Summer

was drowning in champagne, crystal chandeliers

hering of the year-the place where multi-million-dollar spons

s wearing a floor-length black velvet

ine of my neck, and on my feet were three-inch

firmly around Cha

er cut for a tailored char

of his crisp white shirt unfastened, revealing

-broad-shouldered, dangerous, and completely indifferent

e velvet ropes, the ambient c

of head

gh the room like wild

etary pin stepped toward me. "

"I'm here with Wh

ped out of our path. A Black Ridge officer by the dinin

wn so his lips brushed the shell of my ear. "Your o

ss of vintage champagne from a

rything Grant built on my work. By the time I'm done, he

rea, a woman in an emerald-green sequin

e friend and a paddock content creator who mad

d down with an exagge

t you! When Grant announced your 'leave of absence,' we assumed he'd checked you into a clinic. Losing your job an

n't b

my eyes locking onto h

those tumbleweeds rolling around between your

tightened i

Chase, offering a pract

lingering on his open collar befor

evening. She'll only spend it telling you how another man doesn't want her anymore." Her voice softened in

didn't

even shift

with eyes as cold and unforgi

cutives step backward, "women who open their mouths out of turn find themselves walking home along Inters

ned pale

ned purse to her chest, and scuttled a

rked, taking a sip

se corrected wit

on't have to

ing portfolios tucked against her chest. Her event badge read Race Strate

ntinued, glancing at the executives who had stopped to li

foreman who wanted her gone. I'd bought her first set of

calling it

s are the ones I taught you," I said. "You picked

tightened aroun

she snapped. "Mercer Racing finally h

architecture?" I asked. "W

n. "Brooke designe

ee

ce called out from the

e-rimmed glasses, and a distinguishe

te advisor and the Chief Technical Scrutineer

smile breaking across my face as I

adjusted his glasses. "I reviewed Mercer Racing's season dossier this morning. The mode

" I said

y're attempting to run a static polynomial regression on dynamic tire degradation! It's incompetent. W

alf-sister, Brooke,

saying she designed the architectur

in my private archive. The dated research cover sheet c

sponsor representatives could see it. "The revisions document how I developed the mo

vious afternoon. The baseline and revised curves lay ove

ised calibration. Same gear, load, tire pressure, and starting engine temperature. Three

down at her glo

. "The university submission matches these development records. These test sheets also

ng the name on a presentation d

rying beyond the small circle. "Whitmore Performance will be racin

e stepped closer. "Ms. Summers, I'd like o

mary," I said. "Then we

s. The sponsor representativ

ing at Chase with a nod o

return, and telemetry checks before qualifying. Missing required sensor channels or readings outside the published

records will be in the dossier. Track p

ble. I slipped my hand into Chase's, and we climbed the

on erupted at th

doors swung

rp black suit with his gold-embroider

, wearing a sparkling gold gown, smili

room with the supreme arrogance of a ma

ward the elevated VIP terrace

ile froze

aw lo

ook in the sight of his missing wife-standing in an elegant bla