paperwork in his arms so he could shake Dominic’s hand. But as he did so, he was looking at Jack. I guess he was trying as hard as me to work out Jack’s reaction.
“I hear you’ve been doing a great job on Jack,” Dominic said. “You’re the guy behind his dramatic improvement, aren’t you?”
“I can’t take credit for that. Jack’s the one who has put the hard work in.”
It was a bit creepy the way they were talking about Jack as if he wasn’t there. As if he was a prize stallion rather than an actual person.
“Credit where it’s due. You’ve done well,” Dominic said repeating himself. “It’s amazing how much Jack has improved in such a short period of time.”
When Dominic turned away, Jack shook his head almost imperceptibly and took a sip of his water.
“I don’t mind telling you,” Dominic said. “I’ve never worked with a driver with as much natural talent as Jack Harding.”
Jack walked past Dominic O’Brien to the kitchen counter to stand next to me. “I think I’ll make some coffee,” he muttered.
“I’ll make it,” I said in a false cheery tone. I couldn’t cope with all this tension. I reached for the coffee pot. I wanted to do something to keep my hands busy and not just stand there like an idiot.
“Who would like a cup?” I asked.
Everyone said they would like some coffee, so I set up the cups for all of us and put the coffee onto brew as the three men continued talking.
“How long are you in town for?” Brian asked.
“Not long. We’re getting most of our gear packed up today and we’ll be heading off tomorrow. Which reminds me…” Dominic turned to Jack and licked his lips, nervously. “I’ve got something you might be interested in.”
“Really?” Jack’s face remained blank and his voice sounded bored.
But Dominic didn’t seem discouraged. “It’s just like a game. It’s perfectly safe. You’ll love it. It’s an improved version of the racing simulator. It’s a foolproof way of testing reaction times, so we can see if you’ve still got the talent, Jack.”
I saw Jack bristle with annoyance. “Not interested.”
Dominic’s smile slid from his face and his lips closed in a firm line. For a moment there was only silence in the room as I poured the coffee.
As I handed everyone their cups of coffee, Dominic tried again. “I know you still got it, Jack. Hell, I’d let you drive one of the race cars. That’s how much confidence I have in you. But the cars are already packed away, ready to be shipped on for the next race. It’s just a simulator. What’s the worst that could happen? Why don’t you give it a go?”
Dominic waited a beat before delivering his killer line. “I know you miss it, Jack.”
Jack was staring down at his cup of coffee, watching the tendrils of steam rise up from the cup. I had no idea how he was going to respond to Dominic.
Dominic was right. Jack did miss the racing.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Dominic said. “I can’t see any downsides. It’s safe, and I think you’d actually enjoy it. What do you think, Brian?”
That struck me as odd. No one had actually introduced Brian by name yet, and Dominic already knew his name. It occurred to me that Dominic must have been doing some serious digging around.
“I don’t think it will do any harm,” Brian said. “But it’s really not up to me.”
Jack set his coffee cup down on the counter. “When do you want to do it?”
The trademark broad smile returned to Dominic’s face. “Does this afternoon suit you?”
12
Jack
It was a quick and easy drive. The crowds of the day before were long gone, and the traffic was back to normal levels. As the chauffeur drove us through the streets, I found myself wishing there was construction ahead or something to hold us up. I’d delayed leaving the house until I was completely out of excuses.
Kristina sat beside me in the backseat of the car, staring out of the window enjoying the sights
“I hear you’ve been doing a great job on Jack,” Dominic said. “You’re the guy behind his dramatic improvement, aren’t you?”
“I can’t take credit for that. Jack’s the one who has put the hard work in.”
It was a bit creepy the way they were talking about Jack as if he wasn’t there. As if he was a prize stallion rather than an actual person.
“Credit where it’s due. You’ve done well,” Dominic said repeating himself. “It’s amazing how much Jack has improved in such a short period of time.”
When Dominic turned away, Jack shook his head almost imperceptibly and took a sip of his water.
“I don’t mind telling you,” Dominic said. “I’ve never worked with a driver with as much natural talent as Jack Harding.”
Jack walked past Dominic O’Brien to the kitchen counter to stand next to me. “I think I’ll make some coffee,” he muttered.
“I’ll make it,” I said in a false cheery tone. I couldn’t cope with all this tension. I reached for the coffee pot. I wanted to do something to keep my hands busy and not just stand there like an idiot.
“Who would like a cup?” I asked.
Everyone said they would like some coffee, so I set up the cups for all of us and put the coffee onto brew as the three men continued talking.
“How long are you in town for?” Brian asked.
“Not long. We’re getting most of our gear packed up today and we’ll be heading off tomorrow. Which reminds me…” Dominic turned to Jack and licked his lips, nervously. “I’ve got something you might be interested in.”
“Really?” Jack’s face remained blank and his voice sounded bored.
But Dominic didn’t seem discouraged. “It’s just like a game. It’s perfectly safe. You’ll love it. It’s an improved version of the racing simulator. It’s a foolproof way of testing reaction times, so we can see if you’ve still got the talent, Jack.”
I saw Jack bristle with annoyance. “Not interested.”
Dominic’s smile slid from his face and his lips closed in a firm line. For a moment there was only silence in the room as I poured the coffee.
As I handed everyone their cups of coffee, Dominic tried again. “I know you still got it, Jack. Hell, I’d let you drive one of the race cars. That’s how much confidence I have in you. But the cars are already packed away, ready to be shipped on for the next race. It’s just a simulator. What’s the worst that could happen? Why don’t you give it a go?”
Dominic waited a beat before delivering his killer line. “I know you miss it, Jack.”
Jack was staring down at his cup of coffee, watching the tendrils of steam rise up from the cup. I had no idea how he was going to respond to Dominic.
Dominic was right. Jack did miss the racing.
“It’s a win-win situation,” Dominic said. “I can’t see any downsides. It’s safe, and I think you’d actually enjoy it. What do you think, Brian?”
That struck me as odd. No one had actually introduced Brian by name yet, and Dominic already knew his name. It occurred to me that Dominic must have been doing some serious digging around.
“I don’t think it will do any harm,” Brian said. “But it’s really not up to me.”
Jack set his coffee cup down on the counter. “When do you want to do it?”
The trademark broad smile returned to Dominic’s face. “Does this afternoon suit you?”
12
Jack
It was a quick and easy drive. The crowds of the day before were long gone, and the traffic was back to normal levels. As the chauffeur drove us through the streets, I found myself wishing there was construction ahead or something to hold us up. I’d delayed leaving the house until I was completely out of excuses.
Kristina sat beside me in the backseat of the car, staring out of the window enjoying the sights
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