Steve knew something had happened as soon as he saw Karl approaching the track. Karl Walton was not one of the people who approached the track at such a pace in the middle of the day, during working hours. For three heartbeats, Steve was sure he knew what information his friend was coming with and turned pale. Karl, however, did not walk like a man with painful news, but like someone with a struggle to contain his fury.
Paxton breathed a sigh of relief. It's nothing serious. It's just another trouble.
He knew Walton was going to him, so he went out to meet him. The guy looked as if he was about to burst, bursting with accumulated anger. Steve wanted to lighten his mood with some random joke, but Karl's expression indicated that it wouldn't be the best solution.
"Paxton! Come with me!"
Karl called him by surname, and that didn't bode well. He came here not as a friend, but as the manager of the Fergus Stables. As he walked toward him, Steve glanced at the mechanics stalls. Most of them looked at the scene with interest. Some were saying something to each other.
I suppose that little mechanic, what's his name? Martin, didn't tell anything about this morning? Steve did not forbid him from talking, but it was obvious that such things were not spoken of. If that little shit told something ...
Following Karl, Steve touched the gash on his lip with his thumb. There is no need to deny it. The proof that he was in a fight was literally written on his face.
Walton led him to his office. This was surprising too, as he didn't like drivers coming in straight from the track. He didn't like it when they left dirty footprints on his floor and the smell of sweat and gasoline in the air. So when now ...
Whoosh… Documents, elegant pens and a silver photo frame fell to the ground from Karl's desk. Paxton picked up the photo frame that had fallen at his feet. The photo showed Karl and his beautiful fiancée, Anna, on their trip to the mountains together. Steve wiped the frame with his sleeve and set it back on the desk. Walton was clearly furious, but also seemed to be a little helpless.
"Have you nothing to say to me?" he asked, standing at the desk and staring at the floor.
"I'm sorry?" Paxton tried.
Walton snorted helplessly and sat down heavily behind his desk. He was slowly returning to peace.
"Steve… I know you have your burden. Believe me, I know very well about it. I am understanding and tolerant. I am, right? "
"You are," Paxton admitted, feeling guilty overwhelming him.
"I believe you have enormous talent. Besides, you proved it yourself. You're a damn good driver, a real gem, and that load of yours… I know you'll overcome it someday. Until then, I want to support you with all my strength and then watch you reach the top and happiness, but for God's sake, Steve, I have to think about the Stables too! Understand, your behavior affects not only you, but the entire Fergus Stables. "
"I know this…"
"Really? So what is this? "
Karl turned the computer monitor in his direction and Paxton saw his name appear first and second on the Hot Search list. "Steve Paxton beat a child". "Steve Paxton street fight."
"I ..." he scratched his head.
"Our lawyers have already contacted the boy's parents about the settlement ..."
"I do not agree!"
"What?! After all what's going on on the net, you disagree ?! "
"That's right, I don't agree!"
"Steve ...!" Walton began to rise. His voice was boiling with anger and his eyes flashed lightning.
"Let him report the matter to the police."
"Steve!"
"Fire me! What are you waiting for?! I caused a media scandal, so I breached my contract. You've got reasons to kick me out! "
"Steve!!!" Walton called a third time.
"No settlement!" Paxton growled and left slamming the door.
There are times when you cannot bow.
Martin had no idea what was going on, but he knew it was definitely not good. Paxton did not reappear on the track, which worried even Allen. Steve was what he was, but he took his job very responsibly.
Everyone saw how the manager invited Paxton for an conversation, although the word "invited" did not quite reflect the atmosphere of the situation. Everyone suspected it had something to do with Steve's name appearing in a negative context on the Internet. Some may have thought that any advertisement was good, even the negative one, but Fergus' Stable had a good reputation, and if its driver becomes the target of a moral or even criminal scandal, it is doubtful that such advertising will help them. It was especially important now that they were fighting for sponsors for the new season.
Waiting for Steve was pointless and Allen decided he would go find him. He took with him Martin, who was the least necessary in garage. However, they separated quickly. Allen headed towards the office, Martin was going to look around. Paxton might have stumbled away from the no-smoking area and smoked another cigarette. The fact that he did not answer the phone was not surprising, as the driver left him in the cloakroom after he put on the driver suit.
Martin ran all over the place and looked behind probably every building in the neighborhood. Only at the end did he go to the parking lot and noticed that Steve's sports car was not there. He even ran out onto the main road, but the Paxton was gone, no exhaust fumes left.
On the way back he heard two men talking. One was Abe Allen, but the other he did not recognize.
"Maybe that's best for the stable," Allen sighed. "This boy is all trouble."
"You know he's a genius!"
"Forgive the old guy, but I've been in the racing world a little longer than you. People like Paxton aren't good for the job. A driver cannot have a light head and a heavy heart. Holding him alone, we are asking for trouble."
Wait a minute, did Martin hear well? Did he understand well what he was hearing? Were these two just talking about removing Steve Paxton from the crew? He didn't want to eavesdrop, but the conversation shocked him so much that he just stood still and listened.
"You know it's not his fault ..."
"He's dangerous. Yes, he's a brilliant driver, but totally emotionally unstable."
"He's responsible when he is behind the wheel!" The other voice insisted.
"Don't pretend you don't know how much damage today's scandal will bring us. If a tire manufacturer withdraws from cooperation, we will lose at least two more small sponsors. We'll have to close this circus in the middle of the season."
"It won't come to that ... Jack ..."
Allen gave a bitter laugh.
"How long should we count solely on Jack?"
Martin wasn't sure, but he suspected they were talking about the stable's second driver, Jack Lambert. The driver had a few days off, so Martin had yet to meet him.
"For the two of us, this stable is a life," Allen continued. "Steve should be responsible and not hit the kids."
"How do you know what happened?" Martin asked suddenly, showing himself to them. He didn't know why he did it, but he couldn't stand and listen to the nonsense any longer. "How do you know what happened? Did you ask him? Did you ask Steve? "
The other man was the guy Martin had seen with Paxton before. Today too. Manager.
"Steve didn't plan what happened," the young mechanic continued. "He was just going to get coffee ..."
"Did you see what happened? Were you there? " The manager looked very agitated.
"I only saw a little. I missed the bus and waited for the next ... "
"Where was it?" Allen suddenly became interested.
"There is a small bar next to the bus terminus where they serve breakfast. There is a cafe from this chain opposite ... "
"I know this place!" Allen exclaimed.
"Me too!" the manager confirmed and walked away immediately. He took out his phone and started talking to someone.
Martin felt the friendly slap of Abe Allen's heavy hand on his shoulder.
"You did well, kid."
"I?" he asked incredulously.
"Yes you. You may have just saved your idol's ass. "
Martin didn't understand anything, but he was sure of one thing - if he had helped Steve Paxton in any way, it would be the happiest moment of his life. But what exactly did he do?
"I do not understand…"
Allen sighed and looked up at the sky.
"Steve is a brilliant driver, but a difficult man ..."
"I know. I heard."
"How much?"
"Not much," he admitted. "Only this and that you are thinking about him leaving ..."
"It was actually his idea, Steve's," Allen explained. "I guess he thought it was the only way he could protect the stable. You see, he refused to sign a settlement with the boy's parents. "
"Why?"
"I do not know. But maybe we can find out. Thanks to you, we know where the whole event took place. If we find a witness, for example a cafe worker ... "
"Or a CCTV recording!" Martin suddenly picked up, surprised to find it only now. "If you find anything that shows that Steve's action was justified ..."
"Of course, hitting a kid is bad, but if we find anything to justify Steve, we can save his ass and ours."
Yes, they will definitely find something like that! The video Martin had seen showed only the boy rising from the ground and rubbing a bloody lip. The boy accused Paxton of beating him, but the act itself was not captured on the recording, so those were just the words of this brat ...
Of course, for soulless online media looking for sensation, that was enough. But since Steve didn't want to sign the settlement, did that mean he had a clear conscience and was not afraid of a police investigation?
Martin felt happy again. If only they could find something to protect Steve!