Something Gained

Chapter One Hundred & Ten

When we arrived in Singapore, I was excited. I had plenty of work to do though. Being with us for nearly a whole season already, I didn't worry about what Sophie and Ben were doing, in fact I barely saw them as they went off and did their jobs with Daniel and Lando without even checking in. So I was free to do my own work in my office.

"Knock knock" I smiled at the voice at my door as Michael came in.

"Hey" I replied to him, clicking send on an email, he placed a cup of coffee in front of me, he always knew my go to order and frequently hand delivered me coffee.

"Just wanted to catch up with my best pal" Michael smiled

"Oooh, best pal" I winked at him and it made him laugh

"Other than Blake and Daniel of course, you okay?" He asked, I nodded and sipped my coffee

"I am, how are you?" I asked

"I'm good, I wanted to ask a favour if possible?"

"That depends what it is?" I smiled and he rolled his eyes "joking, what's up?" I asked him

"Can you try and sort out for my girlfriend to be able to come to Texas, like be in the hospitality and stuff?" Michael asked, Michael resided in England when he didn't need to be with Daniel. His girlfriend also lived there. I had met her a handful of times but not a whole lot.

"You know I will" I said to him, he smiled a wide grin, it was clearly an Australian thing because Daniel and Blake all had the same sort of smile, big and wide and enough to make whoever was around smile as well

"Thank youuuuu, I know I'm annoying"

"You are, but this isn't. I'll sort it out and give you everything. I assume flights and hotel will be already sorted?" I asked him

"Yeah I'll sort that all out, she was flying to America anyway to stay while we were there as we have a week before we go to Austin" he said

"Perfect, I'll sort this side of it" I said with a smile

"Thank you Alex"

"Is that all you brought me coffee for?" I chuckled

"No no! I genuinely was coming to have a general chat anyway" Michael said, I smiled. He almost looked aghast at my question but I knew Michael wasn't like that. He'd bend over backwards for any of his friends, he frequently did so for me as well, always helping or being there if I needed anything

"I'll try and get things all cleared up so I can keep her company" I said to him, he nodded. I knew she had never been to a race before and been trackside, so it must be daunting for some people

"Aw thank you Alex, that means a lot" Michael and I chatted for a little while before Daniel came past and Michael jumped up, ready to do some reactions and final training and warm ups ahead of him getting in the car. I told him I'd be there in a minute and the boys went off while I finished up working.

"Bestieeee" I smiled as I walked into the garage and saw Blake, Michael and Daniel to my left. Sophie was the one calling out to me. I rolled my eyes and nudged her arm when I got close enough. Daniel winked at me and I smiled before I took my usual seat and picked up my headphones next to her and Ben as the guys got ready to go out in their cars. Friday practise, it was always more of a chilled vibe, still important but not as strenuous, and with the current form of the team it was a happier environment than last year, of for myself than the previous years as we were actually a top team now, it was lovely to see the hard work pay off.

Singapore was an evening race, the second practise session wouldn't finish until 10pm, then with all the media and briefings, we wouldn't leave until late. The race at the Marina Bay Street circuit was cancelled the last two years, so I had only been here once before. I couldn't even remember what the schedule was like, but we finished late, and weren't up as early as a normal race weekend, but still early enough to be tired. Well I certainly was anyway. We'd arrived today at 1pm, it was going to be a long day, so that coffee from Michael was much needed. The sky was darkening for the first session, as the cars left the garage. With my headphones over my ears, I watched the screens and hoped it would be another weekend of success, Daniel and Lando were both in great moods probably helped that we'd just had two weeks off, well kind of. I still had work and they still had to train somewhat, but it was more relaxed that was for certain.

"I've got no power?" I heard Daniel's message come through the radio and I sighed. It had been only 6 minutes of the first session, this was less than ideal. Daniel managed to limp home and his car was brought back into the garage on a trolley and Daniel jumped out. For now, the session was over for him, the mechanics dived on the car immediately pulling bits apart to figure out the issue. Hopefully it just needed something minor, the worst case scenario was a new power unit or engine or any other part for the car to work. Mechanics was not my strong suit, I left it to the professionals and Daniel went and spoke to the team about what went wrong and worked it out with the data, then he was taken off with Sophie to do media. I stayed and watched Lando, he was now our only car on track and was working to get as much data as possible for both cars.