PR to Mrs Norris - Edited version

Focusing on the future

Lando

She is shaking, we have just arrived at the paddock for our media day and she is shaking "Mols? Are you okay?" I ask gently "I don't know" she tells me honestly "It's going to be okay, you are going to be okay" I try to reassure her and she nods before we walk through the swipe gates and I walk her towards Mercedes. "MOLLY?" A voice shouts and I see Charles running though the paddock "Sorry, I just wanted to make sure that you are okay, first proper day back" he tells her and she gives him a hug "I haven't had the chance to thank you for saving me" he smiles at her "It was the only thing I could do to help you, I wish I had done more" he tells her and instead of the usual jealously I feel I actually feel happy that she has a tribe of people around to help her. "Hey mate, does she need looking after today or do you and George have it covered?" he asks me and I smile "we have it covered but I promise you I will call" he smiles and nods "absolutely, have a good day guys" he says and walks away "since when are you guys friends?" She asks me and I smile "since he saved you" I confirm and she squeezes my hand "Thank you for looking after me, I don't deserve you" she tells me "and you know what I can't wait till I get to marry you" in the last couple of weeks we have lost sight of our future but I know that I want it all with her, she is my person. "Let's see, life has a funny way of getting in between us but the day we get married is going to help us put everything else second" she tells me and I can't explain how much I love her.

I walk into McLaren with a slight skip in my step, we are going to be okay. "Morning Norris" I see Daniel with his usual oat milk latte "Morning! How are you?" I ask him "The usual, how is Smiles?" He asks and I know its harmless, news hasn't got out of what happened to Mols  "She is great, we were just discussing the wedding" I say feeling really proud of how strong she is. My thoughts drift back to the times she has been stronger than any person should ever have to be, she has dealt with the worst things and come out the other-side "I'm actually really happy that we can focus on our future" I tell Daniel "Well you both bring out the best in each other" he tells me and heads across the garage and to his PR Alice. I turn to find Charlotte behind me "Come on, we need to get to the media pen, can you try to not get distracted by Molly this week?" She asks and I laugh as every week I do seem to end up staring at her regardless of what interview I am in. Charlotte leads me out and I follow her to the media pen.

"How is Molly? We heard some terrible rumours" I shake my head "she is okay, there was in incident that I don't wish to discuss" I say keeping the conversation neutral. "Thank you, 3rd race of the season! Feeling like its going to be a good one?" She asks and I smile my eyes locking on Molly's across the pen "I'm hoping it will be the best season yet" I say and Charlotte gives my arm a knock. "Thank you for your time" the interviewer says and before I can register what I'm doing, I make a beeline over the pen and scoop her into my arms "I love you so much" I tell her and she kisses me firmly and I'm taken by surprise as she has wanted space. I bury my face into her hair and I feel myself relax, I have been tense since I entered the paddock. "I love you, I will meet you at Mercedes later" I kiss her head and pull away "I love you too, have the best day" she tells me and in this moment I couldn't feel more content. Life is going to go on and continue as we want it too.

Molly

"He has never been this openly affectionate" George tells me nudging my side "I think the last couple of weeks have showed how we need to take every second" I say and George grins at me "I know Squirt, lets get to this press conference" he says and we walk together to the conference room. I walk in and see Daniel sat waiting for us "Hey Smiles!" He shouts from his seat attracting the whole rooms attention "Hey Avocado" I shout back and he grins his trademark grin at me. George shakes his head as he takes a seat as the host gets ready to start the questions. I start making notes on George's responses, when someone sits down next to me. I look up and see Toto "you are a difficult woman to find Miss Lanes" my eyes widen at my boss who has gone out of his way to talk to me "Thursdays are always the busiest" I joke and he smiles at me "I know, I just really wanted to check in with you?" I smile at him "All things considered I think that I'm doing okay" he nods "We all think that you are such a strong woman but if you need something, anything, let me know" he says placing his hand on my shoulder and I can't help my reaction to to flinch away "I'm so sorry" he says quickly moving his hand "It's okay, its my fault" I say and he shakes his head "none of this is your fault" he assures me "Thank you Toto, for everything" he nods before standing and leaving the conference. I focus back on George and I see they are finishing up, great I will have to watch the recording later to take my notes. "Thank you both, have a great weekend" I stand up to get to them both as they exit "Come on squirt" George says waiting for me just outside of the door. Daniel walks with us and makes jokes straight away "Lando seemed happy this morning" he nudges me and I roll my eyes "Get your mind out of the gutter" I joke back.

I walk into the garage with George and Josh comes straight over "we have a problem!" I look at his alarmed features and wonder what on earth is happening. "Okay" he grabs my arm and drags me over to the office "Have you look at the headlines in the last 10 minutes?" I shake my head "I was with George in my conference" he nods "Well a story has broken about what happened in Bahrain" My heart sinks and I feel sick "What?" I gasp out "We will handle it but this story has a lot of details" he grimaces "Right?" He pulls up the article and shows me. The contents of my stomach rises up and I can't hold back my tears, he did this, to damage my reputation. To attempt to ruin my relationship and friendships, no one is going to look at me the same now! I grab the bin and throw up "Are you okay?" Josh immediately comes to my side "Could you grab me some water please?" I manage to ask and he sprints out of the room before I collapse onto my knees. A second later George comes flying into the room "Mols! I just saw!' He pulls me into his arms and I let him hold me. I sob into his chest, unable to calm myself down. Josh comes back and hands George my water "I need you to go find Lando please" George asks him and he nods before leaving the room. I can't believe he is still here helping me, surely after reading all of the details he wouldn't want to be my friend anymore?

Lando

"Lando, Charles is in the pit lane asking for you?" Charlotte tells me looking really confused. I nod walking out of the engineers meeting. I walk quickly through the garage and see the Monegasque in the pit box. "I take it you haven't seen it?" I am confused "Seen what?" I immediately ask back seeing his furious expression "Come with me, Mols need you" he jogs down the pit lane towards Mercedes and I still have no idea what is happening. "Charles, Lando" Seb calls from the Aston Martin garage "Ive just seen the article, are you on your way to her?" He asks, what article? "I have, I just got Lamdo we are going to her now" Seb nods "I'm coming too, she needs people right now, anyone else I should get?" Charles thinks or a second. "Max, please get Max" Seb nods and sprints to Red Bull ahead of us "What is happening Charles?" He looks at me "an article has been written detailing what happened to Mols in Bahrain" my blood runs cold "Oh my god" my feet increase in speed and I find myself running into the Mercedes garage not caring that I probably shouldn't be here. Bono spots us and I think he is going to tell us off "she is in the media office" I nod at him grateful that he is looking out for her,. My eyes scan the back wall and I see the door to the media office and I run over pulling the door open.

I spot her immediately, curled into George, racking with sobs. "Oh Mols" I drop to my knees in front of her and she reaches out to me leaving George's arms. I hold her potentially too tight and she rests her face in my neck still sobbing. "How did this happen?" Charles asks the room and I look over to him and notice Seb and Max have just arrived. I can't imagine Toto being too happy about all of these rival drivers being in his garage. "James must have told the writer, at least he has somewhat admitted to what he did" George says and I see everyone's expressions go dark "I will kill him" Max says and Seb places his hand on his shoulder "No, we are going to get him and he can rot in prison for the rest of is life" Mols starts crying harder "I don't think this is helping" I tell them and they all look at me "I'm sorry we are just angry" Max says "we need to get Mols back to the hotel" George says and I don't know how we are going to do that without the media jumping her. "We will all walk her through the paddock, show how she is supported by all of us" Seb says and I agree "Could we try to clear the paddock first?" Charles asks and I pull out my phone calling Daniel "Hey mate, I need your help" I start and explain everything to him and he agrees immediately. "Okay we need to give him a few minutes" I say and everyone nods. I look down at my Mols, she has stopped sobbing and is quietly crying into my side. "We need to get you to the hotel" she looks up at me terrified, realising that we will need to take her down the paddock. "I can't, the media" she mutters "It's okay, Daniel's got it covered" she looks confused "Right come on" Max says opening the door to reveal Toto standing on the other side "I would normally be furious that all of the rival teams drivers are in my garage but this is an exceptional situation, now let me see my press officer" He walks past an open jawed Max and sends Seb a look. "I just wanted to let you know that we are going to do everything to protect you" he tells Mols and she nods. Toto comes with us to walk Molly to my car. I step out into the paddock and scan for people but it is quiet, the only person waiting is Daniel "Hey, you okay?" He asks Mols and she shakes her head "We got you" he goes to the back of the group as Seb, Toto and Max take the front. Although this is an awful situation, the support from her people is something special. "How did you get everyone gone?" I ask Daniel "Well I spoke to Massi and he told everyone to exit the paddock for 20 minutes" I nod "Thanks for doing this"