Race With a Heart
Chapter 52: Badass

Chapter 52: Badass

Karl Walton wanted to rub his eyes in surprise. Steve Paxton’s name was suddenly number 11 in the world. Moreover, it reigned supreme on the hot search list, but this time in a positive context. Walton, his manager, couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Where the hell did this positive PR come from?

Paxton has always been popular. At least since he made his victorious debut last season. It was then that the media and the public discovered him. Steve was very handsome and unapproachable. He refused to give interviews that he did not have to give and he avoided posing for pictures, which is why materials with his participation were worth their weight in gold. Some media reported that he was a playboy and posted some paparazzi shots of him in the company of beautiful women, others focused on his inaccessibility. The centered image portrayed him as a bad boy who was however more naughty than really evil. Women loved the look and Steve became very popular with them, but never that much. Usually when Paxton was gossiped, it was in the context of some new adventure that showed just how colorful his life was.

Today, however, Steve’s popularity was solely due to his behavior during the race.

The article on the gossipy, very popular platform was to blame for everything. The article said that Paxton showed not only excellent skills but also an excellent character during the competition. Belindez, the rookie driver, made a mistake that cost Steve a victory, but Paxton was not seeking private retaliation. Although he had every right to be furious, he remained calm and completely trusted the committee to decide on the incident. There was also a short video showing Steve staying calm after exiting the car and carefully walking around the car, checking for any damage.

Seeing this video, Karl cursed. Neither requests nor threats helped. There was always someone who wanted to earn unfairly and either took pictures or made films without the consent and knowledge of those he photographs. People just didn’t understand that they were breaking the law or they didn’t give a shit. Meanwhile, such films violated not only privacy but could also become a source of economic espionage. Even if the movie shows someone in a good light, you never know what else will be captured. Anyway, such spy films reflected badly on celebrities who, instead of focusing on their work, constantly looked over their shoulder for fear that someone was filming them. In fact, even the best intentions did more harm than good.

Especially now in his life, Steve didn’t need any extra attention. The driver had so far taken the media attention by simply ignoring it, but was still in a state of deep mourning which he had to end to compete. Karl also couldn’t forget that just a few days ago Paxton was in danger of being excluded from the competition due to his emotional state. Steve needed to calmly focus on his work, not grappling with the media and shouting fans. At the moment when the driver needed peace to return to his mental balance, the additional noise around him was definitely not recommended. If anyone found out that Steve was suffering from a trauma he had experienced, his career would be over forever!

"Knock knock" Karl heard and saw Jack entering the office. "Wow, you have a scary face! Is it because of this article? "

"You guessed right," he admitted. "I don’t know whether to be happy or cry."

Lambert lounged on the couch unceremoniously.

"I spoke to this journalist. Belindez’s manager wanted to whiten his boy. My opinion is that Belindez did it on purpose, behind the back of the stables and when the bosses found out what he had done, they would do anything to save their driver. Even white PR for the competition. "

Walton pursed his lips in disgust.

"Forgiving, full of understanding for the ’younger colleague’s mistake,’ Steve will bind our hands."

"There was nothing we could do anyway," Jack shrugged. "And the committee would need really solid evidence to exclude Belindez from the competition anyway. You didn’t expect anything more than a fine and a step back to the last grid. "

"You’re right," Karl admitted.

He, too, had been very stressed for some time. Hannah was a part of his life too, not as important as Steve’s, so his mourning was less, but his anxiety for his friend never left his heart. Paxton was unpredictable.

"You did well on the track," he said to Jack. "You really made us very happy."

"Yes, myself too," Jack admitted. "Unfortunately it is not my merit. We changed the first and fourth place to second and third. Steve really wanted this victory. "

"What? Why?"

Jack shrugged.

"Maybe he wanted to prove to all of us that he was still fit for the track? Maybe he grew up to get a sponsor for the stable? "

"What? Sponsor? " Walton was completely surprised. "Jack, do you know something"?

"Before we went to the grand prix, we talked a bit and I think he started to realize we needed money."

"Did you really convince him to bring us a sponsor?"

"I’m not sure. But I know he wanted to win. "

Karl was surprised and, there is nothing to hide, stunned by this information. Paxton was a great driver, even a decent guy, but he lived in a world of his own that was divided between racing and Hannah. After Hannah’s death, has Steve finally started to see the world around him?

"He will win next time," he announced. "And the sponsors are looking for him anyway. For you too. "

"For me?" Lambert asked in surprise.

"The offer came to both of you. I haven’t had time to hand it over to your manager yet. Besides, I didn’t think anything could come of it, you know how reluctant Steve was, but since you say he changed his mind, we can try. There is no conflict of interest with your current sponsors, but you may already have some discussions about new contracts. "

"Maybe Roger is up to something, but I don’t know about it yet," Jack admitted.

"Fine. Then here is the first outline of the proposal ... "

Lambert started going through the folder and Karl felt a surge of endorphin. If by some miracle both drivers agreed to become the faces of a new product and a new advertising campaign, their stable would get a really great financial boost. Funding would be provided for both the drivers and the stable until the end of the season.

From Jack’s eyes, Walton could see the man was interested. It was still necessary to convince Steve to join the project.

The first gangster smashed the tools table as he fell. The other didn’t even notice when his hand holding the knife came to his own throat. The enemy’s attack was so unexpected and so quick that none of the gangsters had time to react.

"Get your men to let go of the boy," announced a voice cold as Arctic ice. A shiver ran down Martin’s back. He knew the tone of voice and its timbre.

The chief of thugs showed with a gesture for them to release the mechanic. They did it without delay.

"Are you all right?" Steve asked.

"Yes," Martin replied hesitantly.

"Go outside and wait for the police to arrive."

"But..."

"Don’t argue. Do what I say. Get out. "

Martin walked hesitantly towards the entrance. He shouldn’t have left Steve alone, but a hunch told him that if he stayed, he would only be disturbing him. Martin knew Paxton had been in more than one fight, but his speed, his precision and his boldness in facing so many opponents were something from another world. It is as if he was not a racing driver, but a super-trained secret service agent.

The mechanic blushed with shame. He knew that if he stayed, he would become a potential hostage, but still leave and leave Paxton alone was devastating.

He only left because Steve made him wait for the police.

As soon as Martin left the room, Paxton breathed a sigh of relief.

"The boy has been working here for several days. He really doesn’t know anything," he explained, still holding hand with the knife to the gangster’s throat.

"All right," the thug agreed. "About the police, is this for real?"

"Yes."

"Fuck!"

Paxton loosened his grip and the gangster was free. His colleagues wanted to take advantage of this moment and attack, but their boss stopped them.

"What you idiots don’t know who it is? You don’t recognize the face? "

The gangsters looked at each other, then politely apologized. In the distance a police siren sounded.

"No offense?" the boss asked.

"No offense," Paxton replied.

"Guys, we’re getting out of here!" ordered the gangster, hiding the knife and after a while everyone was headed for the exit.

Steve left the room right behind them. Outside, he saw Martin shivering with cold. It was quite late and it had cooled down for the night. Martin might have been trembling for another reason, however, than cold.