Something Gained

Chapter One Hundred

"This is so weird that you're back with us" Lando laughed, as I walked down the paddock with him, Daniel and Sophie towards the media pen.
"Trust me, I know" I said "you have no idea how much I've done all week so I can do this" I laughed
"I told you I'd help" Sophie said
"I know but it's all good, I might need you to take both of them for the video they've got to do after the conference" I said to her
"No problem" Sophie smiled
"Do we get a say or?" Daniel laughed
"No" Sophie and I both said
"We just do as we're told" Lando laughed. They both had the tv pen and then a conference. Sophie and I split up with the guys and got them sorted.

"Lando, back in monaco. Are you excited?" Will asked him
"I am, I love Monaco. And for a lot of us it's on doorstep so it's nice to be here. It's such a great track and it's going to be a great weekend" he said
"Obviously you suffered an issue last week, is that all sorted?"
"Yeah it looks like it, we've had to replace the power unit so we're taking a penalty for that but let's see what we can do"
"The team has been on excellent form this year, is that run going to continue?"
"I hope so, it's been fun and lots of podiums and some wins already, but we're aiming for more and we seem to have the car to do that" Lando answered
"Beating the top three?" Will asked
"We hope so, so far we're in the mix" Lando smiled
"And I see you've got Alex back by your side, that must be exciting" Will said, smiling at me
"Alex is always with us, but I've got her for this week so I'm excited, my best buddy" Lando said, throwing his arm around me, I rolled my eyes at him, he knew I hated the attention
"Good luck charm?" Will asked
"She always is!" Lando smiled. We moved on and spoke to a few more journalists before I whisked him off to the conference.

Daniel, Sophie and I stood outside while Lando was in there with some others. Carlos was in the same conference group as Daniel so I stood chatting to him for ages while we waited.
"I haven't seen you in forever amiga" Carlos said to me
"I know! Been so busy, we should grab dinner or something?"
"Yes! Let's, what are you plans for tonight?" He asked
"Nothing really once we're done here"
"Excellent, shall we go out or do you want to some of my famous sangria you love so much"
"Oooh you're spoiling me, I don't mind" I said to him smiling, Carlos was brilliant. I had missed him not being at McLaren, he was a wonderful person and so friendly. The same friendship I had with Lando I used to have ten times of a closer one with Carlos.
"Let's go out. Then on summer break you should come to Mallorca, I'll do a barbecue?" Carlos said
"Perfect, yes I'd love to"
"I'll pick you up at say 7pm? Hilton isn't it as normal?" He asked
"Of course, only the best for McLaren, you're missing out here" I winked at him making him laugh. He was then called in with Daniel who passed me and raised his eyebrows at me before going inside.
"I think he's a bit jealous there" Sophie said to me, Lando come out and stood with us
"Who's jealous?" He asked
"Daniel. I was speaking to Carlos and we have plans to go for dinner tonight" I told him
"Oh he'll be fine don't worry. Dinner plans? I want to come!" Lando whined
"Unfortunately you have Netflix interviews buddy" Sophie said to him. I had already arranged for Sophie to take over for the evening, well I was going to do it and she made me give her the job as I had done so much all week, but it now freed me up for dinner
"Silver linings see! I cover Ben, you can go for dinner now" Sophie smiled
"Are you sure? I can do it I don't mind" I asked her
"Not at all, you go. Enjoy!" She said
"Okay" I smiled and gave her a hug before darting off with Lando.

Daniel left the track after I did because he had an engineering meeting and then by the time he got back to the house, I was about to leave.
"Heyy" I smiled when he walked into the bedroom. He slumped on the bed on his belly and huffed. "What's the matter, I sat next to him, trying not to crease my dress and rubbed his back
"Just a crap day" he mumbled into the pillow, Daniel hadn't had good practise sessions
"Talk to me about it" I said to him
"You're going out aren't you?" He asked, as he spoke my phone rang, Carlos. I let it ring
"I can stay Dan" I said to him, he flipped over onto his back
"No, go for dinner. I'm gonna change, Michael is coming over for a gym session" he said
"Are you sure?" I asked
"Yes of course" he said, he still didn't look okay
"You don't mind me going for dinner do you?" I asked
"Nope" he said. I think this is the most blunt Daniel had ever been. Especially to me
"Dan-"
"Just go Alex" he said before getting up and going into the bathroom, shutting the door behind him. My phone rang again

"Señorita lista?" Carlos Spanish voice came through the phone, I didn't know barely any Spanish, only a few words I'd picked up from him when we worked together
"Coming now" I said. I hung up the phone and looked towards the bathroom door before rolling my eyes and leaving the house. I didn't understand what was wrong with Daniel, we never argued and he was never blunt. But I had dinner with a friend and I would only end up on my own if he was working out with Michael.

I smiled when I saw Carlos standing outside the house against his car, he opened his car door and let me inside before getting in himself.
"I made reservations at our favourite that we used to go to with Lando"
"Oooh Le Chantecler?" I asked, speaking with a terrible French accent on the restaurant name, it was in Nice which was about 25 minutes away
"Indeed, I know you like it there" he smiled. I nodded. We chatted the whole way through the drive, it really took my mind of Daniel and his mood. I quickly text Michael while Carlos was speaking to make sure Daniel was okay and to ask what was wrong before slotting my phone back in my bag and chatting again.