Illicit Affairs

Chapter 14

With my dirty work done, I didn't even get to take a moment to pat myself on the back and revel in it. I had work to do. First, I made a phone call to my grandfather, who as expected was quite pleased with how everything was going. I made sure I sounded upbeat and happy. I didn't fill him in yet on the changes I had made. There was plenty of time for that. No need to concern him when he was supposed to be taking it easy. I ate up the praise he fed me by the spoonful. I wanted nothing more than to make him happy and to have him proud of me.

We kept the conversation fairly brief. There was work to be done. Focus forward. Daytona is over and done with, and although we get to keep our bragging rights for a few more days, it's time to prepare for the next race. There is always the next race. You always have to look forward.

Atlanta was coming up. Another super speedway. No practice for the teams, just qualifying. Aside from team owner duties I had my usual responsibilities. Atlanta was home to some of our biggest partners and it was top priority that we wine and dine and give them the full VIP treatment. After all, they were pouring a lot of money into our organization.

I scheduled a dinner with the representative of Hooters, one of Chase's primary sponsors. I inwardly groaned over having to entertain the Hooter girls...brand ambassadors. They were so nauseating. They ranked right up there with Monster girls. Well...one Monster girl anyway. The majority of them, the Monster girls, were actually pretty nice. I could not say the same about the Hooter girls.

I then spent the next couple of hours corresponding with other primary and associate partners, completely engrossed in my work...emails, phone calls. Zoom meetings, all to coordinate with them, as they all wanted time with the car owner. Good thing I was a pro at multitasking since I was doing two jobs at once. I really didn't want to work too late because I had plans for dinner with Ryan later. I even skipped lunch.

A light rapping on my door drew my attention from my work. I figured it was Molly bringing me my third iced coffee of the day. I should really think about giving her a raise.

"Come in." I responded to the closed door.

It was my coffee, but it wasn't Molly handing it to me, but rather a handsome, distinguished gentleman, who aside from Ryan, Chase and my grandfather, happened to be one of my favorite people in the world.

"Hey kiddo. Molly said to give you this." He set the coffee on my desk with a warm smile. "Hope I'm not interrupting."

"Jimmie." I exclaimed, getting up from my chair to give him a hug. Although I had seen him briefly in Daytona, I really didn't get a chance to talk to him as I was wearing my team owner hat, so I was busier than usual. "What brings you by your old stomping grounds?"

Out of all our former drivers, Jimmie Johnson was easily my favorite, although Dale Earnhardt Jr was a close second. Both were just all around good guys. So respected by everyone in the sport.

"I was in the area and thought I'd stop by and congratulate the 24 team. I got something for you." He handed me a bag from a local candy store. I eagerly dug inside and pulled out a clear bag filled with red and green gummy bears.

I couldn't help but smile and be touched by the gesture and the fact that he remembered something that might seem insignificant to most, but meant so much to me.

"Thank you. I can't believe you remembered that." I giggled.

"Of course I did. Your grandfather used to scold me for it all the time. Joking of course. Speaking of your grandfather, how is he doing? Probably giving the nurses and doctors hell." Jimmie chuckled, then took a seat in one of the chairs on the other side of my desk.

"I talked to him earlier today. He's bored and having a fit over not being here, but he sounded really good." I replied.

"And how are you doing? Are the guys treating you well?" Jimmie asked, and I could not resist rolling my eyes. It was a bit odd that he asked that particular question, and I couldn't help but wonder if he knew something.

"Nothing I can't handle." I said confidently, with a smile, not willing to give anything away, yet not wanting to outright lie either.

"Oh I'm sure you're handling it just fine.  I just couldn't help but notice there seemed to be some friction between the guys. They didn't seem to want to work together during the race."  Jimmie gave me a sympathetic look.

"You're absolutely right about that. I noticed it too and it didn't sit well with me, so we addressed that this morning." I replied.

"Did you lock them all in the conference room and tell them to work it out amongst themselves? Your grandfather actually did that to Jeff and me some years back when we had a little issue."

"I remember that. If it were just two of them I may have considered it, but no. I signed them up for a team building workshop. I decided to let someone impartial, someone trained in that area help them work it out." I explained more about the workshop to him and what I hoped it would accomplish.

"That's smart. I don't know that that kind of thing was available back with me and Jeff, but I like it. Good for you getting to the root cause and working to solve a problem before it gets any bigger. You remind me so much of your mother." His tone sounded wistful, and his brown eyes held a far away look.

"I don't look as much like her as I did before I changed my hair color." I shrugged.

"You still look very much like her. You were probably too young to remember this, but she went brunette for a while."

"No, I don't remember that." I said, intrigued. I always enjoyed hearing stories about my mother.

"It didn't last long." He chuckled. "Something about no one taking her seriously because they thought she was just another blonde airhead. She kept it dark for about a month or two, then in true Erika fashion, said screw it. I don't need to change my hair color to prove I have a brain."

"I can relate." I sighed, although I didn't dare bring up the real reason for my hair color change.

"You are brilliant Mia, and anyone who can't see that, they are brainless idiots. Your mother would be so proud of you. She worked her ass off trying to be a pioneer for women in this business. Both your mom and dad would be proud. I'm sure your grandfather is as well."

"Thank you Jimmie. I really needed to hear that." He had no idea what those words meant to me.

"You're doing great. Don't ever doubt yourself. I told you, you are brilliant and I meant it. You've got a lot of your mother in you. She was brilliant too. I know you are busy, and I need to get going, but you should come by the house sometime. I know Chani and the girls would love to see you. Don't be a stranger."

"I promise. Thanks for the gummy bears." I hugged him goodbye and thought about his wife Chandra, who was always so kind to me, and his sweet, adorable daughters Genevieve and Lydia. I really did miss them all since Jimmie retired and I didn't get to see them nearly enough.

I also thought about what Jimmie had said. Now I'm really second guessing everything I did this morning. Would my parents be proud of that? No. They would tell me I'm letting my personal feelings cloud my judgment and bringing it into the business.

But how do I really know what they would think? I was just a child when they died.

Besides, it's too late to turn back now. If I undo everything I did, that would just make me look incompetent, like I acted on my personal feelings. The bed is made and now I have to sleep in it. I just need to stop second guessing myself.

Damn you conscience.