Red Flags by Tammy Kaehler

got that from her derisive sniffs as I explained my racing career to two of the men. I hated it when another woman tried to keep me down, but I kept my frustration and sadness in check. Since I knew I couldn’t change her mind, and since I’d only intrude on her turf briefly, I tried to ignore her attitude. I watched her soften and smile as someone new entered the room.
    Coleman Sherain, Holden’s father and president of the bank, was tall, with a jock’s muscled physique on the verge of going soft and dark hair starting to gray at the temples. He wore a confident smile and radiated power, and I shook his hand with as steely a grip as I could muster. I’d spoken with him a few times, working out the details of the sponsorship, and met him briefly at the 12 Hours of Sebring race a month before. I’d been on guard at first, given his son’s attitude toward me, but Coleman had been straightforward, professional, and emotionless. All business.
    His smile stretched wider, but didn’t touch his eyes. “Good to see you again, Kate. Glad to have you on the team.” I wondered if the coolness and insincerity I felt came from him or from my own mistrust of his son. He adjusted his tie and glanced around. “Let’s resume.”
    Once we were all settled around the large conference table in the next room, Coleman took charge, the executive assistant typing on a laptop as he spoke. He started by introducing me to the room, waving a hand at nameplates in front of each member. Then he requested a summary of the contract and planned expenditures be read out by the assistant and asked me to explain my plans in more detail, without the contractual language.
    I stood and remembered to smile before launching into my story. I outlined my early days and success in go-karts and Star Mazda, then my leap to sportscars. “I love racing the Corvette, and the people at Sandham Swift Racing have been wonderful. But I have dreams of racing other, faster cars on bigger stages and tracks. That’s where Frame Savings comes in. I’m excited to represent the Frame Savings name and brand to a larger and broader audience.”
    One of the board members—Robert Roberts, he went by “Bob”—asked exactly what I meant by “bigger stages.”
    â€œI have a big career wish list: the Daytona 500, 24 Hours of Le Mans, Indy 500, and more. Each race is in a different series and requires a different kind of car, but that means I have a lot of options, depending on where you’d like to see Frame Savings represented.”
    â€œIt also means money,” another man mumbled, halfway down the table.
    I turned to him. “You’re right. I said those were on my wish list. I didn’t say I expected to race them all. I make choices about where I race. It’s my career, after all.” I smiled and saw answering grins on a couple faces. “But I’m aware where I end up is also dependent on my partners. Where the money is coming from, and what goals that organization has.”
    I glanced around the table. “Which brings me to a question for this group. I’ve had conversations with the executive team, but I’d like to be sure I understand your goals for your sponsorship dollars. Where do you want to see Frame Savings in the racing world? And how can I get you there?”
    The man who’d mumbled about money snorted. “We’d like to get attention for winning, instead of for trailing the pack or being reprimanded by the people in charge.”
    Coleman looked down his nose. “We’re all in agreement. That’s why we’ve got a professional. How many podiums were you on last year, Kate?”
    â€œSix podiums from ten races, with one win, three seconds, and two third places. In what’s widely regarded as the most competitive class in current racing.”
    I saw signs of satisfaction, and I hated to burst their bubbles. “I want