"Hey," I say, trying to sound casual. "Got a minute?"
She looks up, those deep brown eyes meeting mine. "William. How did the simulator session go?"
"Amazing. The car's a completely different beast. Johnson's over the moon with the telemetry."
She smiles, satisfaction lighting her features. "Good. We need to be competitive right from testing this year."
"We will be," I promise, then step fully into the office, holding the door. "Actually, I brought someone I think you should meet."
I motion for Felix to follow me in. As he steps through the doorway, Violet's eyes widen slightly—the only visible sign of her surprise.
"Felix Becker," she says, rising from her chair and extending her hand. "This is unexpected."
"Ms. Colton," Felix greets her formally, shaking her hand. "I hope I'm not interrupting anything important."
"I'm bringing you the best driver I could find," I announce, unable to contain my excitement any longer. "For our reserve driver position. Which we desperately need, by the way."
Felix shoots me a look that clearly says I'm jumping the gun. Violet's eyebrows arch elegantly as her gaze shifts between us.
"I see," she says slowly. "And this is something you two have discussed at length, I presume?"
"Well—" Felix begins.
"Absolutely," I interrupt, then immediately backtrack at Felix's glare. "Okay, not at length exactly. But I mentioned it,and Felix didn't immediately say no, which in Felix-speak is practically enthusiasm."
Violet suppresses a smile, gesturing to the chairs opposite her desk. "Please, sit down. Both of you."
As we settle in, Felix's slight tension beside me is palpable. He sits ramrod straight, the consummate professional, while I lean forward eagerly.
"So, Mr. Becker," Violet says, folding her hands on her desk. "Is this what you want? To be a reserve driver for Colton Racing?"
Felix clears his throat, shooting me a quick side-eye before addressing her directly. "William has been speaking extremely positively about the team. Perhaps too enthusiastically," he adds with a hint of dry humor.
"He tends to do that," Violet agrees, the corner of her mouth quirking upward.
"Unfortunately, my situation at Baretta has... changed. They've decided to go in a different direction for next season."
I bite my tongue to keep from saying what I think about Baretta's decision. Felix deserved better than to be dropped for a pay driver with half his talent.
"I've been considering my options," Felix continues. "And a reserve role might be the right fit for now. William speaks very highly of what you're building here."
"Does he?" Violet's eyes flick to mine and that warmth sparks again, spreading from my chest outward.
"He practically appointed himself team ambassador," Felix says with a smile. "I've never seen him so invested in a team before."
I shift in my chair, suddenly feeling exposed. "The car's good. The people are good. Why wouldn't I be excited about that?"
Violet studies me for a beat longer than necessary, her expression unreadable, before turning back to Felix. "A driver ofyour caliber deserves a full-time seat, Mr. Becker. Not a reserve role."
"Felix," he corrects gently. "And I appreciate that sentiment. But I've been thinking about this carefully. At this stage in my career, maybe helping a team behind the scenes could be valuable—for both of us."
"How so?" Violet leans forward slightly, genuinely interested.
"I'm thirty now," Felix says matter-of-factly. "Realistically, I have a few good years left, at most. I need to start thinking about what comes after driving. Working with a team that's rebuilding, contributing my experience while figuring out what else I might want to do..."
He pauses, then adds with surprising vulnerability: "My… therapist suggested I consider opportunities that give me space to explore different facets of the sport I love."
I blink, startled.So he took my advice.
