Racing Against Fate ~ Lance Stroll

Chapter 6

As I drove down to the track, my mind was buzzing with anticipation. It was Thursday, which meant it was media day, and I knew that I was going to be facing a barrage of questions about the picture I had posted of Lance on the plane.
When I arrived at the track, I made my way to the press conference room, steeling myself for the onslaught of questions.
As soon as I walked in, I was hit with a wall of noise. Reporters were shouting out questions, their cameras flashing as they tried to get my attention.
I took a deep breath and made my way to the front of the room, taking my place behind the microphone.
"Poppy, can you explain why you posted that picture of Lance sleeping on the plane?" one reporter asked, their voice laced with accusation.
I could feel my heart racing as I prepared to answer. "Look, it was just a harmless joke," I replied, trying to keep my tone light.
"But it was clearly meant to embarrass Lance," another reporter chimed in.
I could feel my frustration building. "Listen, I don't have anything against Lance personally. We just had a disagreement on the track, and I posted that picture without thinking."
The questions kept coming, each one more pointed than the last. But I kept my cool, knowing that I needed to stand my ground.
Eventually, the press conference came to an end, and I made my way back to the garage, feeling a sense of relief wash over me.
It was clear that I was going to have to work hard to earn back the trust and respect of my fellow drivers and the media.

After the press conference, I met up with my teammate Lando for the track walk. We walked together, discussing the upcoming race and the challenges of the circuit.
But after a while, I couldn't help but bring up the press conference. "Lando, why are the media so obsessed with me and Lance? It seems like every question I got was about that post I made."
Lando shook his head sympathetically. "I don't know, Poppy. They just love drama, I guess. And you and Lance have had some pretty public clashes on the track."
I sighed, feeling frustrated. "But I'm more than just my rivalry with Lance. I'm a rookie driver, trying to make my mark in this sport. Why can't they ask me about that?"
Lando put a hand on my shoulder. "I know, Poppy. But the media is always looking for a story. And right now, your rivalry with Lance is the biggest one out there."
I nodded, feeling resigned. "I guess I just have to deal with it."
Lando grinned. "Don't worry, Poppy. You'll show them what you're made of on the track. And then they won't be able to ignore you."
I smiled, feeling grateful for Lando's support. As we continued our track walk, I tried to put the press conference out of my mind, focusing instead on the challenges that lay ahead on the circuit.

After a long day at the track, I was looking forward to getting back to my hotel room and relaxing. But when I reached into my pocket for my key, it wasn't there. I searched through my bag, but it wasn't there either. Frustrated, I headed back down to the lobby to ask for a replacement.
As I was explaining the situation to the receptionist, I saw Lance coming down the hallway towards me. He had a mischievous look in his eyes as he approached, holding up my key card.
"Looking for something?" he asked, a smirk on his lips.
I snatched the key card out of his hand, feeling angry. "Did you steal this from me?"
Lance leaned in close to me, his breath hot on my ear. "Why would I steal your key card, Poppy? I'll see your pretty little ass on track tomorrow."
I stepped back, feeling a mix of anger and confusion. What was he playing at? Was he trying to intimidate me? I glared at him as he walked away, feeling a sense of unease.
As I headed back to my room, I couldn't shake the feeling that Lance was up to something.