Something Gained

Chapter Fourty-Four

I sat down at the table in the restaurant with Lando and Daniel either side of me, Hannah was opposite me.
"Wine?" She asked
"I told you that you were the bad influence" I said laughing, but nodded my head. She poured us our glasses as the rest of the team sat down at the table. Daniel put his hand on my thigh and moved it up, which made me gasp, I quickly covered it with clearing my throat and shot him a look which made him smirk.

"Ladies and Gents, before we eat I wanted to thank you all for coming" Zak stood up and spoke, here we go, "we're ready to go for another weekend and after our performance in Italy. Let's go again! My next point I wanted to let everyone know, and I hope you all join me in praise and congratulations, we have had a promotion amongst the team, and we're so happy and proud of this. Everyone please join me in congratulating your new Senior Communications Manager, Alex" he said. Applause and cheers rang out around the table as Hannah clinked glasses with me. Lando and Daniel both snapped their heads to look at me. I felt awkward.
"Going forward Alex will be our go to person across the whole team with Hannah to handle all of our communications that come our way in McLaren, but don't worry Lando and Daniel, you're still her number one priority. So congratulations Alex" he said, he raised his glass and everyone around the table did the same. I smiled as congratulations were shouted my way.
After a while it died down and both Lando and Daniel were looking at me
"I was told to wait until dinner, otherwise I would of told you" I said to them both before they could say anything
"Well, that's amazing news. I'm so proud of you! You're going up the world, just don't forget about us" Lando said hugging me.
"Congratulations, so proud of you" Daniel said.

I was sitting talking to Hannah and she gave me a look, I titled my head unsure of what she meant and she glanced at Daniel. I looked at Daniel who was sitting back, he had his arm round my chair but was scrolling on his phone. I leaned back in my chair and his hand brushed my shoulder and he looked up
"What's up?" I asked him, quietly
"Nothing I'm fine" he said quite bluntly
"Come outside with me?" I asked, he sighed and nodded. I got up and he followed me out into the garden of the restaurant, it was quite warm outside. I took his hand and pulled him over to the booth. He sat down and pulled me down on his lap.
"What's the matter?"
"I don't want to ruin your moment"
"Well not to be blunt but if you're like this, then you already are" I said. I was a bit annoyed by his reaction, I'm not sure what I was expecting but it wasn't this. I thought he'd be happier for me, all I got was a proud of you. He was surprised by my tone and to be honest so was I.
"I'm ruining it for you?" He asked
"Well yeah, you've been quiet, barely got a sentence out of you. I wanted to tell you but Zak wanted to tell everyone together and I thought my boyfriend, of all people would be happy for me. I work so hard for things like this"
"I am happy for you, I know what you do, I am so proud of you and I want you to do well and succeed, but I'm worried about a strain it will put on us" he muttered. My annoyances ebbed away realising he was just concerned
"Sorry what?"
"Well what if we don't see each other as much, or you're too busy for me"
"First of all, when it comes to a weekend I barely see you, you're in the car or the garage majority of them, you forget I handle your schedule and will continue to do so. Second of all you're worrying about something that won't happen and hasn't even happened. The only strain could potentially be if we let it, and if we're having such a silly discussion like this then that in itself going to strain us" I said
"Am I not allowed to be concerned?"
"You can be concerned and if that's how you feel then fine. But when it affects the mood, when it affects me or you, then it's less than ideal" I said honestly
"I just don't want to lose you"
"Daniel, you do realise that I literally travel the world with you 10 months of the year. I follow you everywhere you go, I stay with you practically every single night, I am in the garage for every practice, every session, every race. It's quite literally impossible to lose me" I calmed my tone down a bit because I could see why he was sad "Yes I have more to do, I have a lot more filling my day, but my weekends are still with you. My priorities lies with the drivers. I just want you to be happy for me and proud of me" I continued, he huffed and kissed my shoulder as his arms snaked around my waist
"Of course I'm proud of you! How could I not be"
"Then stop worrying about what might be or won't be and just go with it. We've got each other, plus I haven't even started with it yet. I don't know what's going to happen myself" I sighed
"Im sorry, I don't want to dampen it for you" I turned to face him and put my hand under his chin and lifted his face up to mine.
"You're never going to lose me" I whispered, I leaned in and kissed him
"Is that our first fight?" He asked putting his forehead against mine
"I think I won" I said with a wink, he laughed
"Come on, let's go back in and celebrate you" he said as he pulled away, I jumped up and he took my hand again and led me back inside. We sat back down at the table and our dinner arrived a few minutes later so we started eating. Hannah have me a thumbs up and I nodded at her.