Valerie

Part 4

DANIEL

When we're done with our coffee I walk Valerie over to the Mercedes garage.

"Well, have a good day, Daniel." she smiles at me when we reach the entrance.

"You too Valerie. I'll see you later." I give her a side hug and watch as she walks into the garage, she stops when she sees Toto coming towards her, and he stops to talk to her. He looks over at the entrance and gives me a quick wave. She turns and looks at me before she turns back to Toto. She says something and he nods, showing her to walk ahead of him. She smiles at him and then starts walking. I watch her walk away until she's completely out of sight.

I smile to myself as I walk towards the McLaren garage.

"What are you doing at Mercedes?" Christian asks as he falls into stride with me.

I turn to look at him. "Ah not much. Just had coffee with a friend."

Christian laughs. "You know Toto will have your balls in a vice if you touch his daughter, right?"

I laugh loudly. "It's not like that. And Toto doesn't scare me."

Christian laughs this time. "Toto scares me."

I laugh and then he wishes me well for the weekend before he goes into the Red Bull garage. I wave at Max as I pass.

I catch glimpses of Valerie around the paddock throughout the day, but we're both busy with practices that we don't get a chance to speak to each other again.

I head to the press conference with Sophie and find that I'm in the group with Lewis. I look around and see Valerie standing to the side of the room, snapping pictures. I see her point the camera at me and I grin. She lowers the camera and smiles at me, shaking her head.

Throughout the conference I watch her take her pictures, I'm so distracted by her that when a question is posed to me, I have to ask them to repeat it. She smiles at Will Buxton when he talks to her, his hand on her shoulder, he squeezes it gently and then gives her a one-armed hug, pulling her into his side. I can read her lips as she says she's fine and he nods, smiling warmly at her. After the press conference, I rush outside to see if I can find her before she heads back to the hotel. I spot her walking with Lewis.

"Valerie! Wait up!" I call after them.

Lewis turns to look at me at the same time she does, stopping mid-step.

I catch up to them and pull Valerie into a hug. I fist-bump Lewis. "What's up, guys?"

Valerie lets out a half laugh. "You called after us. What's up with you?"

I laugh nervously. "Right. I, uh, I actually wanted to talk to you about that dinner."

I see Lewis tilt his head slightly, raising an eyebrow.

I meet his gaze for a second and then look back at Valerie.

"Well, I have some editing to do this afternoon, but I'm free tonight." she shrugs.

Lewis turns his head slightly to look at her.

I bite the inside of my lip before saying. "Meet you in the hotel lobby at seven then?"

She nods. "That sounds great. I'll see you then. Now if you'll both excuse me, I need to get some work done."

She smiles warmly at both of us and then sets off through the paddock.

I watch her walking away, only turning to Lewis when he makes a "huh" sound.

I frown. "What?"

He shrugs. "What are you doing?"