F1 Champion's Perfect Crash: When Love Takes The Final Turn novel Chapter 5

After tidying up the penthouse, I headed out to meet Kate at the airport.

My best friend was finally returning from her years managing tech startups in Singapore, and God, did I need her straight-talking wisdom right now.

We settled into a corner booth at Château Blue, the kind of upscale café where racing wives held their gossip sessions.

Kate nearly knocked over her oat milk latte when I told her about my exit plan.

"Finally!" She threw her hands up in celebration.

"Adrian-fucking-Chase needs to learn that not everything can be bought and replaced like his precious cars. He had something real and treated it like a pit stop. Let him grow old with his trophies."

Her outburst made me laugh for the first time in weeks.

There was some truth in her anger.

"I always thought he was embarrassed by me being there," I said quietly, remembering how Adrian had coldly informed me that the track was 'no place for distractions.'

Kate snorted. "Please. He was marking his territory like some alpha male bullshit. Trust me, he's so used to owning you, he doesn't even realize how possessive he is."

"It doesn't matter anymore," I sighed, watching the steam rise from my untouched cappuccino. "He'll probably be relieved I'm gone. One less complication in his perfectly curated life."

"Oh honey," Kate shook her head, "you really don't see it, do you? Adrian Chase might play the cool, detached champion for the cameras, but you're the only person who's ever gotten under his skin. When you leave..." She smiled wickedly. "That's when the real race begins."