Something Gained

Chapter Eighty-Nine

I followed Sophie and Ben around while they got Daniel and Lando to where they needed to be, I was backwards and forwards as they had their press conferences at different times, and then had some stuff to sign for merchandise for fans, and then other bits, it made me wonder how I actually did this for so long, it was almost because I had to, and I enjoyed it so much, but this knocked me out. Finally I sat down in my office and gave them some feedback whilst Daniel and Lando got changed ready for practise.

"Brilliant firstly, you've both done so well, you've got to know the drivers well and get them to where they needed to be on time and completed all tasks, I have no concerns, you've picked it up so well. So I want to make sure you know that" I said to both of them
"Thank you, we have a great mentor" Sophie smiled
"Definitely agree, this is such an amazing job, and to be part of a team like this it's just a dream" Ben added.
"The best bit now is being able to sit in the garage and watch the sessions, it's like a bit of downtime. Then we go again when they've got to speak to the media, just make sure you follow schedules, I would say look at what we're doing before we arrive, so the flight over, and then every morning just make sure, but a lot of it will become like muscle memory" I said
"I used to love that bit, being front and centre at every race" Sophie smiled
"Now let's go and have some fun. Go and grab a drink or something and I'll meet you outside" I said, they nodded and left my office

"Good teacher aren't you" Daniel smiled as he walked in past Sophie and Ben.
"I try, how are you feeling?"
"Quite good actually, ready to go" he smiled. His race suit was round his waist, which was like a rite of passage for every driver round this paddock, he slumped on a chair in my office. "Michael spoke to me earlier" Dan said
"Yeah?" I asked as I typed through an email requesting Zak for something
"Don't worry about anything okay? Lando and I love you, so does Jon and Michael, you're one of the team, here and with us. You're just doing bigger boss stuff" he said, adding his cheeky smile on the end
"I know, thank you" I said to him. He winked and stood up and leaned over the desk "I love you bubs" he said, as he reached over and kissed my forehead.

Walking down the paddock was weird today. Daniel took my hand and we walked beside Michael through the paddock, that had never happened before but it felt nice. My higher up job meant I had more responsibility and people to look after, but also more freedom. Daniel clearly knew that and didn't feel the need to hide anything. We'd always remained in agreement that our relationship wasn't a secret but it was private, and it still was, we had no need to comment or confirm anything, but our jobs were our number one priority while we were here and that would always remain. I stood at the back of the garage with the group and hugged Lando.

"Good luck kiddo, be safe, have fun" I said to him, he nodded and went off with Jon to get weighed and get in the car. Daniel smiled but I just stood next to him and chatted with Sophie
"That's rude" he whispered in my ear so only I could hear him.
"What is?" I asked, looking up at him
"What do I get?" He asked. Michael handed him his water bottle and was stood in front of us, hiding us from majority of the garage and cameras
"You know what you get" I whispered in his ear as I hugged him, he clutched at my waist and it made me laugh as I stepped away "but be safe okay, have fun" I said kissing his cheek. He smiled and poked my nose before he walked over to the car.
"You two are so cute" Sophie said as she came back over, I smiled
"Headphones, it'll get loud when they start the cars" I said Ben. Sophie already knew the drill, he nodded and they both collected their headphones and we took our seats at one of the screens at the back of the garage.

I tapped away on my laptop waiting for Daniel, Lando, Sophie and Ben to come into the garage, they had gone to do some bits before the race and I had beat them here. It gave me a chance to finish off some content the social media had sent me ahead of the next race, but they both knew I was only a phone call away.
"Fancy a coffee?" I looked over my shoulder and smiled at Michael, who was standing with Blake.
"Oh yes please" I smiled, Michael held out his arm and I closed my laptop and left it on the side near Daniel's bag. I linked arms with Michael and we walked out the back of the garage
"Excited to go home again?" I asked them both
"You know it" he smiled "but we should do lots of things, Daniel will need to train anyway" Michael said
"Like?"
"Hmm, fancy a hike? I know he'll want to do a biking trail at some point? Then we could have some downtime and do quadbiking?" Michael asked
"Michael, my dear dear friend, I look after so many people and have them ask me what my opinion is daily. Just tell me where to be and I'll be there, I'll do anything" I said laughing, making Blake laugh as well. We grabbed our coffee, and one for Andreas as well, before we walked back.
"The only thing you shouldn't expect is me to be too athletic like you" I said
"You don't do bad you know, you can hold your own. You've hiked and biked with us before, and you surfed well in LA"
"Then throw something new at me, just don't try and kill me" I said laughing, he laughed to as we got into the garage.
"You got it" he smiled.
"Don't worry, I'm in the same boat as you" Blake laughed, I smiled at him as he playfully nudged my shoulder. I saw Daniel standing with his bag and I nodded to him before going over to Andreas, giving him his coffee and then having a chat with him. It wasn't until half an hour later I noticed Daniel watching me, I excused myself and put my now empty cup in the bin before going over to him.
"What's up?" I asked
"What were you doing with Michael and Blake?" He asked. He was already grumpy because of the qualifying result for the first race, his tone was horrid
"Getting coffee and planning stuff to do in Australia" I said simply, I moved round him and pulled my laptop from out of his bag
"Hmm" he said
"Hmm what?"
"Hmm meaning I feel like it's too friendly" he said, I could tell from his eyes he was messing about but he tried to keep his tone stern.
"Friendly with Blake, he's not my type I'm afraid. Australian yes, otherwise not really" I joked. I leaned against him after I opened my laptop to my emails again, I turned and kissed his cheek "and Michael's got too much shoulder for my liking" I whispered and it made Daniel crack a smile, breaking his theatrics, he rested his head on mine
"I always wonder if you would find someone else, someone better" he said
"There's only one Australia man for me" I kissed his cheek again before Tom called him over
"Duty calls. I love you bubs" he whispered, I smiled and let him go.