Illicit Affairs

Chapter 20

With the help of lots of coffee and sheer will and determination, I worked all night to undo the damage I had caused. Power Surge was surprisingly understanding when I explained that I needed the no fraternization clause stricken from the contract. It was agreed upon that since Alex was in a relationship with a Monster Energy girl prior to signing with them that everything could be "grandfathered" in. Their only request was they not flaunt their relationship in front of the cameras while he was representing them and she was representing Monster. I think that is something we can all live with.

Next, I made phone calls to all of the contacts with Monster that I could garner  from my own list before finally contacting a friend who was a former Monster girl before becoming a NASCAR WAG. It was this friend who was able to get me to the right person who was in charge of hiring all of the models. After explaining Lindsey's situation and swallowing my pride to take full responsibility for her departure from the company, they agreed to contact her and offer her her job back.

It's now morning, and I am staring at my laptop with a new re-revised driver contract. I could not go back to the original terms because I still needed to protect the race team, however, the previously revised terms were indeed too strict, so I had come to some middle ground. While outside racing would not be prohibited, it would now require prior written approval. I think that's a fair compromise.

Now, the part of all of this I dread the most. I'm going to have to eat a healthy serving of crow. It was enough to turn my stomach but it has to be done. Yes, there are some selfish motives involved because I want Ryan back. I have no idea where he even is right now. He never came back to the suite after he broke things off. I miss him. I know now that I'm falling for him. I can no longer deny it. But in hindsight, I never should've made these dirty deals in the first place, so I am righting a wrong.

Here goes my first bite of crow.

"Alex, I need you to come by my suite before practice. There are some things we need to discuss." I said, placing a call to my driver and former lover.

"What is it now?" He sighed in annoyance. He actually sounded like he had just woken up.

"It's rather important and needs to be discussed in person as soon as possible." I explained.

"Fine. I'll be there in about fifteen minutes or so." He said, then disconnected the call.

I brewed some extra strong coffee, knowing that was how he liked it and took the next few minutes to make myself look presentable. I will never admit this to anyone, but after Ryan left, I allowed myself to cry, and I cried a lot. All my life, I had been told big girls don't cry. Strong women don't cry. Crying is a show of weakness and the vultures will eat you alive if you so much as shed a single tear. I know my grandfather had said that to toughen me up in a man's world, so I had always followed his advice. I just had never had my heart broken before.

It wasn't long before Alex arrived, looking slightly disheveled and quite grumpy. I fixed him a cup of coffee and handed it to him. Swallowing what was left of my pride, I spoke. "I owe you an apology Alex. You and Lindsey as a matter of fact. I made some grave errors in judgment and I want you to know I have made some changes that will allow Lindsey to get her job back and keep Power Surge as a sponsor."

I filled him in on all of the new negotiations and presented him with the new contracts for him to review and sign. He looked a bit skeptical when he read the revised driver contract. "So while outside racing is not prohibited, but requires prior approval, does that mean that you are going to deny every request I submit?"

Okay, that was a fair question, but I had that covered.

"No, it does not. Due to my previous lack of impartiality, I have removed myself from the equation. Until my grandfather returns, Jeff will be handling all of the approvals." I replied. If only he knew how much effort it had taken for me to give up that control.