In the fast-paced world of Hendrick Motorsports, Bailey Halstead, daughter of Chicago PD Intelligence Unit Detectives Jay Halstead and Hailey Upton, finds herself navigating a different kind of race as the new public relations and social media conte...
Bailey felt her heart skip a beat as Mr. H's question hung in the air. She hadn't anticipated this conversation, and her mind raced to formulate a response.
"I'm not sure what you mean, sir. There's nothing going on between Chase and me," she replied, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her.
Mr. H's chuckle was gentle, but it did little to ease Bailey's nerves. "Relax, Bailey. It's not a crime if there is something between you two. Chase popped into my office the other day, posing a hypothetical scenario about a driver dating their PR girl. Given that the 9 team is the only one with a new PR person, it wasn't difficult to put two and two together."
Bailey couldn't help but roll her eyes at Chase's lack of subtlety, a wry smile tugging at the corners of her lips as she shook her head in disbelief.
"Well, I can assure you, sir, there's nothing going on between Chase and me at the moment," Bailey admitted, her gaze dropping to her lap momentarily.
Mr. H's expression softened, his tone gentle as he spoke. "Bailey, if something were to develop between you and Chase, I wouldn't jump to firing either of you. What matters most to me is that your personal relationship doesn't interfere with your professional responsibilities."
"I appreciate that, sir," Bailey replied, her voice genuine as she met Mr. H's gaze. "But to be honest, I'm not looking for a relationship right now. Before I moved to North Carolina, I was in a toxic situation, and I need time to focus on myself."
Mr. H nodded understandingly, his concern evident in his features. "I'm sorry to hear that, Bailey. If you ever need support or time off to prioritize your well-being, don't hesitate to let me know."
Bailey offered him a grateful smile, touched by his genuine care for her welfare. "Thank you, Mr. H. I appreciate it. Am I good to go now?"
Mr. H's laughter filled the room, and Bailey couldn't help but join in. "Yes, Bailey, you're free to go."
With a nod of thanks, Bailey left the media center, her mind still reeling from the conversation. As she made her way back to her hotel room, she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of a whole new chapter in her life.
~~~
Bailey trudged towards the hauler, her annoyance simmering beneath the surface like a pot about to boil over. "Can he ever be on time for driver introductions?" she muttered to herself, her steps quickening with each grumble.
Arriving at the hauler, she surveyed the closed door with a frown, the anticipation of another bout of tardiness gnawing at her patience. Taking a deep breath, she prepared to unleash her frustration upon the unsuspecting driver within.
"Alright, Chase, let's get a move on! Driver introductions in ten minutes!" she bellowed, her voice echoing through the stillness of the hauler.
Silence.
Bailey's irritation surged. "CHASE!"
Still met with silence, she felt her phone buzz in her back pocket, a stark contrast to the lack of response from the culprit himself.
With an exasperated sigh, Bailey retrieved her phone, her fingers dancing across the screen as she prepared to unleash her wrath via text message.
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