Deals with Daisy // LN4

5 ~ Deals with the Devil

Daisy's POV

"So, I hear you're trying to steal my client?" Fraser starts as we wait in queue to order coffees and I just chuckle as I choose not to respond and instead shrug. "All quiet now huh?"

"Erm, yup. I'm hardly trying to pitch you Fraz," I point out. "The last thing I want you knowing is what I'm offering... not that you'd be able to match it but still... it's business. So you can play distraction all you want but until I'm certain this isn't a deal he wants, I'm sticking around," I tell him lazily as I play with one of my earrings, rubbing it between my thumb and forefinger as I looked Fraser up and down, trying to read him. We order our coffees as I watch him look straight ahead, waiting to get them as he tries to pretend I'm not standing there next to him, his body language telling me everything I needed to know. "Huh..."

"What?" He asks, giving into the bait immediately as I just shrug and copy what he was doing before, looking at the barista who was making our coffees as he got more irritated beside me. "What is it Daisy?"

"You're worried. You're actually worried that he might want to work with me aren't you? That you've not done enough and he's tempted. I mean you've got to be slightly concerned that he's not here saying whatever it is that you're about to try and tell me. Also, it's not Daisy. It's Astera, Daisy is a stupid childhood nickname so quit calling me that," I say the first part with genuine shock before seeing the way he's looking at me. Irritation flooding my body for the umpteenth time this weekend from hearing that name banded around all over again. It was annoying, I wasn't the weak defenceless girl anymore that needed Lando to stick up for me and be my friend. I was a boss and a good one at that... I didn't want to be Daisy.

"I'm not worried, he's just tired of your inability to hear the word no," Fraser says, not noticing the way I got side tracked as we walk to the balcony, hoping the fresh air will help stop ears from prying their way into conversation. "Seriously, how many times does a person have to say it for you to hear?"

"When they realise exactly what they're saying no to, it just takes one. Not that I've actually experienced a no like that before," I say calmly, entirely unaffected by his suggestions and undertone as I sip my coffee and watch the sun chilling in the sky, ready for the race that sees it go from dusk to night. "Fact of the matter is, Lando's saying no because he's comfortable, not because he thinks I couldn't do a better job and so I have nothing to say to you. I need to talk to Lando, or I need him to talk to any of the guys that I currently rep and have them tell him that while yes, I am an annoying little bitch but a very, very effective one. One that they'd take every day of the week. That's how you inspire loyalty Fraser... not by giving your clients what they want but instead what they need. The 2026 deal? With McLaren?... come on mate. You were only thinking about your 10% cut there, that much is clear. Why else would you sign the first seven years of his career away to a team that hasn't been close to consistently challenging for race wins and certainly not a championship in the last decade? It's lazy management and that's why I'm here."

I watch as he falls into stunned silence, the annoyance and offence growing on his face with every passing word. I'd always known Fraser to be happy and calm but clearly I'd struck a nerve, probably because I was right, and as a result the man in front of me looked near ready to explode.

"You're right about one thing, you are a little bitch! How dare you? He wanted to stay with McLaren! That's what he asked of us so we made it happen. We got the deal that he wanted. We secured his future in the sport on one of the longest contracts ever seen. That's what being an agent is, Daisy. Who the fuck do you think you are? You've been in the business for five seconds and you think you're so much better than us? That's a joke. Your agency doesn't even do motorsport so what the fuck do you expect to be able to do. You need connections to get through doors in this world and you don't have them!" He explodes, every word said with stabbing passion as he tries to undo me as quickly as I just managed to do with him but with no success. I stay calm as I sip my coffee and watch him talk and become more irate with every passing moment, I must admit the fact that he managed to keep his voice down despite the outburst is rather impressive.