Like I couldn’t hate her more.
‘You didWHAT?’ Isa flushes a deep shade of maroon. ‘Excuse us.’ She gives me a very specific look, and it’s so like our mom’s that I know deep in my bones I’m about to hear my government name. ‘Santiago Emilio AndrésCabrera de la Espriella.¿Qué mierda te pasa?’
Once she’s sufficiently used up every curse word and detailed my murder in meticulous detail, the titleTIAGO CABRERA STRATEGY SESSIONappears on the screen. It’s in a classy font on a slick background and, for the first time today, Jules’professionalism makes me feel like maybe, just maybe, this wasn’t the worst idea I’ve ever had.
Jules swings her gaze to me. ‘What are you good at?’
Guess we’re not starting with icebreakers. I slump down in my seat. ‘Driving.’
‘What else?’
‘I don’t know. Sex?’
Isa expels air like a disgruntled horse.
‘I don’t have time to pretend you’re funny.’ Jules clicks the slide. Harsh. ‘What do you want?’
I point at the wordsOWN THE MOVEin front of me. ‘Notthat.’
She gets to her feet in full presentation mode. Against my better judgement, my sex deprived brain’s into it. She’s giving sexy librarian.
‘This isn’t negotiable.’ Her cruel words bring me back to Earth. ‘This is the core of your new persona. The pieces around it are malleable. This is not.’
‘Woah, woah, woah.’ I sit up straighter. ‘I already told you: I don’t want to be a Leone driver, I?—’
‘I know,’ she interrupts. ‘I got your ten voice notes, but unfortunately, you need to step back to move forward.’
‘I can’t give in. That’s exactly what JC wants me to do! You’re no better than my damn brother.’
‘My strategy is far more structured and forward-thinking than whatever you’re currently doing, and if you’d justshut upand let me explain it, you’ll understand why.’
I feel a teensy drop of enjoyment seeing real human emotion squeeze through Jules’ impenetrable shell, but it’s ruined by my sister, whose scrutiny is currently burning a hole in the side of my face.
Through a sigh, I mumble, ‘Go on.’
‘You’re not giving in, you’reowningit,’ Jules clarifies, like it makes a difference. ‘No one likes a sore loser, and every team likes a team player. This is a new chapter for you. You’re excited by the opportunity. You’re hungry for results.’
‘But I’m already doing that. I’m telling the press I’m up for the challenge?—’
‘There’s your problem: “challenge” is negative. You need to sound positive and optimistic, even if you’re really saying things need to improve. That’s everything we’re doing here: we’re reframing.’
I never thought of it like that.
Screenshots flash up: Leone’s new joint events with Martinelli, the new retro-inspired crest with tricolore stripes, the new sloganLo Spirito della Corsa, and me.
‘Over the winter break, Leone rebranded to pull on their “Italian heritage”,’ Jules explains, making air quotes with her fingers. She reaches up to point at a specific image and her shirt rides up enough to show a sliver of toned stomach. My mouth goes dry. ‘Here you can see the difference in how they’re projecting themselves. They’re a three-year-old backmarker constructor, but they want to be a successful legacy brand. You’re going to help them.
‘We’re talking Italian brands, wearing their colour scheme, carefully-selected PR — owning the narrative by being humble and thriving through setbacks.That’show you get noticed by a bigger team. You can’t just say you’ve changed, you need to prove it. This leads on nicely to…’
The next slide’s heading:HOW YOU PRESENT YOURSELF.Isa’s scribbling so fast I’m surprised smoke isn’t rising from her pen.
‘You’re going to stop being easy prey for the press,’ Jules says, and it’s like a sucker punch. ‘You give them headlines without even trying. We’ll work together on your story and I’llgive you a bank of short, witty, positive answers that’ll see you through most scenarios.
‘Then, when you’re ready, I’ll secure you an interview with Sportif+ where you can talk about your new beginnings, and growing as a driver. In the meantime, we’ll get your publicist seeding subtle stories about how “the move has focused you”.’
That sounds half decent. Maybe I should’ve brought a pen.
‘An interview with Minnie Roberts. Genius,’ Isa gushes, eyes glued to the paper. Kiss ass.
