Something Gained

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Race day, we had an update on the grid. Daniel was now staring p2, Lando starting p3 due to a penalty for Bottas. Which was wonderful for us. I went into Daniel's room before Michael came up and saw him in his white top, his race suit around his waist, he had on his hat and his headphones were around his neck.
"Anyone ever told you how sexy you look" I said as I closed the door
"Maybe, but hearing from you is like top tier" he said laughing. He crossed the room quickly and put his arms round my waist
"I wanted to give a private good luck, I have such a good feeling about today and I know it's going to be great" I whispered to him
"I love you" he whispered before kissing me. The door opened and Michael walked in
"Oops sorry" he said before turning round
"Don't worry, we need to leave anyway" Daniel said, he kissed my forehead and then put his headphones on to zone out. I walked out the room and knocked on Lando's door and the five of us walked down to the garage to get ready. The minute the cars left the garage, the mechanics, Michael, Jon and I went to the grid and stood waiting for the cars to come round. Seeing the McLarens line up in 2nd and 3rd was the single greatest feeling in the world. When you worked with a team like McLaren, you were family, you all wanted to succeed and were there through the highs and the lows together, and this was certainly a high. It was a great day.

"I love you" I leaned into Daniel and moved his headphone out the way and whispered to him. He smiled and put his fist up and I did the same and connected them. He was doing some stretches and keeping focused. I went over to Lando and gave him a hug.
"I bet you told him you loved him, and all I get is a hug" Lando joked
"Of course I love you Lando, be safe okay?" He nodded and hugged me again before they all got into their cars and got ready. I went back into the garage and saw Hannah.
"We ain't ready for this" she said. I laughed as we stood with our headphones on watching the cars all come back to the grid ready for lights out.

"He's got it!! He's taken first!"
"Yes Danny boy!! Get in there!!"
"Come on Lando!"

It was an intense race, Daniel lead until he came into the pit stop but the boys timed it before everyone else so he was back leading in no time. Max and Lewis took each other out we were going into the final lap with Daniel still 1st and Lando 2nd.

"He left Redbull, he went to Renault, he's gone to Mclaren, he's gonna get the victory now. It's McLaren and Ricciardo that win the Italian Grand Prix, Lando Norris come homes to make it a one two for the men from Woking"

We were all screaming and cheering. Michael grabbed me and we were hugging and jumping around. I have no been so proud in my life of anyone, then them to boys out there. We swarmed the pit Lane with a sea of orange. They drove the race like they owned it, and they did! Daniel and Lando were screaming down the radios as they drove side by side back towards the pit lane. We all ran out of the garage waiting for them to come in.
They got out the cars and we were till going mad. I saw Lando first and he came and picked me up and swung me around in a hug
"You did it!!! You bloody did it! I'm so proud of you" I screamed him. He put me down and took off his helmet and you couldn't wipe the smile off of his face. Daniel came over after celebrating with the team and picked me and I wrapped my legs around his waist and he kissed me, in the middle of pit lane, there was cameras everywhere, there was literally a camera right next to us but we didn't care, the team wolf whistled at us I broke away and he put his head against mine.
"I love you, I'm so proud of you" I whispered, he kissed me again before putting me down. I couldn't contain my excitement so I couldn't imagine how Lando and Daniel felt, it was amazing. They got up on the podium and Zak poured champagne into Daniel's race boot and he did his shoey, he then got Lando and Zak to one as well and we all cheered and clapped. They were completely drenched in champagne.

Media was going to run, after everything settled down we went into the press ring, Daniel had no shoes on.
"Daniel, excellent work mate you must so proud" the journalist said. I stood between Daniel and Lando while they spoke to different journalists
"I don't think I have properly processed but it's an excellent result for the team and I couldn't be happier" he said
"An extra special celebration when you got out of the car as well" he said, looking at me
"Well yeah, sometimes it's gotta be done" he said laughing.

We walked hand in hand out of the paddock at 9:30pm, finishing up filming for the McLaren YouTube video and then headed back to the hotel. It wasn't a night to be sitting inside. We got changed and the team all headed back out to go and celebrate the win.
I walked into the bar, behind Daniel and Lando, which was packed, and everyone cheered. Drinks were flowing like crazy. I saw Hannah and went over to her, she looked amazing, we had discussed wardrobe again and decided to go all out of course. I was in a lavender dress and she was in a rose gold satin dress. We went to get a drink and were chatting and dancing when we were approached by a group of men. I didn't know them I looked at Hannah and she shook her head
"Can we grab you ladies a drink?" One of them asked, he sounded very drunk
"Erm we're okay thank you" I said, I turned my back on them towards Hannah. The man slid his hand round my waist and tightened his grip, pulling me against him and brushed my hair away from my neck and was right next to my face
"Now that's not very nice, is it?" He slurred in my ear
"Get off me now" I was surprised at my tone, it sounded a lot stronger and sterner than I thought it would
"Oy, get lost you loser" I saw Liam come up and pull me away from the guy
"Is she your girl?" The man asked
"No, but you can leave her alone" Liam said, pulling me and Hannah behind him. I had to defuse the situation
"Liam come on, don't worry he's just drunk" Hannah said before I had a chance, Liam nodded and let Hannah pull him away. Liam walked us both away to the other side of the bar and sat us down with some of the team before going back towards the bar, he spoke to someone and next thing I knew, the guys were getting chucked out. I let out a breathe I didn't know I was holding in.
"Are you okay?" Hannah asked, I nodded and sipped my drink
"I'm fine, I just need a little air. I'll be right back" I squeezed her hand and got up, another girl in the team took my place beside Hannah and I headed towards the garden.

I got outside and breezed past the people in the garden and went and sat in the corner booth on my own, hidden away, I sipped my drink and tried to chill out.
"Alex? Alex where are you?" I heard my name being called, Liam. I looked up and he saw me and come over. "Just breath okay, you're okay" he said calmly as he pulled me for a hug. I calmed myself down before I started panicking
"I'm okay I just-" he cut me off
"You don't have to justify yourself, I know that was uncomfortable, it must have brought up a lot of bad memories, but you've got all of us protecting you, that guy was just a douche bag, I promise you're okay now, it's not going to happen again" he said into my ear. His voice was soothing
"I know it wont, but it scares me. I get to a point where I'm happy and care free again and everything is falling into place and it's like the universe goes, nope remember when this happened"
"It's not like that, that won't ever happen to you again. You've got us, you've got Daniel. He will always be there to keep you safe" he said, I nodded.

That guy touching me, being so drunk and holding onto me like that. I froze. I didn't know what to do. It happened before. Liam was such a good friend of mine, I've known him for years, before coming to McLaren. He was with me that horrible night as well. We were in a bar in LA, I was 26, out with the few remaining friends I had not long after my parents had died. This guy was watching me the whole night and put something in my drink, he was touching me and being so inappropriate, he then took me outside and tried to get me into his car, Liam followed me out and grabbed from the guy and saved me. No one else knows about this except Liam and I. Now it's stirred up a lot of memories.