dripping with jewelry, who had traveled to Monaco on their luxury yachts, to everyday folk wearing jeans and t-shirts, trying to take photographs of the cars on the circuit.
I had tried to take a few snaps myself. I wasn’t exactly the world’s greatest photographer. Kate inherited all the artistic abilities in the family, and I didn’t really stand much chance with the incredible speed of the cars. Every time I’d pressed the button to take the photograph, the car had already sped past, and I ended up with a photograph of the empty track.
I glanced up at Jack. “Do you think you would want to go to another race?”
Jack smiled. “Maybe.”
It was then I remembered what Dominic O’Brien had said about the simulator. He’d been very keen for Jack to try the project and promised to come and find us after the race. Only he hadn’t. Or maybe he had come to find us, only to find we had already left.
I considered mentioning it to Jack, but there was something about Dominic that seemed to annoy him, and I didn’t want to bring him down. He seemed so happy right now, and I just wanted to enjoy the moment, so I linked an arm around Jack’s waist and smiled up at him as we walked along.
At that point, I had no idea that Dominic was not the type of man to put his plans aside. But even though I knew nothing about the man’s character at that stage, I had a funny feeling that wouldn’t be the last we heard of Dominic O’Brien.
11
The following morning, I was just as surprised as Jack when Maria announced that Dominic O’Brien had turned up. I looked at Jack to try and gauge his reaction, but his face was disconcertingly blank.
Jack had only just finished his workout, so he was still wearing his sweatpants and a t-shirt. I poured Jack a glass of water and handed it to him as we waited for Dominic to enter the room. I’m sure it had to be my imagination, but the air seemed to crackle with anticipation. Whenever Dominic O’Brien’s name was mentioned, I got nervous.
Dominic O’Brien walked in, wearing a huge smile. He had obviously paid a great deal for dental whitening treatment and wanted to show it off. His teeth practically glowed against the deep tan of his skin, and his dark hair was slicked back. He wore casual clothes, dark blue jeans and a colored cotton jacket. His clothes may have looked casual, but I was pretty sure his outfit probably cost more than the entire contents of my closet.
I couldn’t help noticing the chunky gold watch on his wrist. A clear sign that his job in Formula One paid very handsomely.
“Jack,” Dominic said, with a broad smile, holding his arms up as if he was going to engulf Jack in a hug.
Jack held the glass of water in front of him defensively, stopping Dominic from getting too close. He gave Dominic a curt nod.
Dominic read Jack’s body language and stopped in his tracks, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You left so quickly yesterday. I came to find you.” He turned around and looked at me.
I stood behind the counter in the kitchenette. His eyes were questioning, as if he wanted to know why I had left without finding him first. I broke eye contact and said nothing. This wasn’t anything to do with me.
But Dominic wasn’t about to leave it there. “I had a nice conversation with Kristina yesterday,” Dominic said. “She said it was her first race. You know, I still remember my first Grand Prix as if it were yesterday.”
Jack says nothing. The situation was getting very awkward.
We all turned as Brian entered the room, carrying a pile of paperwork in his hands. “Can I get your signature here, Jack,” he said. “Your brother is insisting I get these forms back to him today, and…” Brian stopped talking when he noticed Dominic was in the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Dominic moved towards Brian with his hand outstretched. “Not a problem. I’m Dominic O’Brien, and I used to work with Jack.”
Brian juggled the
I had tried to take a few snaps myself. I wasn’t exactly the world’s greatest photographer. Kate inherited all the artistic abilities in the family, and I didn’t really stand much chance with the incredible speed of the cars. Every time I’d pressed the button to take the photograph, the car had already sped past, and I ended up with a photograph of the empty track.
I glanced up at Jack. “Do you think you would want to go to another race?”
Jack smiled. “Maybe.”
It was then I remembered what Dominic O’Brien had said about the simulator. He’d been very keen for Jack to try the project and promised to come and find us after the race. Only he hadn’t. Or maybe he had come to find us, only to find we had already left.
I considered mentioning it to Jack, but there was something about Dominic that seemed to annoy him, and I didn’t want to bring him down. He seemed so happy right now, and I just wanted to enjoy the moment, so I linked an arm around Jack’s waist and smiled up at him as we walked along.
At that point, I had no idea that Dominic was not the type of man to put his plans aside. But even though I knew nothing about the man’s character at that stage, I had a funny feeling that wouldn’t be the last we heard of Dominic O’Brien.
11
The following morning, I was just as surprised as Jack when Maria announced that Dominic O’Brien had turned up. I looked at Jack to try and gauge his reaction, but his face was disconcertingly blank.
Jack had only just finished his workout, so he was still wearing his sweatpants and a t-shirt. I poured Jack a glass of water and handed it to him as we waited for Dominic to enter the room. I’m sure it had to be my imagination, but the air seemed to crackle with anticipation. Whenever Dominic O’Brien’s name was mentioned, I got nervous.
Dominic O’Brien walked in, wearing a huge smile. He had obviously paid a great deal for dental whitening treatment and wanted to show it off. His teeth practically glowed against the deep tan of his skin, and his dark hair was slicked back. He wore casual clothes, dark blue jeans and a colored cotton jacket. His clothes may have looked casual, but I was pretty sure his outfit probably cost more than the entire contents of my closet.
I couldn’t help noticing the chunky gold watch on his wrist. A clear sign that his job in Formula One paid very handsomely.
“Jack,” Dominic said, with a broad smile, holding his arms up as if he was going to engulf Jack in a hug.
Jack held the glass of water in front of him defensively, stopping Dominic from getting too close. He gave Dominic a curt nod.
Dominic read Jack’s body language and stopped in his tracks, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “You left so quickly yesterday. I came to find you.” He turned around and looked at me.
I stood behind the counter in the kitchenette. His eyes were questioning, as if he wanted to know why I had left without finding him first. I broke eye contact and said nothing. This wasn’t anything to do with me.
But Dominic wasn’t about to leave it there. “I had a nice conversation with Kristina yesterday,” Dominic said. “She said it was her first race. You know, I still remember my first Grand Prix as if it were yesterday.”
Jack says nothing. The situation was getting very awkward.
We all turned as Brian entered the room, carrying a pile of paperwork in his hands. “Can I get your signature here, Jack,” he said. “Your brother is insisting I get these forms back to him today, and…” Brian stopped talking when he noticed Dominic was in the room. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Dominic moved towards Brian with his hand outstretched. “Not a problem. I’m Dominic O’Brien, and I used to work with Jack.”
Brian juggled the
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