Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 71396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 71396 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 357(@200wpm)___ 286(@250wpm)___ 238(@300wpm)
I wander into the kitchen, stroking my hand along the granite countertops along the way. I peek in the fridge, open a cabinet and stop short. “Is that… my tea?”
Reid leans against the counter, arms crossed over his chest, smiling at me. “Yeah. I had someone stock a few things to make you more at home. Your tea, Tim Tams, that granola you like. I’m pretty sure you’ll find your weird dairy-free yogurt too.”
“You had someone? Who someone?”
Reid shrugs, dropping his arm. “An assistant who helps out doing mundane things I don’t have time to do. She’ll do shopping, run errands… stuff like that, which is helpful as much as we travel. Gunner uses her too.”
I blink. “That’s either thoughtful or mildly terrifying.”
“Call it both.” He laughs, an unguarded grin lighting up his face—the one that makes him look less like the man who races at breakneck speeds and more like the boy who once built sandcastles beside me. “Let’s grab dinner and walk around.”
♦
I’m enchanted as we wander through the quiet beauty of Zurich’s Old Town. The last traces of daylight have slipped behind the rooftops, and the city glows with a softer light. Gold hues spill from windows, streetlamps flicker to life above cobblestone alleys, and the sky deepens into a velvet blue. Dinner is cozy—fondue and crisp white wine in a tucked-away bistro where surprisingly, no one looks at Reid twice. Either he’s just not recognized tonight, or he is and no one cares to bother him.
It’s like a different version of us compared to the last two days. No pressure, no flashbulbs. Just laughter and bread dipped in cheese and my leg brushing his under the table.
We’re halfway through our second glass of wine when Reid’s phone buzzes. Then again. And again.
He frowns and checks it.
“Whoa,” he says, eyebrows rising.
“What?”
“Carlos texted… apparently the Titans have signed Francesca Accardi to replace Matthieu Laurent.”
“Who’s that?” I ask.
“She’s a female driver who’s being moved up from FI2. This is huge news because she’ll be the first female driver in the top tier.”
“Oh… wow,” I breathe out in awe and a shiver runs up my spine at the implications. “Is she good?”
“She wouldn’t be in FI if she wasn’t phenomenal,” Reid says, his eyes scanning something on his phone. “There’s been talk of someone signing her. I’m not surprised at all that Brienne Norcross is the one to make the move to bring a female driver onto an FI team.” Reid scoots his chair around the table closer to mine. “Here… there’s an article.”
I lean over as he taps a link and a sports article opens. We read silently together.
TITANS RACING SIGNS FRANCESCA ACCARDI, MAKING HISTORY WITH THE FIRST FEMALE FI DRIVER
By Lydia Schelling | Formula World
In a groundbreaking move, Titans Racing has signed Italian driver Francesca Accardi to a full-season contract, promoting her to Formula International’s top-tier roster effective immediately. Accardi, 24, becomes the first woman in history to earn a seat as a primary driver in FI.
The announcement follows the internal reassignment of Matthieu Laurent, who will move to a development role after reported tensions within the team and performance inconsistencies earlier this season. Hendrik Voss, the team’s controversial chief racing engineer, is reportedly on administrative leave.
Brienne Norcross, majority stakeholder of Titans Racing, released a statement earlier today. “Francesca has more than earned her place here. She’s proven herself repeatedly on the track, and we’re proud to offer her the opportunity she deserves. Titans Racing is committed to championing talent, no matter what package it comes in.”
Accardi, long considered a rising star in FI2, brings an aggressive, precision-focused driving style and a loyal European fan base. She captured three podiums in the past FI2 season and was instrumental in the development of newer tire management techniques now being tested across several teams.
In her own words, Accardi commented, “This has been my dream since I first touched a kart. I know what this means—not just for me, but for every girl who ever watched the podium from the sidelines. I’m not here for the headlines. I’m here to race.”
Women have long faced challenges breaking into FI, from limited feeder opportunities to the immense physical demands of the sport—including the high g-forces that drivers endure during races. While female drivers have been successful in lower tiers and endurance events, none had previously cracked the top-level driver lineup in the male-dominated world of Formula International.
Accardi’s promotion is being hailed as a milestone, not only for her personal career but for the sport itself. Critics have noted the need for deeper structural changes across the driver pipeline to ensure that Accardi isn’t just a one-time exception.
For now, Titans Racing has thrown down the gauntlet. And Francesca Accardi is ready to race.
I let out a breath. “Wow. I got goose bumps.”
Reid nods slowly, moving his chair back in place. “She’s not just a token. She’s legit.”