ALICE Ch 103

“Alice!”

Alice and Kylie both flinch and turn at the sharp sound of Glynda’s voice.

Glynda’s there, looking breezily professional. At her side is Faye, wearing FUTA gear.

Alice cringes as Glynda storms up to the table.

“What are you doing?” Glynda demands.

Alice looks down in panic at her hand on Kylie’s. “Nothing,” she replies. “Hanging out.”

“Like this?” Glynda wrinkles her nose. “Alice, you have a contractual and financial association with a bloody perfume company. Bathe!”

“Oh,” Alice replies, licking her lips. “Right. Right.”

“Now!”

“OK! Jeez.” Alice gets to her feet. “Or, uh, counteroffer…”

Glynda gives her a dangerous look. Alice lifts her gaze from Glynda’s chest to her face.

“We all put on our bikinis and go sit by the pool,” she says, grabbing Glynda’s hands.

Glynda yanks her hands free, glaring.

“Alice, you have Netflix in twenty minutes. Then you have fans. Then we have our bloody race meeting,” she says, counting on her fingers. “And you will not attend it smelling like a pigsty.”

Alice grimaces. “Right.”

FF1

Bright lights shine on the simple chair.

Alice Wilde sits, her hair visibly damp and unruly. She absently plays with the FUTA camp in her hands.

“I smell good now,” she says. “But I’m not wearing Diorgasm. They haven’t actually given me any yet. Or am I supposed to buy my own?”

“I don’t know,” the producer replies. “Tell me how you feel about the race tomorrow?”

“More pressure than usual, but it’s not a very technical circuit. Turn seven.” She gestures vaguely. “This is the track where the engine means everything. It’s why Checo and Max are so far ahead of everyone. As long as they don’t make a mistake, nobody can catch them on those straights.”

“What are your objectives?”

“It’s always to win. On a personal level, I’m still new and insecure, so it’s more about not messing up.” Alice laughs self-consciously. “I want to give people a good race. I want to see what it’s like to fight Fernando Alonso. It just looks really good. I think it’ll be great.”

“And what about your teammate?”

“It’s good to see Faye delivering. We’ve done pretty well, but people still like to give her shit for how all this looks like nepotism. Nobody knows that she didn’t want the seat. They think she’s just there because Glynda’s her mom, but when she puts in an amazing qualifying lap, they kind of have to shut up.” Alice shrugs. “I like that. Faye is the sweetest person in the world. People shouldn’t be dragging her on social media, you know?”

“There’s a fair amount of social media discourse about you and Valeria Flores.”

“Because of the Diorgasm thing? Or because I had a better lap than she did today?”

“Both, certainly. How do you view this rivalry?”

Alice shakes her head tiredly. “I don’t know. It’s just so much.”