Race With a Heart
Chapter 225: Loreen

Chapter 225: Loreen

"Karl, can we talk?"

Walton did not slow his step. He did not look at the questioner Lambert.

"In my office," he growled only in reply.

Jack knew Karl was pissed, but he didn’t know why. After all, it’s not like Martin or Steve were driving badly today. Even Don did his best to hold off Paxton and showed he was good, although not good enough to take on this track genius.

The rain was coming down harder and harder and the decision to stop the race seemed more and more appropriate. There was no standing water on the track, but the fine rain greatly reduced the distance of good vision. If it had been a real race, there probably would have been a yellow flag or even a safety car. So maybe that was the reason for Walton’s bad mood? Maybe he didn’t want to interrupt the race, wanted to see it through to the end, wanted to see if Steve would overtake Martin, but the weather wouldn’t let him? Yes, that would be a reasonable explanation.

Karl walked into his office and, without taking a seat behind his desk, turned to Lambert.

"What is it?" he asked.

Jack, without waiting for an invitation, sat down on the couch. Long gone were the days when he had to be ceremonial. For the same reason, he got straight to the point:

"It’s about sincerity and trust. You know I agreed to stay for the morale of the team, not as a player, so maybe you could share some of the burden of stable affairs with me. I know we are in an important period and I really want to help. From the beginning, Fergus Stables has been my family, my home."

Walton rested his butt on the desk. He tapped the tabletop with his fingers. He looked at Jack clearly considering something.

"How close are you to Steve?" he asked.

It was not an easy question for him to answer. Despite the significant improvement in the relationship between them, Steve still kept his distance from him. Jack might even have said he was indifferent if not for their conversation yesterday. It was only yesterday that Paxton let him know that he might need him as a friend.

Yes, a friend. Even Steve needed someone like that. I guess everyone needed a friend, but not everyone knew how to show it. Maybe Steve didn’t know how to do it, maybe he was too proud or maybe he was afraid of something? In any case, Jack’s answer today was different from the one he would have given the day before:

"Actually... I think pretty close. Not as close as you, but close."

"He and I... Let’s just say we haven’t been that close for a while now. Steve started to leave me out when it comes to confiding in me about his problems. I think Hannah’s death was a decisive point. In any case, lately I have not been able to reach him and even talk to him."

That much Jack had already guessed, although he didn’t think it was about Hannah. Jack knew that Steve was struggling with guilt over her accident, although he didn’t really know the details. He also knew that Karl, who came from a damn rich family, had taken the brunt of the medical bills. The death of the comatose girl was a shock to Paxton, but after a difficult period of mourning, Steve became more open. It was then that he began to develop a slightly closer relationship with Jack. There was no indication that he was distancing himself from Walton. No, the reason had to be different.

"I’m sure it’s temporary..."

"Maybe," Walton replied without conviction. "In any case, the stable needs him for the next race and... season. If we lose Steve, we lose sponsors."

Yes, that was the unpleasant truth. Every sport needed money and there were fewer and fewer wealthy fanatics willing to sink millions into something that doesn’t generate revenue. And the biggest money didn’t come from prizes set by federations but precisely from sponsors, who had advertising in return. The situation was win-win as long as the driver actually won.

"No worries," assured Lambert with conviction. "You will have Steve next season as hungry for victory as ever."

"And you ale so sure about that because...?"

"It’s hard for me to explain. I guess I’ve just watched him more closely over the year and I know he’s a fighter. At times he can feel lost, but who among us hasn’t had that feeling at times? Steve has had a really tough year, but he has never been one of those people who would put down his guns and cry over his fate."

"You really believe in him."

"Yeah," Jack smiled at his thoughts. "In many ways Steve acted like an asshole. He messed up wherever he could, but he always had a strong sense of duty and loyalty. He won’t abandon the Fergus Stables and the people here, just as I couldn’t abandon them."

Lambert’s words seemed to reach Karl, but didn’t fully convince him. Once sown, doubts are not easy to eradicate when you don’t have strong proof.

"Yes, you’re right," admitted Walton. "I don’t know what it’s like in other stables, but I have the impression that with us it’s like family. I know I can count on all of you, but how much can I ask for?"

He sighed. He really did give the impression of someone carrying a bit too much weight on his shoulders. He looked straight into Jack’s eyes and added:

"I got a message that Benson is interested in sponsoring us. The whole stable. In exchange for Steve."

Jack’s jaw dropped of its own accord from the impression, but the man quickly mastered himself. Laura Benson was one of the world’s top sportswear brands. The best and the most expensive. Probably it had ever happened before that they were the ones who reached out to someone. Usually you had to beg for them to want to make an appointment at all.

"I should feel jealous," Jack smiled in disbelief. "You mean this Laura Benson?"

"The management is being taken over by her daughter, Loreen. It’s her decision."

Lambert felt a sense of distaste recalling this intriguing, quite pretty, but damned possessive woman with whom he almost ended up in bed after she unceremoniously threw herself at the drunken, defenseless man he was at that moment. Jack, however, was not drunk enough to start liking women. Yes, this was before he met Kevin and he wasn’t emotionally attached to anyone, there were even times when he experimented with kissing the opposite sex on one body part or another, but when it came to Loreen Benson he couldn’t wring it out in himself. He suspected, however, that the bossy woman did not have a similar problem with Paxton, who at that time loved all kinds of dangerous fun.

"Poor Steve..." Jack muttered to himself under his breath.

"What did you say?" didn’t hear Karl.

"I take back what I said. I’m not jealous. This woman is, um, difficult."

"I don’t know her personally, but I’ve heard a lot about her. She liked to party and flaunt her money. She also changed guys like gloves. If she has her eye on Steve now... A year ago it wouldn’t have been a problem, but Steve has changed. I’m not sure I can let him put our company in financial jeopardy. If he offends Loreen Benson..."

The door opened suddenly and in it stood an alluring dark-skinned woman with caramel-colored hair.

"It’s too late for these worries," announced Loreen Benson as she entered the office. "Steve Paxton insulted me at least three times today, and for that I like him."