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We talk a few times a month, but I haven’t spoken to him since I started seeing Mason. A twinge runs through me. I’m not exactly going to lie to him, but I’m not going to tell him about Mason, either. I frown. Shit, that’s still a lie of omission, isn’t it?

I don’t like doing that. We have a great relationship, and he’s always supported Caleb and me and is excited we are a part of the racing dynasty he’s built.

But this isn’t just about me. This is about Mason. We didn’t want to tell my grandfather—his boss—about us until we were sure that we were going forward in our relationship.

If I want to tell him now, I have to have that conversation—and agreement—from Mason before I say a word.

I accept the video call, and I see Grandfather’s face fill my screen. His once raven-black hair is now steely grey, his face an older version of what my dad will look like one day. “Hi, Grandfather,” I say, smiling at him.

“Hello, sweetheart. I know I’m going to see you in Singapore, but I wanted to talk to you before you left for Baku.”

Grandfather doesn’t travel as much to races these days. He says he’s travelled his whole life and he enjoys staying at home in Switzerland, but he always attends the Singapore Grand Prix, one of his favourite races on the calendar.

I furrow my brow. “Grandfather, you can talk to me anytime. You know that.”

His blue eyes—the Collings eyes that my dad, Caleb, and I all have—lock in on me. “I know. And that’s why I’m calling today. I have something specific I want to talk about.”

“Okay.”

“I’ve never been one to waste time getting to the point,” he says. “So is there anything you’d like to tell me?”

I freeze. An uneasy feeling begins to unfold in my chest. “Erm, not really.”

His lips compress a bit. Why is my heart suddenly pounding in my chest?

“Are you sure? There’s nothing you want to share with me?”

Now my throat is dry. Is this how people feel doing business with Elliott Collings? Pinned down by his steely gaze when he’s not getting the answer he wants?

“No,” I say, forcing a smile on my face though I’m feeling uneasy. “Unless you want to talk about my new social media channel featuring fashion in racing.”

I catch him off-guard with that, because he looks surprised.

“I see we have two things I’d like to discuss,” he says slowly, moving around his home office. He walks past a bookcase with pictures of the family gracing the shelves and sinks down into a posh leather chair, staring directly at me. “But I’d like to start with the fact that my granddaughter is dating my number-one driver and didn’t feel the need to tell me. So let’s begin there. What the hell are you doing with Mason Clark, Catherine?”

Chapter Twenty-Eight

I stare at my grandfather in shock. My stomach completely bottoms out. He can only have found out about my relationship from one person.

Mum.

As that reality hits me, pure anger takes over. “I see Mum took it upon herself to tell you about Mason,” I say, forcing my voice to stay even.

“She did. She’s concerned.”

Okay, forget calm. I’m livid. And I’m not holding back, not even to my grandfather.

“Well, that’s really amusing coming from her,” I snap. “I would like to remind everyone that I’m not married. Mason isn’t conducting an affair. We’re two people who really like each other, just happened to discover each other in the same garage, and we decided to hell with what everyone thinks. I know I’m your granddaughter. I know you sign his contracts. I thought about it before taking this leap of faith, and so did Mason. What we do off the track is nobody’s business but ours. Drivers leave their personal life aside as soon as they are on the track. I guarantee you Mason isn’t wasting his time thinking about me when he’s in the cockpit. Like, that’s stupid to even contemplate.

“And if Mason were to break my heart?” I continue. “If we were to break up? I know you wouldn’t change anything because, one, he’s under contract, and two, he’s a damn good driver and he’s going to be a world champion one day. That’s why you signed him. And you’re smart enough to not let a romance gone wrong impact what goes on in the paddock. But you know what? That’s not going to happen. I’ve got a great man in Mason, and I think he’s going to be the one. By the way, I don’t expect you to keep him if he doesn’t perform, no matter what my status is with him. I have nothing to do with those decisions, and I don’t expect that to change because he’s my boyfriend, because that is just stupid!”

I stop speaking. Grandfather appraises me, his expression blank.

“I’m not going to stop seeing him,” I add. “So forget about telling me to do that.”

Is Grandfather even blinking? I can’t tell what he’s thinking about my verbal tirade.

“What are your thoughts about the potential media response to this?” he finally asks.