The Surrogate

Her First Race Weekend

Friday August 27th. Spa, Belgium.

Accompanied by a man who she's only just met and has introduced himself as Mikey, Seb's number one mechanic, Holly walks briskly along the paddock. The late summer sun gently warms her bare legs and she stares at people through her sunglasses, knowing that her eyes are hidden.

She feels quite guilty, she's sure that Mikey must think she's rude because she's barely responded to anything that he's been saying but she can't help it, she feels like a total fraud among all these people, despite the shiny VIP pass around her neck and she's certain that she sticks out like a sore thumb because she's new here and she's never been to a Grand Prix before. She's also feeling sick with nerves because very soon she'll not only be meeting Seb in his 'work' environment and therefore lots of his team too but she'll also meeting his press officer, Britta Roeske and his trainer, Antti Kontsas for the first time. Britta and Antti are close friends of Seb as well as being employed by him, they're an integral part of his F1 family and by his side for a large part of the year. They're also a key part of his support network for when or if he becomes a father next year.

Having flown in from London this morning (first class, paid for by Seb), it already feels like it's been a long day but so far everything is going according to plan. She's checked into the hotel, the same one that he's staying in and booked by him, and she's been driven here in a black Mercedes that was also arranged by him too. Despite her nerves, she's also excited to see Seb, this is the first time she'll have seen him since the weekend she's spent with him in Switzerland although they've talked on the phone or messaged almost daily. She also can't wait to get a close up view of Honey Ryder, his race car and is going to be watching tomorrow's qualifying and Sunday's race from his garage.

Between them, they've come up with the story that they're old friends from his time in Red Bull in England. No one is to know the real purpose of her being here and she'll be arriving at and leaving the circuit alone so as not create any unwanted attention on him or gossip - fingers crossed.

As she gets closer to the green motorhomes of Aston Martin, she spots a few drivers and feels a little starstruck. She's just passed Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas and ahead of her, to her right she can see Max Verstappen chatting to his girlfriend while holding her hand.

"This is the hospitality suite," Mikey begins as they stop in front of a tall, green building, "the paddock is a bit disjointed as further up is the tyre storage and driver's facilities, along with what I call mission control and they're dead opposite our garage but Seb should be in here as it's lunchtime."

"I'm sorry if I've come across as rude," she stops him just before they enter, "it's just that I'm so nervous, I feel like I stick out a mile, like an imposter."

"Don't worry and you shouldn't be nervous, everybody is really great around here and they'll all make you feel welcome," Mikey wants to add how she only sticks out because she's hot but as she's Seb's friend he keeps quiet. Yeah right, Seb's friend with benefits more like! He knows it won't be long before people are gossiping and assuming that this brunette beauty is Vettel's new girlfriend.

She lifts her sunglasses and pushes them up onto her head as they walk in. Immediately it feels like all eyes are on her and she furtively looks around for Seb because he's the only one she knows among this sea of nameless faces.

Luckily for her, Mikey spots him first and leads her over to a table near a bar that looks like it serves alcoholic as well as soft drinks.

Seb jumps up to his feet the second he sees her approaching and walks over to meet her, throwing his arms around her as he greets her, "Holly, it's so good to see you!"