No Love Greater

CHAPTER EIGHT

The next two and a half years in Mercedes were full of activity for me. Constantly travelling with the team through the seasons and racking up as many points as possible to clinch both Drivers and Constructors championships in the two seasons. Our strategies worked out 90% of the time and when they didn't, we still managed to score a stand on the podium.

During these years I was able to partake in many modelling jobs on the road thanks to Allison, as I boycotted most of the team dinners and parties at the end of any race outing. I wasn't still a notable name in the modelling industry but I had made a lot of friends too both male and female.

I was currently 21 years old and would be turning 22 in April but I had dated a few guys unsuccessfully. The season was over and everyone was still on holiday but the fashion industry was just getting started.

I stayed with my grandparents in Barcelona during the festive season and we caught up on missed times. We visited my mums grave and laid flowers. She had been gone for thirteen years.

The flight from Barcelona to London was boring so I slept during the flight. The air hostess woke me up when the pilot was about to land the plane. After clearing my luggage at immigration in Heathrow, I walked towards the parking lot trying to spot the uber ride I booked to pick me up.

For a year now I had secured a new apartment in Central London due to the modelling jobs frequently coming up some weekends now. It didn't make sense lodging in hotels anymore since I had two streams of income. Kayla had promised to come around mid-January to visit and I was looking forward to her arrival.

"Thank you", I said to the driver as I exited his car with my luggage.

"You are welcome", he said to me before he drove off.

I walked into the building quickly after punching the access codes. Some residents were using the lift so it took a while before I was able to access it.

The room felt a bit stuffy and I dropped my bags to open the window slightly for fresh air to come in and circulate. I shut it after five minutes because this was the peak of winter. The decorations still lined the streets of London as the festive season was still on. It was still only the third of January and many tourists were in the city.

Just when I had finished having my bath and getting ready for bed my phone rang. I looked at the caller id and it was Allison.

"Hello Allie, Happy New Year to you", I said.

"Season's Greetings Selena", she replied.

Then she continued to speak.

"Christian Dior has a new collection that he is showcasing this weekend, Saturday the 7th to be precise, would you be available? one of the models initially on the list has taken ill so I recommended you", she added.

"Of course I will, I'm still on break till March remember", I said back to her.

"I know, I know, I just wanted to be sure, you could have had some plans already for that day so it was good I called to find out", she explained.

"You are right, thanks for asking, I'm in", I replied.

"Okay then, I'm updating your name now on the list', she said.

"You will get the email in a minute, rehearsals start on Thursday, take care dear", she added.

"Alright then thank you", I said and cut the call.

As much as my colleagues at Mercedes knew I did some part time modelling, none of them had actually seen me on the runway. I felt it was a good thing in a way. Though many of them followed me on Instagram, they never really commented because I still wasn't ready for everyone to know I was with Mercedes. It still read my occupation as aspiring model and was still unverified. Mercedes never really talked about their female Data Analyst because they didn't want me to get too much attention but I was always in the team list and travelled with them.