Chapter Five

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SYDNEY

"Shut up," I yelled as the sound of crickets filled the entire room. When my brother suggested I come and visit him for the weekend, he failed to mention that this weekend was going to be anything but relaxing. I mean, who installs an alarm system that plays throughout the entire house to try and wake you up? Is one phone not good enough?

I dragged my body out of my bed and stumbled down the staircase.

"Morning, sis," Theo said chirpily. 

I made a beeline for him and snatched the piece of toast out of his hand. I took one bite, immediately regretting it as I felt the bitter taste coating my tastebuds. "Vegemite, gross," I sighed.

Theo laughed. "Don't tell me you'd choose marmite over this."

I nodded. "You're just weird if you consume either."

He shrugged. "Come on, it's good iron." My brother checked his watch before looking me up and down. "We're leaving for the track in thirty. You do know that right?"

I rolled my eyes. "I thought I'd just make my own way there. I don't need an itinerary."

"Yes, but you do need me to get into the VIP area."

I really didn't need the VIP area either, but what did I say earlier? Oh yeah, practice more gratitude and shit like that.

I surrendered. "Fine. I'll be ready in thirty."

We arrived at the circuit much earlier than everyone else. It was eerily quiet for a Friday, even compared to the other day when we visited for dinner. I didn't understand why my brother needed to be there before the party had even started. But then again, he enjoyed the nerves that racing brought him, so I guess being in this environment made him happy.

We walked past the motorhome of Santoro's biggest competitor, De Rossi Racing, and just when I thought we wouldn't need to stop, Theo called out a woman's name.

"Frankie," he said excitedly. In front of me, a beautiful lady with long black hair and ivory skin turned my way. Next to her, Matthias van der Burg, a.k.a. the man who my brother so desperately wanted to beat, frowned.

I had heard all about this mutual beef that had formed between the two last year. The De Rossi drivers had been fighting like crazy with Theo to win each race. And the so-called beef heightened even more when Matthias struggled so hard to beat Theo in the final race of the year and therefore lost out on winning the title. The woman with him, Francesca, was his girlfriend. I'd followed the news about the pair's relationship like a crazed fan girl. She was his performance coach, and there was a scandal when their relationship was revealed to the world—although there really shouldn't have been. Nonetheless, they looked so happy together and it almost made my heart ache for Jeremy. Oh Jeremy, why did you have to propose?

Theo introduced me to both of them, and something about Francesca's voice made me relax a little more. She was a Kiwi girl too, and so her accent helped lessen the nerves.

"It's odd seeing you in purple now and not maroon," Theo said to Francesca.

She chuckled before turning to me. "I'm working with AstroRacing now." She turned to her boyfriend, who was frowning with shadows of doubt cast across his face. "Matt was just too moody for me. I couldn't stay at De Rossi."

Matthias turned to his girlfriend and flashed her a smile; the first one I'd seen from him. "Okay sweetheart, you keep telling yourself that."

I appreciated that she wanted to fill me in on the latest news so I didn't feel lost. If I was travelling the world with these guys, I had a feeling she would be a great friend.

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