Is this a love story?

Daniel

Mia

The wheels touched down on the tarmac in Canada and I'm actually feeling quite apprehensive about this weekend and I'm not too sure why. It isn't anything to do with the teams performance, I'm actually quietly confident about our package for this weekend. Spending time with Vic whilst I was in Monaco has given me a new drive to make my life what I want it to be, I'm not going to let my future be dictated by my past. I grab my backpack and sling it over my shoulder as I walk off of the plane "Thank you" I say to the flight attendants who were fantastic during my flight over. Max offered to fly out with me but I told him I would be okay as I needed to get some work done but now I'm regretting that decision, travelling alone isn't as fun as it would first seem. My heels clack on the metal flooring of the jet bridge as I make my way to the baggage claim. I always try to pack light but having a checked bag is inevitable. It's currently Wednesday, the race weekend properly begins tomorrow with all of the interviews and press conferences. It's always the most difficult day as its dictated by the media where as the rest of the weekend is managed by us and I get to make sure that everything is running smoothly. I walk through the arrivals and immediately spot the face of a very familiar Aussie. "Daniel?" I ask catching his attention "Hey there Mavis!" He jokes and I can't help but laugh "Who you waiting for?" He grins "You actually, Max mentioned that he wasn't picking you up and I thought you might need a ride" He tells me with a huge grin and its infectious "Thanks Daniel, I really appreciate it" He grabs my suitcase "No probs Mavis" He tells me and I have to ask "Mavis?" He shrugs "Other people have nicknames for you" for a moment I clearly forgot who I was talking too. I chuckle and follow him out of the airport over to a Volvo? "Is this you?" I ask and he nods "Can't always use a Mclaren" he jokes and I find my mood getting better and better every minute I spend with him.

We pull up at my hotel and I can't help the words that escape my lips "Wanna get some dinner?" I ask him and his entire face lights up "Absolutely" he pulls away from the hotel and I realise that he must have a pretty good idea of where he wants to go. Being driven by and F1 driver never fails to make my feel slightly starstruck. Even when me and Charles used to travel places I always used to feel really special having one of the best drivers in the world at the wheel

One year ago

"Where did you need to go?" Charles asks me as he pulls the car off of the drive way, I find myself completely transfixed by how he is handling the wheel. He glances over at me "Mia?" I snap out of my thoughts and answer his question "I have a bag to collect from Gucci" He nods not even fazed anymore that I order items in countries that we are visiting "Okay, shall we grab some lunch after?" He asks and I immediately agree and he gives my hand a gentle squeeze "I'm so glad we came out to Canada early" We had been talking about this week since the start of the season, even though we travel together it is still difficult to find time to spend together, just us, doing normal couple things. "What are you picking up from Gucci?" He asks and I knew that he would be curious "Oh there is a jacket that I have had my eye on for ages but no where near us in Italy had it in stock but I did my research and found it here in my size" He lets out a chuckle "Your love for fashion is something that I never expected when I first met you, engineer, mechanic, fashion follower!" He jokes and I just shake my head and settle back into watching him drive the Ferrari he has been loaned for this weekend. I will never get over the glamour that follows F1, before Charles I had only ever seen F1 from the inside of a garage but dating a driver has felt like a whole other world, one that I'm not certain I'm built for.

We pull up outside of the same restaurant me and Charles grabbed lunch in a year ago and I can't help the sadness that washes over me. How fast life changes is scary, I went from being married to the man I thought I was spending the rest of my life with to coming here with Daniel Ricciardo after my marriage fell apart. I almost wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all but I kept that thought to myself as we walk in and took a seat. I skim through the menu knowing that I will order exactly what I got the last time I was here. "Have you been here before?" Daniel asks "Yeah, last year, its one of my favourite restaurants" He grins "Same for me although I've been here every race weekend since my first season" I feel more relaxed knowing that this place means something to him. I decide to order a glass of wine since I don't officially start working till the morning "Wine? I didn't think you would on a race weekend" I giggle "I'm not all work Ricciardo" I say and he laughs "what you eating?" He asks me noticing the waiter hovering "I had the pomegranate and feta salad last time and I tried to recreate it but I have been craving this one ever since" He looks shocked "That's my favourite thing on the menu!" He tells me and I know it isn't him just trying to be nice, he is always honest, something I've come to really enjoy. We both order and settle into conversation "Max told me that you hung out with Vic this week" Of course Max did "Yeah, we have always been really close, all three of us, but there are some points where I need female advice, I can't quite speak to Max about everything" Daniel understands "Yeah I'm not sure he would enjoy that sort of conversation" I laugh "He is very overprotective, I couldn't ever speak to him about Charles as he never liked him in the first place" Daniel shrugs "I always thought he was alright, been through a lot but seemed to grow from it you know. We all struggled after we lost Jules and it just seemed to fuel Charles, something I admired about him" It the mention of Jules I feel the usual lump in my throat as the tears threatened to fall. "They were family, Jules was one of the best people I have ever known, I was looking forward to the day he would join Ferrari" I tell Daniel who is also starting to look emotional. We all love Jules, he was such an important part of so many people's lives.

Daniel

I cant lie, I was super surprised when she asked if I wanted to get dinner but of course I wasn't going to pass up an opportunity to spend the evening with her. She is captivating, she has had a really interesting life, following her brother and Max around in the junior categories and how she started at Ferrari at 16. She is clearly as passionate about the sport as the rest of us, but it isn't just that, she makes me feel like the most important person in the room, every time. I can always see that she is genuinely interested in what I have to say. Conversation didn't stop flowing this evening and I actually had one of the best evenings I have had for a long time. I paid the bill much to complaints "give over Mavis, I know you can afford it but I'm allowed to treat you to dinner" I can see her think for a second before she lets it go "Thank you Daniel, I don't know about you but I had a really lovely time" I know she doesn't realise how much her words effect me but I feel my hopes rise "Me too, you have been the best company I've had for a long time" I tell her honestly because it is true. You don't meet many genuine people these days and it's refreshing that although she is a team principle she is down to earth and genuine. How Charles threw what he had with her away I will never understand. She walks towards the passenger side of my car and I have a thought "Mavis, think fast" she spins on her heel and easily catches the keys that I threw at her "What?" She looks at me confused "I saw you admiring the car earlier, I think you should drive to the hotel" her cheeks turn a deep shade of red and I don't understand why "I would love too" she gets out after a few seconds and I climb into the passenger seat in time to see her scoot the seat forwards a significant amount. I had forgotten that she is only about 5 foot tall, she is a tiny yet powerful woman.

I fixate on her movements as she drives the car through the streets with ease "You're pretty decent at this" I compliment and she grins "Well I did used to race against Max in karts, but engineering was much more my thing" she tells me and I realise that I am always impressed when she offers up more information to me about her life "How was growing up with Max?" I ask and she chuckles "He has always been like a brother to me, I'm not certain I would be where I am without him. He was a nightmare as a kid though, always had to be right, always had to win. I guess that competitiveness has got him where he is today" I nod completely agreeing with what she is saying "Alfie used to wind him up and that was always funny at a family meal" she never really talks about her brother "Are you and Alfie close?" I ask although I think I already know the answer "We used to be but after he left the racing world behind we don't see each other much, I adore him but we dont have much in common anymore. He doesn't understand my love of engineering and mechanics but he is super proud of me becoming team principle" I nod "I guess you always had Max, who has a lot in common with you" she grins when I mention Max and its actually reassuring to me that they have each other "Yeah and when I was with Charles me and his younger brother Arthur got along really well too, I invited him to the race this weekend as I bumped into him in Monaco" She sounds slightly upset about this fact "I suppose you can't go too far in Monaco without seeing someone you know" I laugh trying to lighten the mood "He actually came to my favourite cafe looking for me, he wanted to make sure I was okay as I hadn't answered any of his messages. He only knew we were there as Vic had posted it on her story" It's actually sweet that he is still concerned about his ex sister in law, shows that they really did have a bond "I just hope Charles wont be upset that I invited his brother, Arthur took my side in the divorce" this surprises me but at the same time there is something about this girl that makes her so easily lovable.