Daughter of a Wolff | Formula One

58. Back to the track

We spent the next day just packing and tidying the apartment up. The flight was scheduled for 3 in the afternoon. I was anxious about heading back to the paddock and having to see all the guys again. Charles had picked up on my mood shifting and he was trying hard to be extra comforting.

"Ready Rojas?" I heard Charles call while I was trying to stop the tears from rolling down my face. I didn't want to go back, and that hurt more than I could describe. The feeling of not wanting to be on a race track was so painful, it had been all I had ever wished for and because of my own reckless actions I had ruined everything. I know what people thought when they saw me, I knew the lies that were being told about me. I had seen it all play out on the media, I saw the comments under any image my face cropped up in. They had images of me slapping and arguing with Pierre in Singapore, the Pierre fans were out in full force.

"OLIVIA" I'd learnt quickly that Charles only called me olivia when he was being serious. I wiped the tears off and splashed some cool water on my face. It did nothing to help my puffed red eyes.

"Coming" I shouted picking up my hand luggage from the bed and heading to the front door. Both Charles and Arthur stood at the door waiting for me, the luggage had clearly already been loaded into the car waiting down stairs. I could see Charles trying to analyse my face but I didn't want to make this into anything. I stuffed my hands into my pockets and moved through them, not stopping to look back. I could hear them behind me as we waited for the lift. I held my breath and waited for the doors to open. It seemed to take a long time and every second that was passing my chest was expanding less and less. It felt like I was wearing tight lycra and I had no space to breathe.

I was shocked to see Andrea waiting in the car as I climbed into the back of the suv. I smiled awkwardly and sat in the seat in the boot, moving between the middle gap. I moved as close to the window as I could keeping my hands tucked away and my head resting against the glass.

Charles had sat down next to me and pushed Arthur when he tried to sit with us. "Rude" Arthur mumbled and sat in the other seat in front of us.

"What's wrong?" Charles whispered into my ear as he lent close to me.

"Nothing" I replied pulling away from his arm and putting my back up to him. "Rojas" he said pulling at me trying to get me to turn around to him.

"Charles don't" I said and Arthur turned to look around at us.

"Tourne la merde autour d'Arthur" Charles snapped and I glared at him.

"Fucking hell" Arthur said putting his arms up in surrender and laughing. Charles moved to leave a space between us and didn't speak for the rest of the ride. I closed my eyes and thought about what was going to happen this week when we were back at the track.

Papa
Loading the plane now, I have booked you at the Regent Shanghai Pudong with Mercades but most drivers are staying here anyway. Are you going to get a ride with Charles?

Olivia
I'm not sure. But I'll be fine, I can get a taxi if there is any issues

Papa
I've just asked he is at the same hotel... he will bring you right?

Olivia
I'll sort it papa don't worry

Papa
Ring me when you land, about to take off.

Olivia
Ok x

We pulled up at the airport and unloaded all the luggage. Between us we had 8 large suitcases and 4 pieces of hand luggage. Andrea had gone to get a trolley and asked Arthur to help him. "What is with you" Charles asked, his tone was sharp

"Charles I'm fine"

"Whatever Olivia" he snapped and I felt my whole body tense up. Why I didn't just tell him I was scared I wasn't sure. Scared of what we were, scared of how he would be for the next few days. We'd not talked about it, I had been waiting for him to bring it up but he didn't. The topic hadn't even come up.

Olivia
I've missed you! Can we go for dinner sometime this weekend? Since we are still friends right?

Daniel
Of course! I missed you too, wasn't sure if you'd be at the GP tbh! How about tomorrow night? Where you staying

Olivia
Regent Shanghai Pudong

Daniel
Me too! Pick you up at 7ish? xx

Olivia
Can't wait x

Had I just made a stupid childish decision? Yes yes I had. Did I regret it? Not one bit. I loved Charles I knew I did but I wasn't going to loose anyone because of whatever was going on between us. I'd done enough of that when I started to get close to Pierre and it wasn't even worth it. I had however got to tell Charles, just definitely not yet.

We walked through the airport headed for the first class lounge. It wasn't my first time but I had been used to flying private with Mercades. Fans had spotted Charles and Arthur and they had been doing pictures and autographs all through the check in line. It was easy enough for them to do and you could always see the joy it bought to each and every fan. I hung back, I hoped that the fans weren't the type to follow all the drama on social media, I was so wrong.

"Hey you" I felt my hair pulled and my neck wrenched back. My hands few to my scalp and I winced at the pain. "You never deserved Pierre and you sure as hell don't deserve Charles" I was so taken back by this girls actions that I couldnt even speak. Charles and Arthur were too distracted to notice and I felt the grip of the girl tighten. She pulled so hard I slipped and fell headfirst into the ground. My sight seemed to shake and I watched as security pulled her away from me. There was a lot of noise and I saw Andrea crouched down beside me. "Shit Olivia are you okay"

"Fine" I said pulling myself up from the floor, Charles had come running over toward me but it wasn't what I needed in that moment. I turned and headed to the bathrooms, well more like sprinted. I could hear the noise of people coming behind me but I just focused on getting behind a locked door. I finally got into a bathroom stall and locked the door behind me. I stood for a moment taking grasping breaths, my hands placed up against the back of the door. Tears were falling down my face and my heart was racing. After everything, everything I was trying to overcome I was still painted as the villain in the story. I hated that Pierre had ever even been part of my life let alone how close I had let him in. "Olivia" I heard Charles voice in the distance slowly coming closer. I heard him knocking on what I assumed to be the toilet doors. Was he in the female toilets?

"Olivia come on, just come out" I took a deep grasping breath and unlocked the door. I slowly stepped out and saw him standing in the middle of the room. I ran into his arms and let out all the tears I had been trying to hold back. Emotionally and because it fucking hurt physically. He held me so tightly that my body was unable to move. I needed him to just be here and that's what he did. We stood for a few moments until I pulled away slightly. "Rojas your head"

"I'm fine"

"You're not fine" I moved to make my way back out the bathroom when he grabbed my arm. "You're shutting me out again. Please just tell me what's wrong"

"I'm scared" I sobbed and he moved to take me back into his arms.

"Ok". We headed back out the restroom after a few minutes, I tucked my hands back into my hoodie. I didn't need to wonder if I should hold Charles hand or wether he'd pull away right now. We sat down in the lounge and waited for our flight to be called. I sat silently crying with my back to the room. I felt Charles shift to sit beside me and he stroked my back. We'd talked about how sometimes I just couldn't get a grip on my emotions and that all I needed was to know he was there with me, and that's what he was doing. I relaxed when I felt his presence and is body pressed close to mine. Charles clearly sensed it too and pulled me on to his lap. We took up a whole sofa, I lay with my head on his lap and legs laid out. I was holding his hoodie to my face and sobbing quietly. He stroked my hair and looked down at me. I couldn't bare to look up to see my own sadness drawn on his face.