Page 20 of Formula Dreams
His eyes land squarely on me, then drift to Ronan—who now stares blankly at the board.
“Francesca and Ronan,” Timmy says, drawing out our names like a host announcing contestants on a game show.“Yours is the accidental encounter.A run-in.Totally unscripted… except very much scripted by yours truly.You’re both at the same grocery store.Normal day.You’re not there together—but you arrive at the same time.”He mimics a slow, awkward double take.“Maybe one of you asks where to find the new Drivex flavor.A stock boy says, ‘It’s nearly sold out—only a few bottles left.’And then—” He spins dramatically on his heel.“It.Is.On.”
Lex chuckles under his breath.Nash exchanges a look with him, smirking.Ronan doesn’t move.
“The rest of the commercial is a low-grade war in a fluorescent-lit battlefield,” Timmy continues, pacing in front of the screen.“Aisle after aisle of chaos as you two race for the last bottle.You’re dodging shoppers, cutting corners, nearly colliding over a stack of tins.”
He gestures to the mock-up of us standing at a shelf.“You arrive at the Drivex section at the same time—bam!One bottle left.Tension.Standoff.Hands touch.You lock eyes.”
My spine straightens.Across the table, I can see the tension across Ronan’s face.
“And then,” Timmy adds, smiling like he’s saving the best for last, “you both end up at separate self-checkout kiosks, scanning your items at the same time.A double beep.You both walk out with a bottle.No one wins.Or maybe… you both do.”
He raises his brows, clearly pleased with himself.“Tagline: ‘Drivex.Fuel the rival in you.’”
Silence settles for half a second too long.Lex finally lets out a low whistle.Nash snickers.Ronan doesn’t say a word and I’m frozen in place.
It’s a cute idea but the disdain comes off Ronan in waves.He looks like he wants to throw something, and I know deep in my gut this is going to be a disaster.
“We want to get most of the filming done this week since next week’s all prep for Silvercrest.We’ll be shooting the first campaign segment tomorrow.Bring your game faces.”
Ronan finally speaks.“That’s not going to work.We’re preparing for a race.”
Tom from Drivex steps in smoothly.“Harley Patrick confirmed your availability for this week.She’s cleared you and Lex for full campaign participation.”
Ronan leans back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a long beat, then stands.“Of course she did.”He glances between Timmy and Tom.“Where do I need to be and what time?”
For the first time, Timmy doesn’t look so exuberant.“Um… I’ll text you the details.”
“Fine,” Ronan clips out.“But you get two hours of my time and that’s it.”
And then, without another word, he leaves.
Silence hangs for a second as Timmy grips his hands with worry.“We have Crown Velocity’s approval for this,” he says, almost on the verge of tears.
“Don’t worry about it, mate,” Lex says reassuringly.“He’s a bit prickly, but he’s also a professional.He’ll do what he needs to do.”
We hang back for a bit while Timmy lays out a few more details and packs up his boards.Tom slips out with quick handshakes and once we’re alone, Nash turns to Lex.“What’s Barnes’s deal?”
I’m glad he asked because I am dying of curiosity, but as the rookie, I’m not about to poke.
Lex looks toward the door Ronan just exited through, brows drawn.“He’s complicated.”
“I don’t remember him being so…,” Nash says, searching for the right word.
“Assholish?”Lex says with a sigh.“You’re probably picking up on the fact that we don’t get along.”
“Why not?”I ask.
“Let’s say he crossed a line with me.We haven’t talked much since.”
I glance toward the hallway, immediately assuming Ronan’s the villain in whatever happened.I mean… he is the one who acts like a total prick, but Lex seems like a decent guy.
He turns to me with a sympathetic smile.“I’m sorry you’re paired with him.That’s—rough luck.”
I force a smile.“It’s fine.I’ve handled worse.”
But inside, my stomach coils a little tighter.Because I’ve raced against assholes and egos, but Ronan Barnes feels different.Like I’m on a collision course, strapped into the passenger seat with no way out of the burning wreck that’s coming.
