Chapter 3 The protector - Mated To My Nemesis

Agnes’ POV

I couldn’t sleep that night. My mind kept replaying the snippet of the conversation I'd overheard yesterday. He knew me, pretty much before I even came here.

I got out of bed early again. Leo had sent a text saying that everything had been sorted out and they’d be taking the next available flight. I heaved in relief, grateful that they’d be here with me; in this mad and suspicious arena.

I walked to my desk, opened my laptop, and typed one name.

Will Tremaine

A few images and articles linked to his name popped up. I clicked on every one of them, my brows furrowing with each search.

He wasn’t here.

I clicked on the last article I had and scanned the photograph. In the middle with a camera was my father grinning at the photographer.

I spotted him.

I reached for my tablet and my alarm clock beeped. I glanced at the time and closed the laptop.

I’d attend to this later.

I was in the garage early, wiping my lens with a clean cloth. It was Friday, the day for qualifying for the main race. A couple of engineers were already in, working on the car.

Such dedication to something that would crash.

I began to review a couple of pieces of footage I had caught the days before, watching everyone moving in their element.

“What are you looking for?”

For goddamn sake, couldn’t these people not startle me!

I turned and almost crashed into Ace. He was standing behind me in his tracksuit, with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

“Nothing. This is when I see what I may have missed earlier”.

He said nothing, just walked over to the coffee machine. I stood there, biting my lower lip, trying to make a tentative decision to walk over.

I did. I walked over to the coffee stand and stood behind him, crossing my arms.

“We need to talk”.

The coffee machine hissed in the silence. He didn’t even bother to turn.

"Last night," I said, my voice barely audible over the hum of the garage. "I heard you on the phone."

"I know."

"You said you know who I am. You know why I'm really here."

"Yes."

"So you aren't even going to deny it?"

"No."

He finally turned, extending a cup of coffee toward me. It was black, exactly how I liked it. I stared at the cup, then shifted my gaze to his unreadable face.

"Every driver I've ever documented had a specific reason for giving me this kind of access," I said, choosing my words carefully. "What's yours?"

He just looked at me for a long, heavy moment, the mischief in his eyes replaced by something far more serious.

"I want the world to see what this team built," he said. "Right from the very beginning."

I was in the pit again filming and watching the cars race past, each trying to make it first to the finish line. Dae was looking confident today, like he knew Ace was definitely going to win this round.

I’d already begun to pick up on racing terms pretty quickly and Ace was doing well.

“And going neck to neck on the tenth lap is the silent Corvus and MacFire. Who is going to be the champion of this round”, the commentator intoned. I kept my camera trained on Ace’s car, trying not to get dizzy.

“Ace, I repeat. Stay out of Max’s lane”, Dae bellowed into the microphone. Ace’s crackled back.

“Tell him to get off my bumper”, he replied with a chuckle.

“And Corvus wins the qualifiers. Give it up for that sleek dragon!”

Everyone in the pit lane cheered loudly and Dae sighed in relief, slumping back in his chair.

I turned to capture a section of the crowd when someone bumped into me. I tilted sideways, losing my footing, and fell. I closed my eyes bracing myself for what would be a pretty nasty fall.

Oh God, my camera.

I fell into someone’s arms. It was so warm and strong.

I opened my eyes to see Ace staring directly into my eyes; his arm around my waist firmly and the other holding my arm. I should have been mortified and thanked him quickly for saving me. But no, I stayed there staring at those mesmerising eyes of his.

There was something in his eyes I couldn't explain. This was very different from his usual cold and aloof demeanour. For a split moment, I envisaged him pulling me up and kissing me right there and then.

I felt blood rushing to my thighs. What was wrong with me?

His eyes… they were amber, intense amber. My brain stopped, weren’t they always dark and cold?

The spell broke immediately and he quickly stepped backwards, holding my shoulder at arm's length to steady me. Then he left, swarmed by his teammates.

I rubbed the back of my neck, embarrassed.

I sat at my desk again, holding up my head in my hands and trying not to wrap my head around what happened today but failed miserably at it.

Agnes, you came here to do a documentary on motorsport racing and certainly not about the main racer catching you mid-fall.

I sighed and replayed the footage again; it was from the first day I'd stepped into Melbourne.

It clicked. I knew who he was.

I scrambled for my tablet when my phone rang. I picked it up with a small frown. Unknown caller ID.

“Hello”.

The voice from the other end was calm and unhurried. I took a deep breath when I heard something about them following my work and wanting to help me document the F1 world properly.

“I’d consider the offer. Who are you?”

There was a brief silence and I glanced at my window. There was a sudden movement behind the windows. I took a couple of cautious steps towards the window, grabbing the lampstand that was on my drawer.

“I’m Manny and I want you to be protected”