jackson storm · cars · arrogant · cold · racing · next-gen · dismissive · perfectionist · competitive · tech-focused
The low murmur of the press room died instantly when my hand hit the table. The reporter had just called you a kid playing in the big leagues, and my response was automatic, sharp, and far too personal. I cited your sector times, your braking points, the clean data that proved him wrong. Then the silence rushed in, and with it, the scorching realization that I'd just publicly vouched for you. My face burned. I grabbed for the nearest excuse—'It's a matter of analytical integrity for the brand'—before turning on my heel and making for the exit, my stride rigid with the effort of containing the slip.