A SECOND CHANCE MAY BE TOO HOT TO HANDLE
They say there are no second chances, and for Lily Onassis, ever since she walked away from Formula World driver Max Becker, she's considered this true. Instead of a glitzy, glamorous life on the auto racing...
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LILY
After a quick shower in the women's locker at the track — I'm not picky about stuff like that — I blow-dry my hair, toss on a white blouse and tight jeans, then turn to the box Tanya left for me.
I giggle when I lift the top. Inside are a pair of scarlet cowboy boots. I continue to chuckle as I pull them on. They're not me, but they're not terrible, either. I take a few hesitant steps around the room, getting used to the stiff, rough leather boots. They're are a perfect fit the moment I slip them on my feet. So tight I can feel the pressure of my toes poking against the end of the soles. My reflection catches my eye in the mirror, where I examine the red boots, blue jeans, and white blouse. Unfamiliar, but not terrible. I twist and look over my shoulder, liking the way my butt looks in the jeans and how the boots make my legs look longer.
I feel sassy, confident, even. I can do this. Go to a party, sleep in Max's room, help this team through this rough patch. This is nothing compared to what I experienced in tech.
I strut to the SUV, where Tanya's waiting in the back. She's dressed in a similar outfit, only her shirt is plaid and her boots are black.
"Hey, cowgirl," I say as I slide in.
We discuss boots and Texas for a few minutes as we drive in thick traffic to the downtown area, where the restaurant, and our hotel, is located.
"Let's get a little work done, I think we have quite a while before we get to the restaurant with this traffic."
I nod in agreement. Tanya's sharp, and I appreciate her no-nonsense attitude.
"We got some press inquiries about you. Specifically," she scrolls through her phone, "About your previous job."
My gaze darts to the window for a beat, then back to her. "What did they want to know?"
"One reporter asked if you'd like to discuss the circumstances of your fi-, er, dismissal. I told him no."
"Thank you."
"Others wanted to know if you'd like to make a statement about women working in a traditionally male field, like tech or racing."
I nod slowly. "It might not be a bad idea. What do you think?"
"I think I'm going to need more details on your previous situation. All I know is what I read in the papers."
All the earlier badass feelings evaporate. "It wasn't one thing, one event. It was years of being a woman in the tech world, and multiple instances of sexual harassment. Everything from investors trying to get me drunk, to trying to kiss me in the office, and once, I was going over finances with a potential startup investor and he whipped out his erect, well, you know."
Tanya grimaces. "Eww. I once worked for a team owner like that. He was a Silicon Valley guy."
I think I know who she's talking about, but I don't mention his name aloud. "I'm sorry," I say softly.
