Something Gained

Chapter Nine

I shut the door of my hotel room, walked over to the bed and fell face first on it with a sigh.

I was exhausted. The whole time travelling, I was so stuck between trying not to look at him because I knew it would make me weak, but knowing that I had jeopardised everything.

I didn't know how management would react, or even Lando. I loved my job, and if I lost it I didn't know what I would do with myself.

I pulled myself up with a huff, knowing I needed a shower to wash away the flight and my guilt... and the feeling of actually not regretting my actions.

I let the hot water run over me, soothing my tired body. I knew I couldn't let this fester and keep going over the same things, I need to deal with this and sort this out as soon as possible. I also couldn't behave that way, I had to work with Daniel, and the fact I couldn't even look at him, let alone barely speak to him was going to cause a problem itself.

But it also wasn't fair on him to behave that way.

I eventually switched off the shower, wrapped myself up in a towel, brushed my teeth and put some product in my damp hair to let it dry into its natural curl.

As soon as I had put on some clothes, there was a knock on my door. I walked over and opened it up to Daniel.

"What are you doing here?" I asked him. Immediately going weak and having the same thoughts and feelings whirling around in my head.

"I came to talk" he spoke, he was standing a little awkwardly which was insane because he was comfortable in a speeding car or in front of a crowds of hundreds of people.

"Okayy" I dragged out the word but pushed the door open wider so he could walk inside.

He brushed past me and it made me all hot and flustered. I slowly closed the door and walked towards my bed, perching myself on the end.

"You snuck out this morning" he spoke. He didn't question, he just stated a fact and I looked down at my feet with a sigh.

"I didn't think being caught in your bed was a good idea" I responded

"Did you leave because you regretted it?"

"No" I spoke after a while, holding the silence for a little while.

"But you haven't spoken to me all day? You've barely looked at me"

"Because I can't" I lifted my head now and looked him in the eye and I could feel the heat creeping up my neck just being under his gaze

"You can't?"

"We were in front of other people. I couldn't get caught acting a certain way, because looking at you is a reminder of last night" I bit my lip and dropped my eyes again.

He didn't answer. He stayed silent and I spoke again.

"I can't lose my job Daniel, I shouldn't have done it"

"Nothing is going to happen to your job" Daniel spoke. I was fiddling with the blanket on the bed to ease some anxiety when Daniel sat beside me.

"You're part of this team, you'll continue to be part of this team"

"I'm not in the same world as you Daniel"

"That doesn't help Alex, we're in the same world"

"You're a very talented, very rich driver. I am an easy replacement"

"Well that's not the case" he frowned. I didn't respond, I didnt have the words.

"There's something about you Alex, and I cant not be near you. But you've got to tell me what you want"

"I've known you for a week Daniel, I don't know what I want"

"I want to get to know you"

"Why?" I fell back on my bed and stared at the ceiling instead of at him. This was far too much for me to deal with right now.

"I don't know why. There's just something about you"

"I don't think it's a good idea. I've just started working with you"

"Yes and?"

"Why don't you just let us see what happens?" He said. I closed my eyes and sighed, "what are you doing this week?"

"Going to LA on Wednesday" I said quietly

"LA?" I opened my eyes and looked at him staring at me

"Yeah, home essentially"

"You live in LA?"

"Yep, the only place I would call home, not that I'm there too much this time of year" I laughed and I could see Daniel's smile from here.

"Interesting" he said

"Interesting how?" I asked, sitting up and propping myself up on my arms

"Because that's where I'm going"

"Of course you are" I rolled my eyes and stood up, needing a drink. Daniel stayed sat on my bed.

We both found ourselves in Lando's room later that evening, when Lando had messaged moaning he was bored.

Just the tv playing in the background and playing poker together. Daniel and Lando were incredibly competitive, one of them whinging that the other was cheating, whereas I spent half the time bluffing my way through the game.

But it was good to turn the evening into something lighthearted, as me and Daniel seemed to naturally become a little bit more normal with one another again... for now.