Page 35 of Wrecking Boundaries (SteelTrack Racing #2)

Rivers Motorsports Headquarters, North Carolina

Jake sits beside me and hands over a cup of herbal tea. Neither of us wants a big breakfast; tea will better soothe my nerves than coffee this morning.

“It’s peaceful back here,” I say, and tap my foot on the ground so the porch swing moves again.

The spring morning brings a gentle breeze. Several birds sing in one of Jake’s backyard trees.

“How are you feeling?” he asks.

We flew home two hours after the race, which made for a one AM bedtime. We preferred it to another night at the track, although it meant a sluggish start. It’s our second night back, and now I’m jumpy.

“Rested and nervous.”

“Boone will not fire you. Your brother is angry at me, not you.”

It’s my first day returning to the office since last week’s blowout. I never took official time off and didn’t bother announcing this morning’s return. The surprise will make it that much better.

“Maddie replied to my text. Apparently, Boone spent the entire night in his garage. She said he asked how I was, and she gave him an honest answer.”

We spent race day sitting in Jake’s trailer and teaching ourselves crochet. There was no serious conversation or talk of the future, only laughter at our horrible efforts. It was the most enjoyable part of my week.

She left to meet him in victory row once it became clear Boone would repeat his Talladega win, while I eventually sought out Jake, with a side trip to pick up Julian.

“Do you want me to drive you to work this morning?” Jake asks.

Yes. Yes, please, yes.

“Then you need to pick me up later, so that’s a bad idea. Our meeting with Bert is still happening, right?”

Jake arranged for a late lunch between the three of us. All it took was a statement about finding a way to continue working together. Once this deal is sealed, my focus will shift to a manufacturing arrangement with Top Row Motorsports . That one will be a harder sell.

Now, all I need to do is avoid my brother this morning. Lily stepped up with our museum expansion efforts, which should be a fun distraction.

∞∞∞

“These look amazing,” I tell Lily. “Your ideas are better than mine.”

We’re redoing one section of our museum, only minor renovations to reflect Boone’s recent achievements. I envisioned updating some content, but Lily’s sketches show a more complete redesign.

“I was bored,” she says, explaining. “You can borrow any of my ideas. I’d be glad to help.”

“Help with what?” Julian says, barging into the museum workspace. It resembles an old wood shop or storage shed, contrasting the headquarters’ cool, modern theme.

“We’re remodeling,” Lily says. “I’m helping a little.”

Julian nods, but his interest rapidly fades. “Fascinating.”

“It’s an idea of mine,” I explain. “Several teams have their headquarters around here. We can arrange a single ticket or a similar theme that will allow fans to visit each of them for one low price.”

“Then they can cap it off with an even more exciting visit to the gift shop,” Julian guesses. He flashes a finger at me, impressed with his problem-solving skills.

“Something like that.”

“Here’s your book back,” he says to Lily while handing two of them over. “I read yours, and now you read one of mine.”

She glances at one cover and winces. “A military fantasy?”

“There are lots of good heroic deaths,” Julian says. “Read it, and we can do another trade. Either that or movies next.”

“You’ll regret that,” she says. “I only watch animated movies.”

“Seriously?” he asks.

“Is that bad?” Lily rubs her hands, and a genuine concern appears on her features.

Julian picks up on it and acts his usual smooth self. “If you saw my DVD collection, you’d never speak to me again.”

That statement implies she’s never been to his house but might someday, and that’s very interesting.

I crook my neck, watching them. He insists they’re friends, and there’s never been a hint of unprofessional behavior or flirting, yet…..

“Hey,” Julian says to get my attention. “You weren’t at the big post-race meeting. ”

I was busy hiding like a coward. “There wasn’t any reason to be there. Plus, this project keeps me busy.”

“Yeah, that’s a pile of bullshit,” Julian says, calling out my blatant lie. “I figured you might like to know Derek Barnes accepted his job offer this morning. The start date remains to be determined.”

Jake’s spotter is gone. He expected that would happen, but the confirmation will still hurt. He might be hearing about it now. “Is there any other exciting news I should know?”

Julian’s head bobs as he wrestles between confiding in me and keeping company information secret. I guess that truly means I’m sleeping with the enemy.

“Boone is contacting one of his engineers and mechanics; I don’t know their names.” He raises a hand to stop me from screaming. “It’s business. You get that, right? His company is shutting down, and everyone will buy up parts, including the people.”

Those people don’t need to be the ones that Jake depends on. “Thanks for telling me. I’ll keep it in confidence.” I glance over at Lily.

“I won’t tell anyone either,” she says.

After Julian leaves, I sink onto the floor and plant my head into my palms. Jake is a target because of me. Boone dislikes him, but the intense wrath is because he thinks I’m gullible, too stupid to recognize when I’m being used.

Like Joey Fisher tried to use me.

“I get angry, too,” Lily says. Hesitation and worry overtake sympathy when I peek at her through my fingers. “I’m sorry.”

“You didn’t say anything wrong.”

“I know what it’s like to be ignored. No one believes you; the more you insist, the less they believe. ”

That’s an accurate summary. I want to unload on someone, but Maddie’s relationship with Boone makes that problematic, and Lily is an intern. She doesn’t deserve to be brought into my drama.

“Would you like to take this project over?” I ask her.

Lily’s eyes bulge. “I’ll mess up.”

“No, you won’t. Let’s trade places. You be in charge, and I’ll be your assistant. That way, I’m here for support if needed.”

∞∞∞

Their office door is open. Maddie sits on the desk with Boone between her legs.

Is he singing to her?!?!

Who cares? At least they’re dressed.

“Are you trying to steal more of Jake’s employees?” I ask, barging in.

Maddie hops down and stares at the floor. Her hands bunch the extra fabric in her blue dress.

Boone stares at me, unashamed. “Stealing implies something illegal. This is a business arrangement. We need talent to grow, and we’ll find it wherever it is.”

“You’re deliberately sabotaging him.”

“His company is closing shop.” Boone puts his thumb and forefinger together to enunciate every word as if it might convince me. “There are a lot of employees looking for jobs. Employees who possess the exact talent we need. We’re putting a new car in Cup and expanding to different series. Are you yelling at me because I’m offering jobs to people who need one? ”

“Don’t bullshit me; I know you too well for that. Generosity has never been a factor in your plans, so don’t start with this Boone the Savior business. Everything you do is to advance your name and your legacy. You can’t stand him, and now you’re lashing out because I want to be with him.”

“He’s using you, and you’re acting like a child. I’m trying to grow our business, and you don’t even care, so I guess his plans are working pretty damn well.”

“I’m acting like a child?” The rest doesn’t deserve a response. I blink, and Boone’s appearance changes. People have always said we look alike, but now it feels like he’s a stranger. “I suppose that’s what you would think. I always looked up to you, Boone. Did you know that? You were the one I turned to because you always looked out for me. I worshipped you when I was little.” Boone’s expression is unchanged. I’m baring my soul, and he doesn’t care. “You were larger than life while I was fumbling through it all. I was trying to figure out what I wanted, and you always knew the answer. Now, you think you still do. You’re going to believe you know better than me no matter what I say, aren’t you? You’ll hurt me, too, just like everyone else.”

I step backward towards the door because being so close to him hurts.

“If that’s your opinion, what are you doing here?” Boone asks. “Go be with him. You don’t care about this place or the people here, and you obviously don’t think much of me. If that’s how you feel, then go.”

What am I doing here? That’s a great question.

Our voices can be heard down the hallway, and I don’t care.

“I know you’re both upset,” Maddie sweetly chimes in. “If we can quiet down, there must be a way to work through this.”

Although I appreciate her attempt to play mediator, it won’t work. Not this time .

“Behold, Maddie. Your fiancée.” I sweep my arm towards Boone. “A man who finds joy in inflicting pain. Isn’t he hilarious? Enjoy spending your life with him because he’ll do the same to you.”

“Sarah, please,” she says quietly. “That’s unkind.”

She’s siding with him, which is expected. It still hurts. “It’s honest. You two make a great team.”

I slam the door shut because there isn’t anything else to say.

∞∞∞

After that altercation, my office is the only refuge left. I lock the door, but no one comes to check on me.

Some emails need a response, and Lily is waiting for me to return.

None of that interests me right now.

I go through my desk, pulling out personal items collected over the years. There is too much to take home in a day. The plants alone will fill up my car.

My laptop belongs to the company, but no one would miss it besides me.

I smile when my phone chimes.

Jake: Here’s the address. He’s in a great mood, and your idea is genius. See you soon.

Does he know what my brother is doing to him? My smile falls.

My silly life plan included a new job and career, so this is one more step towards my goal.

I stare at the blank document on my laptop, uncertain what to say .

It’s best to get on with it before my courage fails.

It’s only a few sentences, but they’re enough. It would be easier to email it and sneak out like a coward. Instead, I go searching for Boone. This needs to be in person.

I find him with Pete and Julian in the sim room. All three are busy studying the computer monitors and fail to notice my entrance.

Tired of being ignored, I loudly clear my throat, and all three turn to face me. Pete looks like he wants to escape, while Julian is amused.

Our loud argument is already office gossip.

Boone stays silent, staring with that cold, blank face of his.

“For you,” I say and hand over my letter.

He unfolds it and scans its contents: “‘Please consider this formal notice of my resignation two weeks from now.’ What the hell, Sarah? You’re going to quit, huh? Just like that.”

“Just like that,” I say, nice and snarky. “It was an excellent suggestion, and now I’m off to lunch.”

My legs shake as I leave the building. No one stops me, which is for the best. I’d probably melt into a puddle of nerves and panic.

It’s done.

Sarah: On my way. We got this.