Page 73 of Rush
Savi had sent her family for a tour of the circuit with Gabriel, needing some time to herself. Her head was bursting with what ifs and reasons not to do what she was about to do. At some point over the course of the week, she had decided she was going to reveal all to her team principal, cover all her bases in case everything with Jesse came out. She didn’t trust him or his team to protect her anymore.
‘Savi, come on in.’ Jasper welcomed her into his office. He had a much more professional and luxurious set up for Le Mans, because absolutely everything about this race was kicked up a notch. The exotic plant on his desk was her favourite new addition. ‘How are your family finding everything? Your brother looks like he’s having a whale of a time. Caught him and your dad racing Gabriel in a golf kart earlier today.’
‘They’re loving it. Thank you so much for sorting everything out for them; I never thought they’d make it here, but you’ve made it so easy for us all. The access to the plane, the accessible room, the transfers and the personal assistant. We really appreciate it.’
‘It was the team’s pleasure. We’ll do the same for any race they want to come to, so please don’t be afraid to ask.’ He smiled. ‘So, what brings you to my office?’
‘I might be about to become Revolution Racing’s problem driver…’ She chewed her bottom lip, taking a seatwhen Jasper gestured to the plush leather chair in front of his desk.
‘I find that hard to believe,’ Jasper frowned. ‘Before we begin, I will keep this as confidential as I can, depending on what the issue is. If you need the team’s protection…’
‘You’ve done this before, haven’t you?’ She laughed awkwardly, not wanting him to think she was making light of anything. This was big, and he might choose to wipe his hands of her.
‘With Brett and his mental health problems, and prior to that, Julien and his daughter. Every driver has personal matters that are required to stay private sometimes. Having said that, damage control is a fine art and I have mastered it.’ Jasper sat down himself, linking his fingers together.
‘Okay. That makes me feel better. Um, I will offer context but I suppose I should just dive right in for now. There are some indecent photos circulating in the media linked with Jesse Montalvo. They’re a couple of months old, and the attention has died down, but…’
‘You’re in them, too.’ He nodded slowly, letting it sink in. ‘Are you okay?’
‘What?’ She blinked, not understanding why he was asking.
‘You had your privacy violated in a horrific way, Savi. I’m asking if you’re alright.’
‘Oh.’ She sat in silence for a moment, stunned. ‘Yes, I’m fine. Nobody knows it was me, but I fear it may only be a matter of time. I have a horseshoe tattoo which is visible in the photos, and my hair is quite distinctive… There’s just no reason for me to be publicly linked with someone like Jesse so I can only imagine that’s why it hasn’t got out.’
‘Were the two of you… involved?’ He frowned.
‘Yes, for four years. But we no longer are.’
‘I don’t mean to pry, I’m just a little confused.’
‘Marco and I aren’t really together.’ She sighed. ‘It was Jesse’s grand idea to throw everyone off the scent and Marco was happy to go along with it to protect me. And I know we should have come to you when all of this went down, but I was embarrassed. I thought I could handle it, and I’m just scared that now Jesse and I are over, he’s going to do something stupid and the whole world is going to know it’s me in those photos.’ She could feel her heart beating in her chest, the stress of the entire situation building.
‘Okay. So, who else knows you and Marco aren’t together? And about the photos?’ He pulled out a notepad and pen, ready to take names down.
‘Esme Keelan, my parents and brother, Jesse’s PR team and his ex-manager. That’s it.’
‘Ex-manager?’ Jasper questioned, looking concerned.
‘Sapphire Maravel,’ Savi confirmed. ‘She quit a few weeks ago, but I don’t think she’d say anything. Might want to keep her on our radar. I’m so sorry, Jasper.’
‘You don’t need to apologise for those vultures taking advantage of you, Savi. It’s my job to look after you as one of my drivers, and I’m just glad you feel comfortable to come to me now.’ He reached out and passed her a tissue, smiling sadly. ‘I’m going to get in touch with our PR team but I’m going to keep the amount of people involved to an absolute minimum. If these photos come out, I will not let it ruin you. I promise. And your position on this team is secure regardless of anything that happens.’
‘Thank you,’ she nodded. ‘I promise I don’t make a habit of lying.’
‘When you signed the contract to be part of this team, at no point did it state you had to disclose every detail of your personal life, Savi. I don’t expect that from you, nor do I expect you to be one hundred per cent honest all the time unless it’s involving something that directly impacts the race, or team dynamics. Although I do have to ask, how are you and De Luca planning to let the team know none of it was real?’
‘Um… I guess we’ll just tell them it fizzled out naturally. There’s no need to make a scene, and we don’t want them to think we’ve been keeping them in the dark for months because we didn’t trust them. I just can’t explain it to them. I can’t sit there and tell them the details; it’s too humiliating and I don’t want anyone to think badly of me for roping Marco into my mess.’
‘From where I’m standing, it appears as though he’s very happy to be dragged into your chaos. He lights up around you, Savi. I say that with nothing but good intentions. I’ve known Marco a long time and I thought he might be spiralling, but getting close to you seems to be balancing him out again. He’s back to the old De Luca we all know and love.’ Jasper smiled, looking pleased as punch to have the opportunity to play matchmaker. Savi wondered if he’d done this before.
‘He did also get to pretend to be John Wayne for two weeks in the Wyoming mountains, and I think that perked him up a bit,’ she laughed.
‘Do yourself a favour and keep him close, Miss Hart.He’s a wonderful friend and confidant for us all and I have no doubt that the journey you two have embarked on is only just the start of a lifelong bond. Now that he is in your corner, he will fight to the death to protect you.’
Savi smiled, looking past Jasper’s head at the photos on his office wall. Black and white shots of him and the guys, a couple of her, Kodie and Miko. The way he talked about his team told a story; Revolution Racing was his family. It made Savi feel better about all of this. She felt safe in the knowledge that she didn’t just have Marco on her side but her team principal too.
‘If you have any questions, please ask.’ Savi stood up, throwing her tear-soaked tissue in the waste basket. ‘I’m going to find my team, see how they’re feeling in the lead-up to qualifying.’
