Page 126 of Overtake
“But I can explain it all so easily.”
“You’ve done enough.” The words come out flat and final. “More than enough.”
Kelley’s perfect composure finally cracks. “Petra, I was only trying to protect you. You have to believe that.”
“I do believe you.” And the terrible thing is, I mean it. “But believing you and fixing this are two completely different things.”
She looks small on my screen, alone in her expensive penthouse. “What do I do now?”
“Nothing. Absolutely nothing. Let your publicist handle any more requests.”
“I’m sorry,” she whispers. “I truly am.”
“I know.” I close my eyes. “But sorry doesn’t fix this.”
I end the call and immediately text Claudia:Emergency. Call me. Now.
My phone rings within thirty seconds.
“How bad is it?” she asks without preamble.
“On a scale of one to ten? Eleven.” I stare at the ceiling. “My mother just accidentally gave them everything they need to destroy my career.”
“Shit. How?”
“Interviews withEntertainment Tonight,ESPN, andGood Morning America.”
“Ohhh.”
“She’s dragged Nico into it too.”
“Alright. I’ll call Victoria and we’ll start damage control. Don’t talk to anyone else tonight.”
After she hangs up, I sit in the silence of my hotel room, thinking about Nico in his room, probably getting his own crisis management briefing. About Dad, who’ll have to watch his daughter’s career implode because of his ex-wife’s good intentions. About a championship that suddenly feels out of reach.
She was trying to help. That’s what makes it so much worse.
I pull out my worry stone, the smooth piece of zoisite that’s traveled with me through every race since I joined PNW Nitro. Tracing its familiar surface with my thumb, I stare at Nico’s name in my phone contacts.
Claudia said not to talk to anyone else tonight. But Nico... he deserves to know what Kelley’s interviews will do to both of us.
I hit his number.
He answers on the second ring. “You alright?”
“No.” The word comes out cracked. “Nico, I’m so sorry.”
“For what?” His voice sharpens.
“My mother...” I close my eyes, the words sticking in my throat. “She gave interviews today. Multiple interviews. About us. About the investigation.”
“Ah. What did she say?” His voice is carefully controlled.
“That I’ve had access to F1 technical data since childhood. That we’ve been sharing technical insights for years. That our relationship is some kind of...” I can’t finish the sentence.
“Mierda.” The curse is quiet but full of understanding. “She was trying to defend you.”
“And made us both look guilty of conspiracy.” I squeeze the worry stone until my knuckles go white. “Nico, I never... we never...”
