Page 95 of All That Glitters
“Exactly what Ashton said. They were concerned that I wouldn’t be as marketable as you would be and that maybe I would be uncomfortable on a team that was all men.” It was mostly the truth and I hoped it would be enough of the truth to satisfy both of them.
“Tell him the other part.”
“There is no other part.”
“You’re a shit liar, Helen.”
“He’s right, you are. Always have been.”
“I hate you both.”
“What was the other part?”
“There is no other part.”
“Ashton?”
“She held back,” he said without pause. “She could’ve beaten you by more, at least by a nose, but she held back.”
“What? She…” Hale glanced between me and Ashton. “You didn’t?”
If the floor had opened and swallowed me whole, I’d have gladly gone without complaint. I heaved a painful sigh. “I did.”
“Why?”
“You wobbled. You overcorrected, swerved, then overcorrected again. I could’ve taken you right then, with two more laps. I didn’t. I backed off.”
Hale flushed and slid his gaze toward Ashton who stared at him with a mix of vindication and hurt and anger. I dropped mine to the floor.
“Why would you do that?”
Before I could answer, Ashton jumped in.
“My guess is she wanted to make it as close as possible to make the decision difficult for everyone involved. She wanted that seat, too. You’re not the only championship caliber driver in the Troye family.”
“I don’t want your guess, I want her answer.”
In response, I could only nod. Tears clogged my throat and threatened to fill my eyes and I… I didn’t want to cry in front of Hale or Ashton.
Clutching the folder to my chest as if my life depended on it, I sat on the edge of the nearest armchair unwilling to look at either of them.
“They said they liked my skill with the car, that you were too hesitant going in to esses.” His anger was palpable as he moved back toward the small liquor cabinet. Another drink was poured, only this time without the ice.
“What do you have to do with this?”
I knew the question wasn’t aimed at me, but I looked up and between the two most important men in my life. I focused on Ashton who’d settled on the arm of the other chair across the length of the coffee table from me.
“I’m just the messenger.”
I wanted to laugh but knew if I did it wouldn’t come out right. It would be more along the lines of maniacal rather than normal.
“Bullshit. You’re never just anything. Is this what you’ve been doing with her?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Ashton said, innocent as could be.
“Now who’s lying? This is what you’ve been doing with her. You’ve been trying to turn her against me, win her over to your side.”
“Oh bravo, Hale. You figured me out. You figured out my whole evil plan.”
