Traction: A Driven World Novel (The Driven World)

by Dani René

  I don’t want to fight with someone I could be working with in future, but I find my confidence and walk up to his window. Knocking on the glass, I wait for him to slide it down.

  “The wannabe racer,” he says with a smirk as he takes me in from head to toe. His eyes seem to undress me with their heat, and my skin bursts with goosebumps.

  “Yeah, you know what? I am a wannabe because I’m not a professional yet. But your attitude stinks. I’ve spent my life around cars, around tracks, and watching men like you race. I’ve also looked up to many, but with your vile reaction to a girl beating you, I think you’re nothing more than a scared little boy.”

  I don’t know where my fire comes from, but the thought of someone looking down at me because I’m female only makes me want to punch him in the face. And if he weren’t in the car, I may have slapped him.

  I expect him to shout and scream. I also expect him to curse me out, but he doesn’t. His eyes narrow as he watches me. A small smile hints at the corner of his mouth before he says, “Fire. I love a feisty woman.”

  “You can love it all you want, but I’m not one of your pit bunnies who drops to her knees for you. And I never will be.” I spin on my heel and head back toward my car.

  But just before I reach it, I hear the rumble of the Rover. It stops right behind me, and Kayden rolls down the window farther to lean out. His smile is brighter now, and my heart kicks in my chest.

  Fuck.

  I can’t deny the asshole is handsome. Hot. He’s most definitely bad news, and I know Dad would warn me away if I told him I met someone good-looking at the track.

  “Hey, speedy,” he calls to me. “Never say never, because I wouldn’t mind seeing you ride.” With a wink, he pulls away, and his words sink in, and I slowly realize what he meant, which only seems to make my stomach tumble.

  “Ugh,” I bite out as I slip into the seat of my car. The man is appalling, and I can’t stand him. Why does he have to work here, where I’ll be for I don’t know how long?

  It could be months.

  It could even be years.

  But with Kayden, I don’t know how I’ll be able to handle it.

  The ride home is silent. I don’t even want to turn on the radio because all that keeps replaying in my mind is his promise, and that was most certainly confidence brimming in his voice.

  I meant what I said, though. I’m not some floozy who’s going to swoon over him no matter how sexy he is. It’s his personality that seems to need a lot more work.

  I pull up at home, and the house is silent when I step inside. Mom must still be at work. I race up to my room and shut the door. Opening my laptop, I quickly tap out Kayden’s name, adding race car driver to the search, and wait for the results.

  When the photos pop up, I realize he’s the guy I saw at the party last night. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a house like that. It was enormous, but one of the girls who dates a street racer invited me, and I figured why not.

  I’ve never been one for things like that. I grew up fairly sheltered, but knowing I’d have to get used to the life soon enough, I agreed. While I was in the hot tub, I felt eyes on me, burning into me. When I turned around, I saw him watching, but he had a blonde practically draped over him, so I didn’t pay that much attention.

  I click on the first image to enlarge it, the photo taken when he won some race. He’s standing on the podium with a large bottle of champagne. His smile is bright, nothing like the one he offered me earlier. But when I click on the second photo, one of him walking out of a store dressed in casual clothes, I recognize him immediately.

  It was definitely him last night.

  And my heart kicks against my ribs while my stomach flutters at the handsome photo of him going about his day like a normal person.

  Only, he’s not normal. He’s one of the best male drivers after Colton Donavan. And I can’t deny I find him more than attractive.

  Bad news.

  Heartbreaker.

  Kayden Mercer.

  4

  Kayden

  Fucking ridiculous.

  I was meant to race today, to forget the threats that came from the phone call, and then she walked in and fucked my world over. Pushing my bedroom door open, I step into the darkened room and make a beeline for the shower. Once inside, I turn on the taps and strip off while the steam billows in the vast room.

  The cool tiles underfoot send shivers up my spine, and when I step under the spray, the heat prickles my skin. Placing both palms on the wall in front of me, I drop my head, allowing the water to massage the tight knots in my shoulders. I wanted to lose my cool with the board. I want them all fired and build a team I can trust, who I know will have my back, but I know it’s a bad idea. Some of them are good at what they do, they know the business, but the fact that they want me out has me rethinking everything.

  My life has become a shitshow. All I’m waiting for now is my mother to call and tell me what a bad job I’m doing with the company. She never wanted to step up and be CEO. Her focus is on spending the money that comes in, but she has no desire to work for it.

  Years of allowing Dad to do everything has ensured her laziness skyrocketed, and even now, she’d rather spend her days lounging in the sun than to ask about how things are going. But make no mistake, she would’ve heard through the grapevine that something is going down.

  Perhaps I should call Sadie tonight. Maybe she will be able to stop my thoughts from raging out. But when I picture the blonde, I feel nothing. No stirring of desire like I used to. That shocks the shit out of me. I used to enjoy having women throw themselves at me. I basked in the attention they offered and the ease with which they would spread their legs.

  But after my interaction with a certain tanned beauty, my mind is on her and nothing else. The curly hair, those pouty fucking lips, and her curves. God, she has the most delicious figure I’ve ever seen. Her tits, even though they were hidden by her sweater, I knew they were a little more than a handful from the night I gawked at her at the party. And I was fucking gawking.

  Perfect.

  However, it’s not only her physical appearance that captured me. It’s the fucking sass in her words. She has fire, which comes across even though she is shy. I can tell she doesn’t allow herself to be spoken down to. And that earned my fucking respect.

  I didn’t lie to her earlier when I said I wanted to see her ride. The thing about it is, I want her on my dick. Perhaps a quick fuck with her will ease my tension, but something tells me she’s not one of those groupies.

  I know Colton won’t tell me anything about her after my reaction earlier. But what he said makes me consider her. When he asked me if I liked her, I wanted to refuse immediately, but the memory of her in a hot tub, her shocked expression when we finished the race, and the thought of watching her bounce on my dick had me second-guessing myself.

  Yes, I do want her.

  I can’t deny it.

  But I know she’s going to be a hard nut to crack. With her personality and me already fucking up what perception she has of me, I doubt she’ll even give me a chance.

  I don’t know why I thought her being female was the issue. It was the fact that I never lose. Since I got behind the wheel of a car the first time till the moment I did today, I’d never come second. But with her shoving me off the top podium, even though it wasn’t a real race, I felt the sting, and I took it out on her.

  I lather up and quickly rinse off before killing the spray and stepping out of the shower. It doesn’t take long for me to get dressed and head into the living room to find my phone ringing.

  The moment I see the name on the screen, I groan. I consider briefly if I should ignore it, but I know if I do, she’ll only keep calling.

  “Mom,” I answer, shutting my eyes because I know what’s coming.

  “Kayden, I’ve heard whispers from the social circles. What is going on with Mercer Industries? You know your father built that from the ground up. He would be so disappointe
d in you for allowing it to fall through the cracks like this.”

  “Mom, please,” I beg, but I know it’s no use. Once she’s got her mind set on making me feel terrible, she won’t give up until I lose it and tell her to leave me the fuck alone. As much as I love her, she’s not the nicest person to be around. Which is also why I’ve never taken a woman home.

  If my father were still alive, I would’ve done it no problem, but the moment I step foot in that house with someone who isn’t what my mother deems perfect, I know it will only end in tears.

  “I just want you to be responsible.”

  “I know what I’m doing. Can you please just allow me to make my own choices? It’s not like you want to take over or help in any way,” I bite out, my jaw ticking in frustration as I sigh when I realize I should’ve been nicer. But she always does this, has my blood boiling within seconds of talking to me.

  She doesn’t speak for a long while, and I wonder if she’s just going to hang up on me. There’s no chance of that happening because when she wants to make a point, she’s not going to let it go. “Your father wanted that business to be passed down through generations. The fact that these men want you out clearly shows you’re not doing a good job. If you’re even doing the job at all.”

  I’m tempted, so fucking tempted, to hang up, but it’s my mother. One thing Dad always taught me was to respect her, to respect women in general, and that’s when the guilt of what I did today eats away at me. The way I spoke to the woman who kicked my ass, how I lost my cool, wasn’t right.

  I’ll make it right tomorrow. I’ll apologize, and hopefully, she can see past the asshole she met today and realize I’m not that bad.

  “I’m going into the office tomorrow; I’m going to call a meeting, and I will talk to them. Feel free to attend. You do know where the office is, right?” The snark in my voice is ice cold, but I don’t feel guilt for it because I know it won’t even bother her.

  The one thing I learned about my mother is that she’s an ice queen when she wants to be. Her feelings can be turned off so easily sometimes I wonder if she’s even human at all. Perhaps that’s where I got that side of me from.

  My father was always a gentle, affectionate man. With me, he did have a stricter side, but for most people around him, they saw him as the kind man he was.

  “This is your legacy,” she snaps. “I expect you to run it properly.” And then she does hang up, and I know I won’t hear from her again until she’s heard from those assholes. I’m going to make sure they listen to me tomorrow because I’m no longer a kid. I’m a grown-ass man.

  Sighing, I set my phone on the counter and make my way to the fridge and pull it open to find a bottle of water. Twisting the cap, I take a long swig and try to calm myself.

  There’s nothing I want more than to relieve some stress, but if I call Curtis or Pax, I know it will end in a late night. And that’s not something I can afford. Grabbing my phone again, I type a long email to the board, adding each member and hit send. Then, to add to that, I send through an invitation to a meeting at the office which will take place in a few days.

  When I’m done, I tap out a message to Colton asking him if I can be there at midday, which will allow me time to talk to my lawyer. He’ll assist me with the legal documents. When I walk into that board meeting, I’ll ensure the men who think they own my father’s company to know exactly who they’re dealing with.

  With race season coming up, I need to train, I need to focus, and I can’t have my father’s associates stirring up trouble. I then hit send on an email to my lawyer and settle on the couch, turning on the TV. While flicking through the channels, I wonder about my little speedy. She’s mine. She just doesn’t know it yet. I don’t give up easily, and that’s something she’s going to have to learn.

  Leaving a mindless show on, I lean back and close my eyes, and all I see is her. Those cocoa eyes with her golden-brown curls. Pink, pouty lips that make my dick jolt in my sweats, and I know soon enough I’m going to have her under me. One way or another.

  5

  Haelee

  The morning has been filled with cars, engines, and learning more and more about how they set the cars up for races. I know the season is starting soon, so every driver on Colton’s team is onsite, either talking about their next race or the qualifiers, which are important.

  The guys have been welcoming in showing me around. When I arrived this morning, I was certain I would be stared at all day, but nobody paid any attention to the fact that I’m female. It’s as if I’m part of the family already.

  I move through the building until I hit the pit. I haven’t seen Kayden yet, but from what I overheard, he’ll be in late. I wonder what he’s doing. Perhaps he’s called in late because he'd been partying all night. I wouldn’t put it past him.

  Guys like him break hearts and have enough girls on their arm to build a freaking team of their own. As much as I try not to think about him, I can’t deny that I want to see him.

  It’s stupid. I can’t crush on an asshole like him, but my body has a mind of its own, and when he finally saunters in, my stomach flip-flops wildly at the sight of him in a pair of dark slacks and a white button-up.

  He doesn’t see me at first, and for a moment, I really take him in. The smooth jawline with those full lips and his handsome, chiseled face is tanned from spending too much time in the sun. I wonder briefly if the rest of him is as tanned.

  Shaking my head to clear away the errant thought, I drop my gaze from his brown hair down his torso that’s encased in the white material. He looks like a model who’s just stepped off a runway.

  His slacks hug his thighs like a second skin. And his hands, with veins that are prominent, make my body shiver. Colton walks in moments later, and my perusal is squashed when he calls us both to him.

  “I’ve been thinking about this, and I think it would be good to have you both working together. Kayden is training up for his races coming up soon, and I’d like to see how you handle the track with him in the car. He’ll take you on a few laps, check out your form, and then from there, we’ll work on what needs to be changed and tweaked and what we’d like you to focus on.”

  “What?” both Kayden and I say at the same time, shock clear in our voices. It’s the last thing I want or need.

  “No way, man,” Kayden refuses with a chuckle, as if Colton had just told the funniest joke. But there’s no humor on Colton’s face, and I have a feeling I’m stuck with Kayden Mercer.

  Fuck.

  This is such crap. There are so many amazing drivers on the team, but Colton puts me with him. My stomach sinks to my feet because as much as I hate Kayden, I also know he’s far too good looking, and I do have a crush on him. And that only annoys me.

  “Talk it out,” Colton tells us. “If you have any issues, you’re welcome to bring it to my office. Other than that, get kitted out and get out there.” He turns and leaves us both staring at his retreating form. I want to cry. I’m not sure why, but I feel like this isn’t going to work.

  I know Kayden will never respect me. There’s nothing I can do to change his mind short of growing a dick, and that’s not happening. Frustration burns through my veins, and I’m the first one to make a beeline after Colton.

  In his office, he glances at me, arching a brow as he waits for me to state my case. “I can’t do this. Kayden made it very clear he doesn’t like me, and I can’t work with someone like that. I may be female, but I’m just as good as any guy out there.”

  Colton nods. “I know you are, but that’s why I teamed you up together because he’s the best at what he does, and you need to up your game. Seeing as you both need each other, I suggest you find a way to prove to him that you can do this.”

  I let out a wry laugh. “He’ll never respect me.”

  “He will,” Colton affirms with a nod. “Just give it time. It’s not easy for a guy to lose to a female. And trust me when I say, it’s not that he doesn’t like you. It’s just that he f
inds it difficult not being first all the time. You have to remember something—you beat a driver who has never lost once in his life. It doesn’t matter if you were male or female. He would’ve lost his mind all the same yesterday.”

  “I just … I don’t know if I’m cut out for being judged.”

  “Everyone judges someone at least once in their life. You most probably judged him from his reaction to you yesterday, but do you know why he reacted like that? Do you know what he was going through in his personal life to have him in a bad mood?” He holds up a hand when I open my mouth. “I’m not making excuses for him. What he did was wrong, I do not deny that, but what I mean is, we’re all judged. It’s time to take a chance and allow him to teach you things you need to learn. Use him for his knowledge, and you’ll be better for it.”

  Colton’s words hit home. They settle in my chest, and I take a breath. Nodding slowly, I smile. “Fine. But if he’s an asshole, he can train someone else.”

  He chuckles at my retort, amusement brightening his face as he settles in his office chair, and I leave, making my way back to the garage. I don’t have a choice. I have to do this. Let’s just hope we don’t kill each other in the process.

  When I reach Kayden, he’s leaning against the wall, watching the mechanics work, but he’s changed from his formal clothes into a pair of tight blue jeans that hug his muscled ass and thighs.

  He glances at me from over his shoulder, his gaze causing me to squirm under the scrutiny. “Ready, speedy?” he quips, the corner of his mouth tilting into a sinful grin. I don’t want to notice, but I can’t not. It’s an expression I certainly don’t want to like, but I fucking do.

  “Let’s make something clear—I want to be treated like an equal.” He doesn’t respond, merely grunts, and walks off toward the waiting car. I’m handed a pair of keys, and I have no choice but to follow him.