Under the Microscope (Book One of Three)

Chapter 27

So, I was doing some admin for the book when I realised I had stupidly labelled two chapters as chapter 27...and I think it's kind of an important one so I've decided to post it and rename the following chapters so yeah :P lol whoops

******

I'm sat at the table of the conference room about 10 minutes before the time agreed with Christian. This all has to be done very lowkey with silly season having started extra early this year, all parties involved in this potential move will want to keep it top secret until all parties have signed the relevant documents. As I'm wiping my slightly sweaty palms on the beige cargo pants that I'm wearing, I hear the door unlock, I turn in my chair and there is Christian Horner. He smiles when he sees me and walks over, I'm expecting a handshake or something, but he goes straight in for a hug which I awkwardly return. I'm smiling somewhat nervously, for some reason this meeting is causing me more anxiety than driving at 200 mph.

"Elodie, how are you?" Christian greets me, as he takes the seat next to mine, turning it to face mine as I sit back down, similarly turning my seat so I'm facing him.

"Much better today than I was yesterday!" I say stiffly, before scolding myself internally. He doesn't want to know about your hangover silly. Before I can continue scolding myself, I hear Christian let out a laugh and I try to smile and relax.

"Ah yes, I heard as much from a couple of my drivers." He chuckles out and I nod my head smiling.

"Yes, Pierre was a lot of help, or at least so I'm told...I can't quite piece together parts of the night." I admit ruefully. "But it was a good night, felt like an important thing to celebrate." I say shrugging, feeling more comfortable as I lean forward in my chair and raise one of my heeled feet to rest on my knee as I rest my chin in my hand, elbow on the table, staring at him inquisitively. My beige trousers are paired with white strappy heels and a matching flowy top with spaghetti straps, it's a rather stark contrast to Horner's all dark clothing, navy polo shirt and trousers, with comfy shoes. I'd pulled out all the stops with my jewellery to help remind him of the image I could bring but left my hair natural with minimal makeup to make sure he knew what he was getting. A driver.

"I'll be honest, I was surprised when Toto got back to me. Obviously, he is very good at getting his drivers into seats, but I thought you would take George's route and sit in Williams until a seat at Mercedes became available." Horner says getting down to business and I nod.

"I lack George's patience," I let out an airy laugh. "I'm also aware that the seat at Mercedes is unlikely to be available for another few seasons. Lew is far from done from what I can tell, and I'm not here to sit at the back of the grid every week. It would kill my soul to do it for more than a year." I say flatly, removing my head from where it's resting and leaning back in my chair. "I have goals and Mercedes aren't going to be able to help me reach them given their current situation, Toto gets that."

All the while Christian is nodding, clearly somewhat enjoying what I'm saying. "So, what are those goals?" His beady eyes are concentrated on mine, and I make sure not to break eye contact as I say the next sentence.

"Youngest World Drivers Champion." His signature smirk creeps onto his face.

"You realise that this is an Alpha Tauri seat, not a Red Bull one." He says pointing around us, as though the physical seat is in the room. I shrug.

"It will be when you see how I can outperform Checo." I say sweetly, honey dripping from my lips. His eyebrows raised slightly. "Plus, if you fail to realise that quick enough then I'll still be the first female WDC. If that's with Red Bull, Ferrari or Mercedes, it doesn't matter to me. I just want to reach that goal, prove that I can do it."