One Day // Daniel Ricciardo

CHAPTER 1

Chapter 1

*2 Years Later*

The brand new blue shiny car was parked almost directly in front of me, the sun reflecting from it completely blinding me.

"It's now or never Jess.' Lando sighed, finishing off his lunch and putting it in the pocket of my door. "I don't really know what the huge deal is with you two anyway?"

I glanced over at him and the sandwich packet in my door, he smirked and removed it knowing his rubbish doesn't get far in here. Lando Norris is a little brother, he acts a big guy but truthfully, we go for meal deal lunches together and give each other a break from work chat. I've never told him what happened between Danny and I, honestly, I never told anyone after it happened. Reliving it was never top of my itinerary.

Somehow, although I didn't want to relive it, I still suggested Danny for a new contract with McLaren. Good idea? Absolutely not, although deep down it must have been. I haven't formally seen him since that morning I left. We've been at races together but since I left Red Bull and he went to Renault we never had any connections to each other.

That being said, I never expected him to leave Renault. He was happy there, but now he's here and I will have to see him. I'll have to see him within the next 5 minutes and my heart was in my stomach. In my stomach or already fallen straight through me, to be honest I'm not quite sure.

"You tell him nothing Lando, I swear if you tell him anything about what's been going on recently, I'll make sure your car doesn't leave the pit next race day."

He laughed lightly, almost like he was a little scared of the definite empty threat.

A big deep breath later and I was out the car. "Let's be real Jess, you look hot as well today it's almost like you planned it well.'

I shoved Lando on the shoulder, the two of us laughing. I had an interview earlier so my great reappearance was well prompted wearing a black power suit and baby pink blouse. It was a lot more presentable than the usual orange polo and jeans I was used to. Let's be honest, a power suit is exactly how you want to approach your ex in after 2 years.

We slid in to the empty meeting room and took our seats. I was really hoping he wouldn't be the next person to enter the room, I don't think I could deal with the awkwardness between the three of us. The room filled up pretty fast thankfully and he was the last person to enter with Zak.

I zoned out for the majority of the meeting, taking pretend notes when I saw everyone else doing the same. I glanced up a few times to see Danny doing the same, his eyes flickering between me and his computer screen. That was enough for one day, the rest of the meeting was spent tactically planning my escape route without having to talk to anyone.

He's got better looking. I didn't think it was possible? But somehow looking at him up close again in the same room made me miss him immensely. He was the one that got away for me. There hasn't been one day in the past two years that I haven't regretted my decision and wished I was still with him, and here I was sitting three metres away from him with my heart bursting with emotions. Working with him was a bad decision, it was never going to end well.

I've pined over him for two years and never moved on, have never found anyone close to wanting to pursue anything with and somehow thought that by working with him maybe it would let me move on. I was so wrong, the tension in the room could never be matched. I don't know what he's been doing relationship wise. We were together for five years and I ended it, guaranteed he hates me and unfortunately, it's something I'll have to come to terms with.

As the meeting came to an end, I was called back by my team wanting to look over some drawings of the new car modifications. I spent roughly an hour being thankful that they had so much to inform me about that when it came to leave, I assumed everyone would be gone.

My feet were aching in the heels I had chosen for my interview, I couldn't wait to take my clothes off and get into something comfier and my whole body just felt agitated. The back I was carrying that had now been filled with paper work was way too heavy and I still had to navigate the doors to leave after the automation had been turned off.

"Need a hand?" A familiar voice sounded.

I paused in my steps. Reluctant and scared to turn around and be fronted with him.

"I waited for you, I really wanted to talk to you."

"I'm sorry Daniel," I Whispered, "I really have to go I'm in a rush."

"The least you can do is look at me." He sighed. His voice sounded pained, almost exactly like the voice from two years ago.

I turned to face him. I always thought romance novels and books were cringe growing up. There's no way someone could take your breath away just from looking at you, but at that point I'd never been stood infant of Daniel Ricciardo. He was tall, muscular, tanned, a walking definition of tall, dark and handsome. Another cliche I was never a fan of.

"I don't think here is a good place to talk about anything Dan,' I said, "I'm glad you're here and we're...working together again."

He shuffled on his feet; he clearly had a lot on his mind but didn't know where to start. I held the door open for him and started walking to my car.

"How about tomorrow? Let's go for dinner... or just coffee... or just somewhere that's not here if you don't want to and talk? I don't want this to be more awkward than what it should be."

I nodded, "Coffee is good."