Miles from Normal - Lando Norris

22. Blackmail

Alice furrowed her brow. She couldn't really tell Lando's mum what was going on between them. How would she explain that in a timeframe of less than two weeks she went from her son to Charles and back to her son again?

"All I can say is that your son and I aren't together as a couple, but I do love him and he's been the best thing that happened in my life this year."

Alice got slightly emotional saying those words, something she wasn't used to. She wasn't much of a crier or one to show too many emotions. Despite the fact that he got moody and snarky around her, he also gave her a roof when she needed the most. It was Lando who stepped up for Alice. He was her company for most of the time and the person she looked forward to see the most at the end of the day.

"Don't be upset, please. I see how much you care for Lando. Just be careful. In all honesty, can't wait for the grandchildren! Between you and Lando, you will make beautiful babies!"

"What are you talking about?" Lando asked as he came in holding a cardboard box.

"Just discussing with Alice my future grandchildren."

"Yeah, they'll be beautiful." Lando said not bothered at all by that conversation.

"Told you!" Cisca Norris said turning to Alice.

••••

Lando had gone out for dinner with his mates and Alice was home alone. She was catching up on work emails and trying to get everything in order before traveling to Azerbaijan. In the meantime she got a phone call from a number she didn't recognize.

"Hello. Alice speaking."

There was a few seconds of silence on the other side before she heard a male voice.

"Listen carefully, I've got photos of you and your toy-boy in St. Tropez so you better start cooperating with my interviews or I'll leak them."

"Who the hell is this?" Alice asked looking again at the number showing on her screen.

"How many reporters have you stopped from getting interviews from your drivers?"

It dawned on Alice. It was Malcolm Jacobsen. The journalist that she fell out with because of Danny.

"Now that I have your attention, I also know about someone on your team bought a certain white powder product..."

"What is it that you want exactly?"

"I want an exclusive with Norris right after every race. Or all this precious information will make its way to people way worse than me."

"You are a piece of shit really. I don't really care if you leak the pictures you have of me and Lando but leave everyone else out of this. You'll get what you want..." Alice hung up.

Alice racked her brain for ideas. How could she get away without having to explain Charlotte or the big bosses about the blackmail? Worst of all how would she explain her relationship with Lando and the drugs used at the party?
She tried to call Daniel but no answer. He was probably still recovering from the wild ride.

She thought about Sienna. Alice hadn't seen or talked to her in a while. Last time they've talked they were both in a bit of rush at the headquarters. Alice called her for advice.

"How are you? Can you talk?"

Alice texted Sienna regularly as the two women became quite close, but she still had to tell her about the whole Lando/Charles debacle. She told Sienna all about the situation she was in. The thing that Alice loved the most about Sienna was that she wasn't judgmental. She simply listened.