After the Hate Has Gone (Sebastian Vettel)

30. Britta's Recollections

Britta had been 100% correct in her assumption that she would become very busy in the days following Seb's Monza victoty. And not regarding the racing either!

The press were going crazy over the fact that Seb had literally snogged his own team's photographer in Park Ferme.

He and Lottie had flown back to the UK to Lottie's house to hide out. Britta was torn between being furious and being happy for her dear friend. He deserved a bit of happiness after what he had been through. He was no longer the young care-free man that Britta had met all those years ago at Red Bull. He had changed after his marriage. He put on an act in public but in private he was a different man. Britta had always thought Celestine was wrong for him. He always acted different when she was around. Lottie was a breath of fresh air. She and Seb....well Britta had always seen the spark between them. He could hide nothing from Britta. After all these years she knew him almost as well as he knew himself.

Back at Red Bull she could see he'd developed feelings for Lottie. She was certain that he would leave Celestine for her. She'd been so surprised when he'd called her one night to tell her he and Celestine were engaged. It wasn't her place to say anything though. She just hoped he'd come to his senses before it was too late.

Then one night in Belgium, the day before media day, his race engineer, Rocky, had called her to ask for her help. Seb was extremely drunk in a bar and he needed help with him. Britta had rushed there along with Heikki who was Seb's trainer at the time. Rocky was waiting for them by the door. He pointed at the very drunk, dejected looking German. Heikki waited with Rocky whilst Britta had made her way over to talk to him. She slid on the stool next to him at the bar, shaking her head when the bartender asked if she wanted anything.

"Seb, what's going on? This isn't you."

"She's gone Britta. She's left me. I've lost her forever."

"Cel's gone? Seb, what's happened?" He shook his head, fighting tears.

"Not Cel. Lottie." Britta was shocked. There actually was something going on between him and Lottie?

"Seb, I'm confused. You're marrying Cel. Why are you in this state over another woman?"

"Cel's pregnant Britta. I have no choice. I had to choose her. For my child's sake. I never thought Lottie would leave."

"So what did you expect would happen Sebastian? That you could carry on an affair with Lottie? Have your cake and eat it?" Britta said, harshly.

"I don't know," he replid, knocking back his whiskey and signalling the bartender for another. "Britta, I'm trapped. I still want her. I want to find her and bring her back."

"Do you really care for Lottie?" He nodded. "Then forget her. Let her live her life and be happy. She wouldn't be happy being your mistress. She deserves better."

"What if I can't forget her?" Britta put her arm around him.

"Cel and the baby are your main concern now Seb, you have to forget her. Now come on. Heikki and Rocky are going to help you back to your room. You're going to be in no state to do media day tomorrow so I will tell Christian that you're sick. " Heikki and Rocky came over at Britta's signal and helped Seb out of the bar.

That had been the first time Britta had seen him drunk like that. Over the years it only happened a handful of times. Mostly when he'd had a row with Celestine but he'd never mentioned Lottie again. He'd either forgotten her like Britta had mentioned or he was a very good actor.

Now all these years later Britta had come to the conclusion that the man deserved an Oscar as he'd obviously never forgotten about Lottie. Britta cast her mind back to the last time she'd seen him drunk. It had been the day he'd been notified by Ferrari that they weren't renewing his contract. Antti had called her saying he had found Seb passed out surrounded by empty bottles.

She'd quickly drove over from her flat on the other side of the town. He'd opened his eyes and smiled when he heard her voice.

"Hey Britta. Did you hear my news? Ferrari don't want me any more. Binotto took great pleasure phoning me. He couldn't even tell me in person the snivelling little worm. I'm done, I'm not good enough any more."

"Seb, there are options. You need to look into them. There is life after Ferrari. It's not doing you any good to drink yourself into this state. Come on let Antti help you to bed."

"What's wrong with me Britta? Why does no one want me? I'm nearly 33 years old and what have I got? Money, shitloads of money that I'll never spend in this lifetime. But I don't have anyone to share it with. I want a family Britta. I want to be loved."

"Sebastian, come on. You need to sober up. Antti, get him some water. Sebastian. You are a wonderful man. The nicest, kindest human being I have ever known. There is someone out there for you. You just haven't found her yet. You're still young. There's still time." Seb smiled at her.

"Britta I love you, you know that. You're always there for me. You're like my sister."

"And you're my annoying little brother. Now come on. Sort your shit out before I call your Mother."

"You wouldn't."

"Try me." Seb decided he wouldn't risk it. He didn't want his mother coming to sort him out. He let Antti help him up to bed.

The next morning he had a hangover from hell and swore he was going to sort his life out. He was going to stop feeling sorry for himself. Britta was there with him every step of the way. He faltered and it took a long time to sort himself out but he eventually got there, signing for Aston Martin.

The biggest change came when Lottie returned into his life. His spark came back, the Reb Bull Seb was back. Britta knew that they were right for each other. Even when they were baiting each other, and arguing constantly. He had never seemed so alive. And when he had told her that he and Lottie were together at last she had been so happy for them. For him. He deserved someone that would love him deeply. And she could see their love, it shone out of them everytime they were together. And after his actions at Monza the whole world had seen their love.

Her phone was constantly buzzing with journalists wanting statements. She scrolled through the endless emails. She knew that Seb would have to release a statement eventually but not today. Then an article caught her eye. She scanned it, not quite believing what she was seeing.

"You've got to be fucking kidding me!" she cursed.