Chapter 22: Element Sleek Rims
The setting would take some getting used to, but it was clearly a new experience. Wide panels, squeaky clean and clear as the sunrise in the distance. A wide, empty space with laminated oak flooring. It was an atmosphere that evoked some sort of peace and imagination.
The sensual stare of the white BMW coupe pierced the quiet air as she observed Mr. Turo's anticipated guest from her desk approaching the scene. Her lively brown eyes studied the world around her with awe and caution. Her peach coat shimmered lightly in the glare of the red dawn. Her bandages were fresh, but it was of little concern to this particular world. She rolled on her tires, axles stiffened, towards the center of the office.
"Mr. Turo, she is here." her voice was mature and oddly professional for it's seductive-sounding tone. Melise didn't hear a response on the intercom, and quickly decided it was the way things were around here. He would arrive soon enough if she was worth his time.
Reyna gave the convertible a sweet smile from the far end of the room. Melise parked herself in the large vacant office. She couldn't believe she was actually here.
"He's recovering, with his family. It was a surprise, to all of us." Shannon said, somber in her tone. She could hear Melise sigh lightly. Her soft voice in its usual ambience.
"I hope for the best for him," Melise replied, not sure of what else to say to ease the discomfort of seeing the late racing legend, Mr. McQueen crash. It was all the talk outside of the racing world, she could just hear the hotel beaming with emotions about it.
"Hey, you know, I interviewed Storm for the first time days ago." Shannon said. Melise could hint the flatness of her tone.
"He's... hmph..." the RSN reporter trailed off, shaking her cab. Melise didn't respond on the other end of the call.
"Sort of a jackass?" Melise inquired innocently. Shannon bit her tongue, a method she acquired to prevent on-air unprofessionalism. A fit of giggles erupted from her.
"Oh gosh, you always say the funniest things, Melise!" Shannon mused, knowing the girl was likely blushing and smiling coyly on the other end.
When the two cooled down, Melise remembered the white BMW who sought after her. What better way to get professional advice about gigs than from a racing journalist?
"Mister Eddie Turo? CEO of Element Sleek Rims? As in, the most luxurious rims and tires in the world?" Shannon sounded surprised, heightening Melise's anxiousness.
"Yes. I've heard of it before, but not much from it being expensive and rich."
"Element Sleek Rims has been featured in Rolling Tires magazine, they even work with racers sometimes to promote new rim wear. They're known for many different styles. Posh, trendy, hipster, racing. You name it, they've got designer rims to show off for it." Shannon replied.
"I'm not posh, trendy, hip or any of those things... why would they want me?" Melise asked. She seemed to ask herself the question more than Shannon.
"Hmm, well it's not unlikely that they must've found you through Jackson Storm." Melise felt her cabin get cold with the mention of his full name. She ignored the feeling and listened.
"It's odd you're the apple of their eye. They usually sought out after racers, athletes, or supermodels for new brands coming out," Shannon continued. "Strange."
Melise nibbled her bottom lip, wondering what this was all about. She wasn't posh, she wasn't trendy. She wasn't a racer, she wasn't a beautiful super car model. She was just an oil runner, yet, the odds were somehow in her favor.
"You know, everyone starts from somewhere, Melise. You should check it out. Who knows, maybe you'll be their next supermodel."
When her grandfather heard the conversation, he offered Melise sound advice she couldn't stop remembering.
"The cafe, it's what your mother dreamed of, " Grandpa Rūūnes said in his Storm get-up. "For years, I wanted to see her happy, you wanted to see her happy. She's worked hard, and now look at her. She remodelled the place to pristine. Her sales have gone up, her happiness is sky high. She was dancing with customers just yesterday."
He was right. Vanda was living her dream. She didn't need Melise to forge some more content. That was her mother's life. The convetible's life was ahead of her, and she should explore the opportunities around her.
"If they want to see you, whoever this fancy company is, take the chance." he said, giving his granddaughter a warm smile. Melise didn't feel she ha to think about it. The choice was clear now, eiher way, she couldn't say she didn't get the opportunity to be on the team of Element Sleek Rims.
"Allow me to escort you, Miss Rūūnes." Melise shyly drove alongside the woman she had met once before, Reyna. Following the humming of the BMW's engine down the luxurious hallway adorned with intricately designed rims and tires. Some were sparkling in what could only be imagined as grated gold, others perfectly porcelain white, treads and all.
When the silver twin doors opened, Melise found herself in a spacious room, void of any business etiquette. The walls featured more rims, particularly, catering to a race car design. Hubcaps were bowled inward to create the very same image of a racer's tire. Some were varnished with ESR on the treads, while others were larger or smaller rim size, shimmering in different colors depending on the lighting.
The coupe exchanged a pleased smiled with an approaching sleek black Hummer. His eyes turned to Melise and presented a warm and confident smile. "Thank you, Reyna." With his words, the BMW exited the room.
"Well, I'm pleased to meet you Miss Melise." he said, looking her nervous cab up and down. Her doe eyes presented a nervous smile back.
"Edison Turo, but you can call me Eddie," the man said greeting her, "or Turo. Whatever you prefer."
Melise tried to come up with words, "Hello, Mister Turo." she answered, her voice quiet.
He stared back, a bigger grin on his bumper as she addressed him, "I'd imagine the timing was, off, but I'm glad to see you, Miss Rūūnes."
He parked his mammoth cab beside her, "I take that you've seen the many rims?" he raised his tire, emphasizing the designer tires framed behind glass along the walls.
"Yes," Melise answered stifly. "They are... interesting."
The CEO laughed, watching the blush rise to the young convertible's hood. "Aren't they? I'm glad you find them to be intriguing!"
Melise covered her mouth with her treads. She was always awkward with first impressions.
"Ah, there she is," Eddie mused, watching Melise's shy spur. "There's the girl we love."
Melise's mouth formed an 'O' and she tilted her cab in question. "Um, I don't know what to say."
"You're too adorable," he stated, taking in a breath from his laughing fit. "But I'm sure you're wondering why I invited you here." The Hummer accelerated forward, making a U-turn to face her as he pressed a button cleverly disguised as a tile. Just then, several tiles on the ground in front of the businessman opened to reveal a glass casing. Inside: four tires, each with different designs to accent them.
"Imagine, just picture it, these rims on the average Joe," Eddie said, watching his prized possesions, and turning his attention to Melise. She was eyeballing each one.
He watched as her doe eyes caught some interest in the race car edition. The dark blue ring circled the rims and outer treads. Eddie wasn't sure, but he could almost sense that she seemed startled by them.
He cleared his throat, continuing, "Genuine racing tires with intricate rims to match." He gestured for her to come closer. "They even glow in the dark," Eddie grinned. Melise seemed in awe.
"What if some racing sponsors, decided they wanted name brand tires to sell to the fans?" Eddie asked.
Melise watched as two forklifts carried four tires towards her, lining themselves up beside Mr. Turo.
"And you know what? They did." He cruised around the casing, facing Melise head on.
"COMBUSTR, SynerG, IGNTR, they opened the idea, and here at Element Sleek Rims, we built it."
"It's a-amazing," Melise said, noticing how well the tires matched the real ones on the race cars she once worked alongside. The resemblance, besides the missing Lightyear logo, was uncanny.
"That's not all," Eddie said, gesturing his henchmen to the convertible. Melise hardly had a chance to react before they removed her tires, and replaced them with new, heavier ones. She tried to see her new tires with little luck.
Mr. Turo parked himself back beside her as the forklifts held a large mirror in front of her. He watched her front light up with surprise and awe as she viewed the new tires, a perfect match to her peach paintjob. The outer treads featuring a double thin ring matching her fibreglass.
"These are the IGNTR feminine line, this color, made just for you."
Melise's awe quickly turned into an expression of shock as she eyed them cautiously. IGNTR?
"What do you say, Melise? IGNTR thinks your perfect for the role, I think your perfect."
He could feel his oil pressure fluctuating as her shocked face didn't dim away.
"All that we want, is your beautiful demeanor and smile. No discomfort, no diets, no disruptions on your personal life." Mr. Turo said, smiling to her through the reflection.
He paused as she seemed to think it through diligently. "If you do agree, we will also provide you with free rims, the one's you have on."
"You chose... me?" She was genuinely confused.
"WE, chose you." Eddie stated.
"Instead of... racers?" her reflection stared back.
"IGNTR says you're great for the job, and we love your adorable face and small frame. Your decision?"
She blinked twice, eyes grazing over the rims and tires in the case, and around the room. Melise felt there was some sort of guilt on the racing sponsor's part. Her eyes showed some potential, interest that warmed Eddie's engine.
"I accept," Melise said gleefully, watching Eddie's eyes grow wide and a big grin appear on his bumper.
"Great!" Mr. Turo dismissed the forklifts, leaving the two cars alone. "I'm pleased to hear that, really!"
He headed towards the door his henchmen left through, gesturing his tire to her, "Come on, I have much to show and explain, and introduce you to the team."
She took one more glance at her outstretched tire, the peach rims glimmered in the sunrise.
Melise still seemed to be in shock as she followed him, the world of oil running quickly changing to rims and tires. The experience, increasingly surreal.