Scandal

P3: You'll end up loving her

He speeds up his walk as he sees his assistant come running over to him. "Hello Mr Hamilton, do you want me to go over your schedule for the day?" She greets him. "As regular, Tina." He gives her a small smile before looking down at his watch and realising that he's going to be late.

One thing about Lewis Hamilton, he doesn't do late. Why? Because he's a perfectionist. He's a person who refuses to accept a standard short of perfection. Everything has to go as planned, and he loses it if it doesn't.

"Well, you've got a meeting with Toto in about 2 minutes-" She tries to make up her pace in her small heels. "Yeah, I know. About what?" He cuts her short as he arrives at the batching area.

"Apparently there is a new chairman and stakeholder he wants to talk about. After that, you've got to choose a new driver's card for this year. Oh, and you have to go over the final plans for the new car." She finishes just in time before Lewis thanks her and goes into Toto's office.

To Lewis' surprise the only person he meets there is Valterri Bottas. "Hi mate, Toto not here yet?" Lewis greets the Finn. 

"No, not yet. They told me he is giving a tour to the new chairman." He answers as Lewis sits down next to him. "I hope that he will be a great help to us." Toto takes Valterri's chance to answer.

"How are you doing, gentlemen?" Toto smiles and goes over to sit at his desk. "Good." They both answer. "Is the chairman still around?" Valterri asks. 

"No, just left." Toto informs him. "Really? I didn't see him." Lewis furrows his brows. "That's because it's not him but her." Toto looks over at Lewis. "Even better." Lewis laughs.

"And I think you know her. Well, you both probably will. Does Irina Ferreira let some bells ring?" Toto asks but looks at the door as it opens. Valterri turns around but Lewis doesn't. 

"Have you started without me?" Niki asks making Lewis' sudden stress disappear. "Well, yeah I just told them about Irina." Toto informs him.

"Yeah, just said goodbye to me. What a kind girl. Well, she's what? 29 years old or something? Doesn't matter. So, what a kind woman. What do you guys think about her?" Niki asks as he goes to stand next to Toto. 

Valterri is the first to speak the moment he realises that Lewis wasn't going to be the one, "Well I think that she was a great driver. Learned a lot from her."He smiles softly.

"And you Lewis?" Toto questions him. "Her last name holds scandal. Do you really think this is a good decision? She's not an easy person to work with either." He answers while leaning on his knees. 

"Yet, she got the job done. It has been a long time, and I'm sure people will think differently now about the incident. We've always been the ones to take a risk. Why not now?" Toto encourages his decision.

"You can't hide that the girl has talent, Lewis. I personally requested her as a chairman, and I think that it might be one of the best decisions we will ever make. She wasn't scared to take a risk, was one of the best drivers out there, and is tough enough to go against the controversy." Niki backs Toto up.

"I trust you Niki, but I can't promise that I will trust her." Lewis answers truthfully. "Just give it time." Toto nods at him. Lewis had grown a lot from the person that he used to be before, but now that he's in his prime he wouldn't want someone to interfere. Especially not Irina Ferreira.

The name brings up mixed feelings in Lewis. He knows what they were capable of as a team at one moment, but they were young, and things ended badly. They didn't reconcile after that fight and just went on with the couple of races that were left without talking to each other. 

They were mad and stubborn, so they just left things on a low. Of course, they would cross each other's path on the track, but not one of the two wanted to be the first one to talk to the other.

He was there when the accident happened with her brother. He could see the absolute terror on her face. He felt bad for her and sent his condolences, but no answer came back. Which was to be expected. She didn't need him, especially not at her lowest. That she made very clear. 

"I say we give her a chance." Toto tries to comfort the obviously irritated Lewis, who grunts in response. "And it is too late she has already signed the papers." Niki announces with a smile. "I'm sure you'll end up loving her, Lewis."

"Mhh, I'm sure I will." Lewis answers sarcastically.