Racing For Love

Chapter Seventy Five

The Singapore race week was a nice distraction from the chaos at Bianchi, but it was evident when we were back at HQ that things were not good. On my first morning back in the office, James and I walked to get coffee. As we strolled through the corridors, he linked his arm with mine - his tone conspiratorial as he began to fill me in on the details of what had been going on whilst I'd been away.

"Shit's going to get real this week, Annie. There were meetings with administrators last week."

"What? How do you know?"

"I recognised one of the ladies who came in - she works at Max's firm. She was the one throwing up in the corner at his Christmas party last year, so pretty memorable."

"Oh my God, James. What does this mean? What's going to happen?"

"Worst case scenario - we all lose our jobs, I become destitute and end up selling my body for a pack of Wotsits. Best case, we get bought out, I guess - that's what administrators try and do as the first course of action. They want to keep it all together, well - that's what Max told me. You'll be out of here anyway, Miss Aerial Racing"

"Shhh! I've not told Kate yet," I say to James, pushing his arm gently. I'd been speaking to James this week about next year, asking what he would do in my position, before revealing my conversation with Danny. James thought it was a good idea to take the position as it would give me the flexibility to do my own thing in addition to keeping involved in F1, but I was still hesitant. Something was still holding me back, and I didn't know what it was. Even with my own plans up in the air, I felt nervous for Bianchi, the team and all my friends here. Surely Bianchi wouldn't go under - this historic team had a long legacy within Formula One - they could survive this, couldn't they? They needed to survive it.

"Anyway, have you thought any more about your theme?" James asked, taking a sip of his drink and pulling me out of my thoughts.

"Theme?" I replied, confused.

"For your launch party? I sent you over the boards last week. I like simple luxury black tie option, but what about you?"

James had agreed to help with the launch of The Stephens Foundation - meaning I could fully utilise his party planning contacts, and I was grateful for his knowledge. I had been so distracted that I hadn't properly looked at what he had prepared for me.

"I love them all," I lied. "I'm going to send them over to the drivers and see what they think."

"What about the pastel one?"

"It was great, yeah."

"Annie - you're lying. You haven't looked at them yet, have you? I'd never do a pastel option - could you imagine? It would be like a kid's party." James said, watching as my face blushed in embarrassment. His tone was still warm, so I hoped he wasn't too offended.

"Sorry...it's just all been a bit crazy. I promise I'll look at it tonight. And I will send it over to the girls - I know Chloe's going to have an opinion on it." I tell him, taking a sip of my own coffee as I watch him smile.

"I get it, we need to try and get it sorted this week if you're going to launch before the end of the season."

"Ok, boss! On it" I say, jokingly saluting at him before we head back to our desks, continuing to chat as I try and ignore the gnawing doubts that are growing at the thought of Bianchi's troubles.

*

The news that the team was going into administration did in fact break during the week following the Singapore race. The financial irregularities that were discovered during the investigation were worse than anyone had thought. Heads of departments were all pulled into meetings before we all received a company email: