In the Spotlight (Max Verstappen - Book Two)

Chapter Two

I'm greeted by a hoard of Red Bull media cameras as I get out of the loaned SUV Honda-HRV at the Red Bull Ring the following week, with Olivia and Nick by my side as we walk to the pit lane. The weather is seriously cold because it's still January and I pause for a moment to greet a line of fans who had gathered at the entrance of the track after Max was spotted in Austria the day before, leading to people believing that he would be at the track the next day. Seeing me, however, was a surprise for them it seemed given their reactions and I gave quick autographs to them on their RB caps.

"What are you guys doing today?" One fan asked and I glanced nervously at Nick and Olivia who grinned at me, knowing my tendency to leak small details about projects.

"Er, just visiting the home track!" I try and explain the situation away to the disbelief of the fans.

"She and Max are going to drive the RB18 around the track," Olivia says from next to me and the fans squeal and I breathe a sigh of relief.

"Will there be a video?" Another fan asks and I look to the right where the voice came from, a young girl, I nod smiling as I kneel down to reach her eye line.

"Yup, that's the plan, but shh!" I say lifting my finger to my lips, "it's a secret!" She giggles and I put the cap on her head now branded with both my and Max's signatures. It's then that I realise he must have already arrived at the track and I feel my heart beat harder in my chest. I tap the young girl's cap and say goodbye to the fans as I walk into the pit lane, thanking them for their support before getting myself focused on the chance to drive around the track.

"What are you looking forward to today?" Sydney, a marketing member of Red Bull asks as the cameras follow us.

"Driving! This track has always been one of my favourites and I've missed being behind the wheel of a car, so just everything about this is exciting for me today! It's my first chance in an RB car!" I say excitedly, the energy rolling off my body and I hear someone whoop from the side, Nick one of Max's mechanics. I send him a smile and wave as I turn my attention back to Sydney.

"Haha, a bit different from Max's response but it's good to hear!" She says as she continues walking with us as we look for the garage. "He said he was excited to see you!" She tells me as my face asked the silent question, I smile at that, trying to hide how nervous that statement made me.

"Aw that's sweet, yeah I haven't seen him in like a month! It'll be good to see him again!"

"What's your prediction for today?" Sydney asks as we stop in front of the garage with the car parked just inside.

"Er-I'd love to say me, but probably Max. He drove it for a year and so, yeah I'm expecting him! But I'd love to be wrong." I say winking at the camera before Sydney thanks me and I say goodbye and we walk into the garage where I spot Christian and Helmut. I greet the two men and they direct me and my team to a driver's room for me to get changed.

I grin when I see a Red Bull race suit, the design the same as last year so as to not leak the new suit before it's ready and I run my fingers over the E. Carter and the GB flag on the waistline underneath the classic Red Bull logos. Nick and Olivia wait outside the room as I change into the fireproofs and the Red Bull suit, leaving it hanging from my waist and boots before stepping out and walking back to the pit lane, glad that I had done my hair in French plaits before I got here today.

As I step back through the door of the garage, I'm laughing at a joke that Nick had told Olivia and me but my laughter is caught in my throat as my eyes get caught in the gaze of a pair of familiar striking blue eyes. I couldn't help myself but squeal in excitement and run away from Nick and Olivia, toward Max, suddenly feeling like the last two months hadn't passed without us talking. I jumped into a hug with him, arms snaking around his neck as his went around my waist and spun me around. I buried my head in his neck breathing him in before he put me down, making sure I was steady on my feet before letting go of my waist. I took the opportunity to give him a once over and smiled as I noticed our almost matching outfits, bar the boots as his were golden.