Page 14 of Downforce

She’s gone.

Good.

I had zero expectations of running into Annalise today while moving in. Or maybe I did since I damn well knew she lived in this building. But this move isn’t about her or anyone else. It’s about me.

Living in Monaco puts me closer to Amato’s headquarters and training facilities. Also, the many opportunities to network with sponsors and businessmen within my sport is unmatched.

Those are the only reasons I chose to move to Monte-Carlo from London. It was just circumstance that I found the perfect flat in this building … a building where my new teammate’s sister happens to live.

Liar.

Ignoring the pesky voice at the back of my head, I assist one of the movers with a box he has stacked on another as we approach the elevator.

When I enter my flat, Edwin is on the phone pacing back and forth.

“Yeah, he’ll be there. Next week. Got it.”

He nods as he notices me enter.

“Next Tuesday is the photoshoot.”

I raise an eyebrow.

“The driver’s shoot. Oh,” he snaps his fingers, “your team photoshoot is on the same day. All of the teams booked the same facility as the FIA. Amato’s is at noon before the group shoot.”

“Right,” I respond. The annual group shoot doesn’t come as a surprise, but it dawns on me this will be the first time I come face to face with Travis since he found out that I’m his new teammate.

That revelation didn’t go over too well. Not that I expected it to. When Drake Horner first approached me about coming over to Amato, I laughed in his face. Figured it was a joke.

But he didn’t crack a smile.

Drake isn’t one to joke often, not about something as serious as this. It took me months to think it over. Can’t say I’m certain about my decision even now, but I’ve signed the contract.

“Your mum’s on her way.” Edwin’s words cut into my musings.

“Why?” I ask, fighting hard to keep the impatience out of my voice.

He shrugs and goes over to one of the opened boxes of silverware. “Since you haven’t done the shopping yet, what do you say we order something for lunch? I’m starving.”

“Why is my mother coming here?” As far as I know, my mother was in London and would be there for another week.

“What?” He glances up from his phone. “Oh, she wants to see your new place. What else?”

I run my hand through my newly shortened hair. I’m still getting used to the length. Can’t say I don’t miss my wavy locks touching my shoulder, but all change requires adjustment. Since my life is undergoing a number of changes lately, I figured why not shed the extra length.

“When will⁠—”

“Are those my son’s trophies?”

Thanks to the still opened door, my mother’s voice enters the flat before she does. I glare at Edwin for not giving me a heads-up sooner, but he doesn’t notice since his head is back in his phone. I assume he’s working on reaching out to the sponsors we discussed earlier today.

That or ordering food for lunch. Either one is a win.

“Max, why did you bring so many of your belongings from your London flat?” my mother asks instead of a normal greeting.

“Mum,” I greet, leaning down to press a light kiss to both of her cheeks. I don’t have to lean too much since at five-eleven my mother’s model statuesque is part of where I get my height from.

“Why are so many of your belongings here?” She tosses her platinum blonde locks over her shoulder as she scans the living room and assortment of boxes with her ice blue gaze.