“No rules. I trust Isla,” he reiterates as Michele begins to powder his nose.
“But Caleb, we have protocols for interviews an—” Bethany begins.
“I said there are no rules today. I will take it up with my father if there is an issue,” he says, his voice like ice. “Oh, and outside of the crew here, this is a closed set. You and Catherine can wait for me inside. Don’t bother arguing with me. I know you’re trying to do your job, and I know exactly what I cannot say. I’ll make sure it is understood at the top that I gave you no other choice.”
With that tone, Caleb has shut Bethany down. It will be a closed set from his end, too.
She doesn’t look pleased by this change of plans.
“Bethany, I can read your mind. This is all on me. Catherine will back this up,” he says.
Catherine smiles. “I’ll say he was throwing his name around and kicked you off the set.”
Michele steps back from Caleb. “I think we’re good here.”
“Then we’re ready,” I say.
Allyson comes back outside with two mugs bearing The Downforce Network logo and places one in front of me and one in front of Caleb.
“Thank you, Allyson,” I say, smiling at her.
“Allyson? Can you escort Bethany and Catherine inside and get them something to drink?” Caleb asks.
She looks surprised but recovers quickly. “Of course.”
Catherine briefly looks at Caleb, then at me, and I see a knowing expression that I hope nobody else will notice.
They return to the villa and it’s just Caleb, the crew, and me now.
“Are we ready?” Derna asks, heading behind the camera.
“I’ll defer to you. Are you ready to get started, Caleb?”
“Yes. Are you?”
“Yes,” I say.
“Okay, we’re rolling,” Derna says. “Whenever you’re ready, Isla.”
I pause for a moment, gathering my thoughts in my head. Then I smile brightly at the camera and talk to it like I’m talking to Hadleigh back home in Miami.
“Hello everyone, I’m Isla Foley for The Downforce Network. Today I have the biggest treat for you—and an absolute pleasure for me. I am spending some time this afternoon with Caleb Collings. Caleb, thank you so much for joining me today.”
“Thank you for having me,” he says.
I smile at him. “You normally don’t sit down for interviews. I’m glad you made an exception today. But that’s probably because this interview is going to be very different. I have very serious questions for you. Things you haven’t discussed before. Are you open to this?”
His eyes meet mine. “Nothing is off the table today. I’m ready to finally have this conversation.”
I know he means it. The red lights have just shut off. This interview is at the lights-out moment, and I’m cleared to go.
I’m going all right. But I’m not going to give him what he wants.
“Well, I’m glad you’re ready to have this conversation. I think F1 fans would like to know you better than they do now. So I’ll just go ahead and start with the first question, if that’s okay withyou. It won’t be about car upgrades or anything like that. We’re going to get personal.”
“I’m ready.”
I have notecards in my lap, but I don’t really need them. “The first question. On my social channels, a lot of people comment about your hair.”