Page 139 of Off the Grid

He doesn’t speak right away, and I despise the sinking feeling in my stomach that comes with his silence. “It’s hard having to deal with employees when they’ve become friends, isn’t it?”

I stare at him, blinking, as if the action is going to make me comprehend what he said that much quicker. “You set me up.” Disbelief and hurt mars my tone.

“No. I thought it was important for you to understand that this is a business. First and foremost. It puts food on people’s tables. It creates jobs. It creates an escape from the daily grind for so many others. I learned this lesson the hard way. I lost a lot of friends because they couldn’t separate work and personal.”

“So, what? You think Riggs and I are friends and so that was going to put him in his place and stop our friendship?”

“No,” he says the word slowly. “I think you needed to be reminded that you are a Moretti first and foremost. You needed to show everyone that you knew that. It was a hard thing to do, but no doubt you just earned the respect of every single person in that garage.”

“Every person except for Riggs.”

He twists his lips and meets the challenge in my glare. “He’s a big boy. He’s been chastised by worse. He’s good, Cam. He’s cocky and skilled and one hell of a fucking driver, but he’s also selfish—”

“As we expect all drivers will be.”

“Don’t look now, Camilla, but your friendship is apparent.”

I grit my teeth to prevent myself from saying anything more.

He made his point.

And there’s no way he’s going to even entertain mine.

He rises from my chair, all tremors from earlier absent. He sees that I notice. He realizes that I know he just played me.

“Good job.” It’s all he says as he nods and heads out of my office.

I stare at his back until I can’t see him anymore before sinking into my chair and having a pity party of my own.

My duties drag on way longer than I want them to. It doesn’t help that every time I check my phone, Riggs hasn’t responded to a single text of mine.

At the first available opportunity, I head back to the team hotel and go straight for his room.

But housekeeping is in there when I get there.

He’d already checked out.

He left without letting me say a word.

com

CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT

Riggs

Did I change my flight and head home without the team or the accommodations it booked?

Yep. Sure did.

Have I ignored every text and phone call and smoke signal that Camilla has tried to send my way?

Again, yes.

Is there a reason I’ve headed to my flat through the back entrance for the past two days so I don’t have to pass hers and accidentally run into her?

Fuck, yes.

Yeah, I did the proverbial crime, but my crime gave Moretti enough points to at least keep them in contention for a higher finish in the Constructors Championship than they’ve had in five years.