Around The Corner (A Denny Hamlin Fanfic)

Chapter 2

Sitting at her desk, and looking out the small window Lilly can’t help but think of all of the great times she has had here at Eldora over the years. She used to come to races with her Sister Carrie, when they were younger. She missed those weekends when they would plan, to come up and watch all of the racing action. Smiling to her self and remembering all of the good times, she realizes that she missed being home. Putting those fun memories behind her, she gets back to work. Needed to get a hold of a few marketing people to see if they want to sponsor a few of the races, she sets out to find Grace. Finding Grace in her office, she knocks on the door.

“Come in!” Grace calls out.

Opening the door, Lilly steps inside her office and say’s “Good Morning Grace! I was wondering if you could help me find a few phone numbers?”

“I sure can! I will help you as much as I can!” Grace replies

Smiling Lilly say’s “Great! I need some help with the marketing side. I have a few that I want to call and ask if they will help sponsor The Prelude to a Dream. But I don’t know if we already have there number or if I need to do some digging and find it. I want to call and see if Fishing and Hunters Anonymous is still wanting to be the main sponsor.”

Grace smiles and say’s “It’s time you talk to the boss! He has all of the numbers you need, and he is good friends with the owner of Fishing and Hunters Anonymous. The boss is actually on his way here today, he’s coming to make sure everything is in order for opening day here in a few weeks.” Lilly stairs dumbly at Grace, “ Y-you mean the Boss as in Tony Stewart is coming here?” Lilly replies.

Grace smiles brightly and say’s “Well of course silly! Who else owns the track and we call The Boss? Don’t worry! He’s going to love you! Your pretty and you have that charm that is warm and welcoming, and you’re helping plan his baby! Tony takes great pride in planning The Prelude. He loves to put on a great show for the fans, and it helps that a few of his closest friends are here to help him do that!”

Not knowing to cry or be excited that she gets to meet the Boss, Lilly just smiles and say’s “Okay! I can’t wait to meet him, again.”

“Again?” asks Grace

“I met Tony here once, when he did an autograph session for the Fans . It was a way to help get the fans back to Eldora after a bad weather weekend, when the dirt wouldn’t soak up the rain. The fans were upset and Tony wanted to right the wrongs. So if you were the first 200 people in the door, you got a ticket to go and met Tony. He would sign one item and if you asked sweetly or was a little kid, you could get a picture taken with him.”

Smiling Grace Say’s “That sounds like the Boss! Always a kind hearted person under that tuff shell.”

Wondering to her self, Grace decides to ask “How long have you been coming to Eldora Lilly? You seem to know this place inside and out, maybe even better than I know it!”

Smiling Lilly replies “ I’ve been coming since I was 9. Almost 20 years. I came with some friends of the family when I was little. He raced a Late Model, and I would come with his wife and we would sit in the infield and watch him race. Then my sister Carrie and I would come up when we got older, and watch the Sprint Cars. Those were our favorite!”

“So you came when Earl owned Eldora?” Grace asks with a smile.

“Yes, we came for many years, and then when we learned that Tony was going to buy it, we thought it would be a good thing. We figured he would fix what needed to be fixed and not change the place to much. He didn’t let us down! The place still looks like it did when I left here 4 years ago.”

“I’m glad to hear that you like what I did with the place!” Lilly turns around to see Tony standing behind her. With a shocked look on her face, Lilly turns back to Grace “You could have told me he was standing behind me Grace” Lilly whispers.

Tony starts to laugh and say’s “I liked hearing your stories, I didn’t want to interrupt the good stories! I always like to hear the good things, and even the bad. But it’s exciting for me to hear that you have been coming here for so long, and that I haven’t changed the place to much.”

“Lilly, I would like you to meet Tony, Tony this is Lilly! She is the new Event planner.” say’s Grace.

Smiling Tony extends his hand, shaking his hand, Lilly say’s “It’s nice to meet you Tony!”

“It’s nice to meet you, again Lilly!”

“A-again?” Lilly say’s with a confused look.

“You said you met me once here, and I could never forget a pretty face such as yours!” he say’s with a wink making Lilly blush.

“I must be going, I have a few other people to see. I just wanted to stop in and say hello to Grace and got a bonus!” Tony states.

A smiling Grace comes around her desk and say’s “It’s nice to see you again Tony! Lilly here needs to talk to you about the Prelude. She’s in charge with the planning this year. She has a few ideas to run over with you.”

Tony turns and smiles at Lilly.

Lilly smiles and say’s “I do! I hope I can have some of your time while you are here. I promise not to take up to much of your time, as I know you are a busy man.”

Tony smiles and say’s “I’m never to busy for a pretty girl! How about we meet tonight for dinner? I’m not leaving until tomorrow after noon. That way we can have a few hours to go over what you want to talk about, and I can give you some of what we have done in the past?”

Lilly smiles and say’s “I’d like to have dinner with you.”

“I hate to say that I can’t make it tonight.. But you two go on and have fun!” replies Grace.

“So what do you say Lilly, 6:30 okay?” Tony replies

“6:30 sounds good. Where would you like me to meet you?” Lilly says

“Can you meet me back here? I’ll have something ordered in and we can eat it at the house.” Tony states.

“I could cook something and bring it to you. It’s really no trouble! I love to cook, and it might be better than anything you can order in, from around here.” replies Lilly.

Tony smiles and says “I’ve never been a man to turn down a good home cooked meal! How about you get the stuff, and you can cook in my kitchen?”

“Sounds great.” Lilly replies

“I’ll see you tonight around 6:30 then.” Tony says with a big smile.

“See you then!” Lilly says with a blush.

Tony leaves the office and Grace looks at Lilly and says “I think someone likes you!!”

“Oh stop, Grace! We just met. Besides I’m sure Tony wants a supermodel or some other pretty person. He doesn’t want a pretty boring girl like me.” Lilly says.

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Tony heard the last statement from outside the door and says to him self. “You are so wrong Lilly girl.”