Race For Red Trophies

Chapter two: Agreements

Jane sat drinking a cup of tea and watching the race in front of him. It was a week after he had agreed to sponsor the feisty Teresa Lisbon, and she was currently coming second. Jane smiled smugly as she pushed her GTO as hard as she could. There were two laps left, and he was on the edge of his seat in anticipation. The businessman next to him, Kimball Cho, the stoical owner of Kimball Agencies, was looking as bored as ever. However, Jane could tell that maybe Mr Cho hadn't made the best choice in driver – a tall man named Wayne Rigsby – judging by the man's tight grip on the arms of the plush seat.

Jane watched Lisbon's car pass a purple Mazda RX7, and grinned widely as she eased into first place. The chequered flag was waved as she crossed the line, the Mazda close on her tail. She stopped off to the side, but didn't get out. Jane's eyes opened wide when he saw why. He stood up abruptly and left the room, eager to prevent a serious incident.

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Lisbon was elated that she had won. Sure, she had won races in the past, but they hadn't counted as much as this one did. Her joy was short-lived, however, and she watched in fear as the driver of the Mazda pulled himself angrily from behind the wheel. He stalked towards her car, and she undid her seatbelt in anticipation. If push came to shove, Lisbon knew that she could floor the man with one punch. She just hoped it wouldn't get to that.

Matthew Lawrence was not accustomed to losing. But that GTO had been a thorn in his side for the last few races, even going so far as to cost him money for repairs. Unfortunately, Matthew had never been given the chance to personally give the driver a piece of his mind. The driver of the GTO cut the engine, and Matthew wasted no time in pulling himself from his Mazda and storming over to the GTO. The driver of the GTO undid his seatbelt, but made no move to get out of the car. Matthew pulled the door open and lifted the tiny racer from the car by the front of his jacket. He slammed the tiny racer against the back door of the GTO. "What the hell kind of racing was that?" he yelled at the closed helmet.

Lisbon's hands were shaking as she reached up and unclipped her helmet. The racer from the Mazda still hadn't put her down, and she was pinned between him and the back door of her GTO. She decided that now was the time to reveal the face behind the helmet, or get herself beaten to a pulp if she didn't.

Matthew's anger quickly turned to shame as an ocean of ebony hair cascaded from underneath the helmet. A pair of emerald eyes glared indignantly back up into his. He lowered the woman to the floor and stepped back. His outburst had drawn quite a crowd, which had all been expecting a fight. What they did not expect was to watch a six foot two man get stared down by the tiny woman before them. She nonchalantly tossed her helmet back through the driver's door before turning back to the man in front of her.

Lisbon drew herself up to her full height and looked the man before her squarely in the eyes. "You want to say that again to my face?" she growled menacingly.

Matthew stammered and stuttered before turning on his heels and practically running for the safety of his car. Lisbon glanced around at the awed crowd. They were staring at her in a mixture of amazement and wariness. "Okay, boys," a voice behind them called. "Let's break it up now."

The crowd dispersed begrudgingly, and Jane appeared at Lisbon's side. She turned to face him, and he could see apprehension in her eyes. "You did well out there today, Lisbon," he said, patting her shoulder. "Now let's get out of here."

XxxxxxxxxxxX

Jane and Lisbon headed to a diner not far from the racetrack. "You raced excellently, Lisbon," said Jane as they sat across the table from each other.

Lisbon smiled shyly and looked away. "I did my best."

Jane frowned slightly. This could not be the same woman who had stood up to a huge race driver mere minutes before. This woman looked like even the slightest noise would make her jump. "Lisbon," he said gently, resisting the urge to reach across the table and take hold of her hand. "Is there something you would like to talk about?"

Lisbon glanced up at him. "They know I'm a woman," she mumbled. "The stakes are no longer fair."

Jane raised an eyebrow. "No longer fair? I don't understand."

Lisbon looked up at him, her eyes blazing. "Do you have any idea what it's like for a woman to make it in the racing world? Twenty-three sponsors turned me down because I was a woman. Twenty-three! Three of them told me that they were considering other options, fifteen refused to even read my credentials, and five told me flatly exactly why I wasn't eligible. The other racers are either too rough on me, or too lenient. I never get a fair chance at winning if they know who I am."

Jane just sat and listened to Lisbon's outburst. He had first-hand experience, with his business partner Van Pelt, in how hard a woman had to work to get to the top. He knew that Lisbon had things especially rough in the male dominated racing world. He leant forward and rested his hands on the top of the table, his mind made up. "I have decided to change the terms of our agreement."

Lisbon's face turned pale. "I'm fired, aren't I?"
Jane shook his head. "The first race in the professional league is in two weeks time. I've decided to forego the next two amateur races and push you straight through to the Redding Cup. Do you think you can be ready in time?"

Lisbon was dumbstruck. This man before her – this handsome blonde man in his grey three piece suit, clutching a cup of tea – had just offered to push her straight through to the professional league. She nodded mutely, unable to speak.

Jane grinned back at her. He had never thought he would see the day when the gorgeous, quick-witted Teresa Lisbon would be lost for words. He stared at the tiny woman seated across from him, enjoying the excitement growing in her emerald eyes. "I know you can do this, Lisbon," he said, feeling his own excitement grow. "I believe in your abilities."

Lisbon grinned. "I won't let you down Mr Jane."

A/N: This AU is perhaps not getting the response I would like. Please review and tell me how I'm doing, and if I could change things for the better. Thanks.