All of Me (Sebastian Vettel)

50. In the Spotlight

"Are you sure you don't want to be dropped off at the back entrance?" Antti asked Seb and Alyssa later that day as they arrived back at the hotel. Seb turned in his seat and looked at Alyssa.

"It's up to you my darling," he said. "Sneak in or run the gauntlet?"  She sighed.

"We might as well just go for it. They'll soon get bored once they've got a shot or two. Well I hope so anyway."

Antti stopped the car outside the hotel and they all got out. He gave the keys to a valet, hanging back to let Seb and Alyssa go first. Seb draped his arm around Alyssa's shoulder as she advanced on her crutches towards the hotel entrance.

The gathered photographers and journalists soon spotted them and began crowding around them.

"Alyssa, is it true that you stole Seb off of your own sister?"

"Seb, did you leave Sienna and your children for her sister?"

"My statement was released via my team this afternoon. I have nothing else to say on the matter, and neither does Alyssa. Now please respect our privacy."

It was like talking to a brick wall. The questions continued to be fired at them. Seb tried to usher Alyssa inside quickly but her crutches were slowing them down.

Then it happened. A photographer got too close trying to take photos of them and got jostled from behind. He fell and bumped into Alyssa, making her lose her balance. She crashed to the floor.

Seb quickly crouched down to see if she was ok. He saw immediately that both of her knees were grazed and bleeding. He gathered her up in his arms. Antti was there within seconds. He picked up her crutches and her bag.

Seb stormed past the remaining journalists and into the hotel. He headed straight for the elevator, silent, his face betraying his anger. Alyssa reached out and pressed the button. The doors opened and Seb marched in. Antti followed, pressing the button for his floor, then the one for Seb and Alyssa's floor. After the door closed behind them Seb lowered Alyssa to her feet and started ranting.

"Those fucking dickheads," he raged. 

"It's ok Seb.  I'm fine.  It's just a few grazes."

"That is not the point.  The idiots!  Did they not even read the statement?"

"They're always trying to get that little bit more," Antti said.  He handed Alyssa her crutches and gave her bag to Seb. The elevator stopped at his floor. "I'll see you both in the morning."

Seb and Alyssa said goodbye to him. 

Once they arrived in their room Seb insisted Alyssa sat in the chair under the window.  He pulled a small first aid kit out of his rucksack.   He opened an antiseptic wipe and began to clean her knees up.  She winced as a sharp stinging feeling shot through each knee. 

Once he'd cleaned her knees he dabbed a bit of antiseptic cream on each knee of them, and finished off by gently sticking a plaster to each knee. Alyssa snorted with laughter.

"What's so funny?" he asked, grinning at her.

"You can tell you're a dad. Are you sure you don't want to kiss each knee better?"

"You little madam! For that you earned yourself another spanking."

"You keep threatening me with a spanking, but I'm yet to receive one. I think you're all mouth Vettel."

He raised his eyebrows and put on a serious face. "I'm keeping count. One day soon I'm gonna tan that sweet little ass of yours and you'll be begging me for more."