Book 1: Oh love, how could I forget~ (Lance Stroll)

Chapter 50: Priorities

"Babe" Lily hears Lance as he gently rubs her back.
She wakes up and quickly gets her phone. "Oh thank God" she looked at the time worried she had slept in. "Thanks babe" she smiles.
"You didn't wake up with your alarm so I figured you'd be mad if I didn't wake you up" he chuckles.
"Good call on that" she yawns as she stretches her arms.
"Still quite early babe. You want to eat breakfast?"
"Hmm.. did you go jogging with Esteban?"
"Yeah"
"So is Elena awake already?"

knockknock

"Room servicee"
they both heard a Elena's voice as she giggles.
"We didn't order anyyy" Lily teases her as she gets up to get the door.
"Butttt it's for four peopleeeee" Elena whines as Esteban laughs beside her.
Lily opens the door and the two pushes the cart inside.
"Thought we all could have breakfast" Elena smiles as she gives them their plates
"Thank youuu" Lily chirps as they all sat together and ate.

They all had good talk about each other's life. They also understood as to why Lance and Lily didn't want to go public for now and so Elena suggested that she can go with them on the way in just so she could avoid some press.

"Your clothes got here early" Lance gave Lily her Ferrari shirt because she got them cleaned that night. "Thanks babe" she says as she kissed his cheek and went to the shower.

Buzzbuzz

Lily's phone was ringing for quite some time now but she was still in the shower.
Lance goes over, sees who it was and answers it.
"Good morning! Lily we need a PowerPoint presentation sent tonight—"
Amber gets cut off by Lance's cough
"Sorry.. good morning. Lily's still in the shower but if it's urgent I could relay the message"
"You're... ?"
"Oh right.. This is Lance.."
"Lance.. Lance what?"
"Stroll"
"Lance Stroll??!"
"Yes"
"What"
"She'll be out soon. Do you want to speak with her now?"
"Wait.. I need to wrap my head around this.. tell her to call me back.. or better we need to talk in person"
"We'll be there soon"
"You go to your team. I'll talk to her first"
The call ends.

"Babe?" Lily sees him with her phone.
"Amber called..."
"What? Maybe she needs something"
"She says she needs a PowerPoint presentation but.. I got to answer the call and she says she needs to talk to you"
"What.. you talked to her?"
"Sorry babe.. she was calling a few times already. Thought it was urgent. I forgot that you haven't told her yet"
Lily exhales deeply. "It's okay. She's bound to know anyways.. I just didn't expect to tell her soon"
"I'm sorry" Lance was apologetic because he knew Lily would now have a hard time with this conflict of work and their relationship. It is still unpredictable as to what a company can do about this situation and the worse case scenario was always what Lily prepares herself for.
"It's alright babe.. I have to deal with this" she weakly smiles as she hugs him.

"Ready to go?" Elena asks as they all go out to the parking.
"Call me after your talk okay?" Lance says his goodbye as he kisses her. She nods and goes in with Esteban and Elena in their car.
Lance was to drive alone just minutes after them.

Lily puts on her Badge. She was quiet and was thinking of what Amber might say later. It's going to be tough.

"It's gonna be okay Lily" Elena encourages her to stay strong and to believe what her heart tells her.
"Thanks"
"If everything else fails, we're here" Esteban says as he parks the car and they all go in the paddock.

They walk inside the paddocks and Lily said her goodbyes to the couple as she nervously go to the Ferrari motorhome and meet Amber.

"Uhm.. Amber I— honestly I really wanted to tell you soon but I was just really trying to get the timing and all I'm really sorry you had to find out this way"  Lily sounded like she just rapped the whole thing.
"Geez slow down" Amber chuckles.
"I'm sorry" Lily looks down fumbling her fingers.
"I know you're not a very good liar and it must've been a hard decision for you to keep this from me"
Lily sighs.
"Was this a mutual decision? For you guys not to go public?" Lily nods. Amber sits infront of her and holds her hand.
"Lily. I have to be honest here.. when you got your contract I told you we were very casual about relationships here. You are with Charles 24/7. I would understand if you guys were the couple here but you with Lance Stroll? Like how did you guys even? It would've been just fine if you dated someone else but someone from another team.. I get there's no rules about that but this is really just..." Amber was just lost for words.
"How'd you guys even.."
"We got together last week.. we talked it out and yeah.." Lily says quietly.
"Did you guys meet in the paddocks then? Like tell me how it started"
"We actually met on a flight together going to Barcelona. I was going there for vacation and to watch the race. It was a coincidence that he was in that flight too and we met"
"So that's all before Charles met you in the paddocks?"
"Actually Lance and I met on the flight, got separated then that night I met Charles because of the party then yeah I brought to attend the race. Charles met me again here and I don't know how you got a wind of my stats"
"so he met you first.. huh" Amber starts to think.
"Okay.. fine.. let's go with this then.. Don't go public. You two have to be very careful from now on. It's your relationship but I do have a say about your work. You have been amazing at your job but I hope you know your priorities here"
Lily understands and nods.
"Yes. I know. Scuderia Ferrari is my priority. I value my work. I won't let my relationship interfere with my tasks. We'll be careful"
"I guess we'll just have to try either having the same hotel as theirs instead of you guys sneaking around like yesterday" Amber says as she massages her forehead.
"Thank you. You're the best" Lily hugs her as she chuckles.
"You're lucky you're one of the best employees" she says.
"That's because I have a good boss" Lily says which flatters Amber.
"Now now let's get down to actual work"

They worked on the presentation that was needed for the reports and was done in time before the race starts.

"Goodluck!" Lily says to Charles and Seb as they go prepare to be placed on the grid.
Maybe it wasn't written but Seb and Lily had great uncle/niece relationship. He often jokes around with her and sometimes she gives him some reports from the factory and he's very thankful for that.

Quali ends with Charles getting P4 and Lance with P6.

"Nice job Charles!!" We were all cheering in the garage and so the media duties continues. Lily managed to sneak some texts with Lance.

Lily sent a message
Lily: P6 babe! great work today!
Lance: Thanks babe! You seem busy?
Lily: Very. I'll call later yeah?
Lance: Yes please

"Lily!" Max meets Lily and Charles after their last interview
"P3 mate nice!" Charles and Max greet each other with  their hands shaking each other
"You seem busy? will you be okay this week?" Max says to Lily.
"Yeah just adjusting to stuff but of course! This week is all good"
Charles was a bit confused.
"His girl is flying over. It's her first time here" Lily chuckles as she explains to Charles.
"Oh mate! You picked up a girlfriend?" Charles jokes
"Yeah mate! Picked her up from the beach!" Max funnily responds.
"She'll be here by Wednesday. Will you be changing hotels?" He asks
"Yes, tomorrow. Will she be staying with me?"
"I'm going to check but yes please if ever"
"Ofcourse! I'll take good care of her" Lily chuckles as she finds Max cute for his concern over his girl.
"She's still shy. She still doesn't change her mind about the thing I told you last time"
"I understand. Don't worry" Lily nods as they closes their conversation and everyone went back to their hotels.

"I'll take the couch!" Lily yells as she gets the pillow and gets cozy on the couch.
"You sure? You take the bed ma belle" Charles insists but Lily has made up her mind and he knew he couldn't win over her.
"You. need. rest! Besides, I really feel like something good is going to happen tomorrow" She smiles brightly.
"Okayyy!" Charles surrenders as he tucks in the bed.

"Babe!" Lily whispers over the phone as Charles dozes off
"Why you whispering babe"
"Charles is almost asleep"
"what.. why are.. why is he..what"
"Hotel's fully booked babe but tomorrow we'll be changing hotels so I'll have my own room again"
"Where would you be sleeping now then?"
"Couch. it's super soft too"
"Babeee. you'll hurt your back"
"well.. possible but like.. Charles needs to sleep comfortably. I wouldn't want to disturb him too"
Lance thinks this through and yeah, instead of her sleeping next to him, it's better to sleep on the couch. It's just for this night anyways.
"Alrightt. Tell me tomorrow where you'll be staying okay?"
"Ofcourse! You need proper rest too! Sleep early babe"
"For sure yeah.. Good night Lily"
"Goodnight Lance"
"I love you"
"I love you too"