoy the sights. See each other aspeople. Cultivate the sense of trust that is missing.”

“He’s gonna do something gross, like suggest we bond over strip poker.”

“I’ve already instructed him to refrain from directing such energy at you. And I’m confident he will be no temptation to you—I’ve not seen you fancy a blonde.”

“You talked tohimfirst? What the fuck?”

Klaus holds up a hand. “Only because there was a convenient opportunity.”

“What did he say?”

“He was reluctant, but I won him over.”

Klaus holds out a hand again, and I allow him to clasp mine. He gives it a squeeze.

“You have made a lot of sacrifices for your work. Few could be more devoted to Emerald’s success than you. Please—make one more small sacrifice.”

I squeeze his hand back. “Fine. But if Ardelean tries to put the moves on me, I’m sacrificinghim—by throwing him into a volcano.”

I expect Cosmin to be a pain-in-the-ass seatmate during the flight to Santorini—hogging the armrest or making stupid jokes about the Mile High Club—but he’s unusually subdued. I suspect the disappointment of Sunday’s final-lap disaster has him in a state.

He’d fought his way from eighth place to third and had just rounded the final corner. The team was losing its collective mind over a podium finish. Aaaaaaand something went wrong with the energy recovery system, which would have given Cosmin the power boost he needed. They’re pulling it apart now, determining what went wrong, as we sit in first class with mimosas.

Troubleshooting analysis is a huge part of Formula 1. F1 cars have distinct designs, team by team, built from the ground up. The diversity in design and the upgrades implemented throughout the season mean there’s a lot more that can go wrong… and things are certain to do exactly that. The dance floor is always moving under us.

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