Falling For The Biker - Chapter 86: Chapter 86

Arthur's POV
I've been running around in circles for years.
I never knew how much it would affect me. How much I would be pushed to the edge by my reluctance.
It was eating me up every second of the day, but I always had something to distract myself — my love for the race, ladies and company.
Until it wasn't enough.
The clicking of the glass around me snapped me only for a minute out of my thoughts. We were now in a bar. Rod and Jackson seemed to have vanished somewhere.
Though I knew they were still mad, I chose to avoid their questions and be surrounded by others. Sierra sat in the corner. I wasn't sure what was going through her mind, but she looked almost absentminded.
I had a lot I needed to tell her, first being an apology, but I needed to construct the best. “Arthur, I don't know why you weren't at the race but you missed so much,” Ian said, sipping his wine.
He continued, looking around the table at the others, who listened attentively. “Rider K was hot on that racetrack. You know, I never truly saw him ride in person, but seeing that today, I understand why he was caught under the wing of the president. He is fucking mysterious,” he said.
“Dexter's expression when he lost was perfection. It's going round the internet,” a friend of Ian said.
They all chatted, speaking about how great Rider K was. I couldn't keep up as I tended to zone out, my eyes on Sierra. “You know, if you ain't careful, Rider K is going to take Sierra. She is some hot chick for everyone to want her so much,” Ian said, and they all laughed.
Jackson and Rod joined Sierra. I excused myself from the group and walked over to them. Taking a seat on the only seat left, I placed my glass down on the table.
“I know you all are mad at me and I apologize,” I said.
“We are not mad. We just want to understand what is going through that head of yours,” Jackson said.
“About the race?” I asked.
“About your fucking disappearance,” Rod half-yelled. “You disappear with barely anyone knowing your whereabouts and then you return with the news of you pulling out of the race. You even went behind me to submit the application.”
It seemed his assistant had told him about the document I handed over to be submitted to the board in charge of the Grat race. “In simple terms, I didn't disappear. I participated in the race.” I paused, scanned their faces, then breathed out.
“I'm Rider K,” I confessed.
“What?!”
“Huh?”
Rod and Jackson exclaimed simultaneously. Sierra, on the other hand, had her lips parted with her eyes, telling me how relieved she was. My heart ached that I worried her in such a way.
“What do you mean you are Rider K? How can that be? You said you would never use another name aside from Arthur. What really is going through your head?” Rod said, sounding disappointed.
“What's going through my head is that I give up!” I yelled.
Fortunately, the music was loud enough to cover it. I sighed. “Listen, I know it comes as a surprise to you. I made a promise to grandfather... myself that Arthur would always be my name, but things need to change. It's been years, and it's now a drawback,” I said.
I loved my grandfather. He was everything my father wasn't. From the moment I learnt how to walk, speak and understand, I knew him as the one at my side.
I wanted to show him how much I appreciated him and I still did, but I couldn't keep up using that name. “Three years ago, I got an offer. I always rejected it, but after some thought, I chose to go with it. Just for the mean time and maybe I could decide if I wanted it in the end. The contract is about to come to an end and I've chosen to renew it,” I explained.
“Why? Your father hasn't done anything to make you stop being you,” Jackson said.
I nodded. I knew that. After our fall out the other day, I expected him to ruin me as he always did, but to my surprise, he didn't. Instead, he put in a good word and spoke to a few other companies to get me signed with them.
It warmed my heart in a way, but it wasn't enough because it was just a temporary solution. Maybe a way to coax me to stay away from Sierra. Another way to control me and if I wanted a chance to be with Sierra, then I needed my independence, far from my father's influence.
The president was the perfect means to do that.
“You know it's only temporary, Jackson. I know what he wants from me and I will not give it to him,” I said firmly.
The table turned quiet, everyone contemplating my words. “So you are really pulling away, huh?” Rod said and took in a deep breath as he nodded. “It's your choice, and I will respect it. You know what's best for you. I will hand over your documents to your new manager. You were my best, and I'll miss you.”
He sighed, stood up, and walked away. I have barely seen him that way before. Rod was always strict when it came to it. I knew he had a soft side, which he showed me occasionally. I expected that reaction even though not exactly.
Jackson stood, slapping my shoulder, then squeezed softly with a nod. “I believe in you,” he said and left as well.
I watched him leave before turning to Sierra, who had sat quietly through it all. Hesitantly, I placed a hand over hers. “Sierra, I'm sorry,” I said, cautiously.
Her gaze remained on the table, and in a split second, her palm connected to my face.