STRONG

Chapter Two 💚

A ringing stirs me from my sleep, I turn over and turn off my alarm. Rubbing my eyes, I sit up against the headboard in order not to fall back asleep, grabbing my phone from the charger, I scroll through the notifications on the screen, one peaking my interest.

From Unknown - Hey Gabriella, it's Lance, Mike gave me your number. I just wanted to say thank you for stepping in for me with little notice! 🙂

To Lance- Hey Lance! It's no problem, kind of my job! 🤣 please focus on getting better! And keep me updated on how you're doing! 🙂

Getting up from my bed, I walk out my room into the kitchen, only to be handed a cup of coffee by Charley.
"Thank you, good morning" I send her a smile, taking a small sip from my mug.
"Good morning, what time do we need to leave?" She asks taking a sip from her own mug.
"Mike message said the meeting is at 10 so about 9:15, it's not a long drive from here to Silverstone" I say, taking a seat at the breakfast bar.
"Plenty of time for a nice breakfast!" Charley says, opening my cupboards and grabbing the ingredients for pancakes. I get up from my seat and grab a mixing bowl, whisk and frying pan from the cupboard placing them on the counter next to the oven. Within 30 minutes, Charley and I sit at the breakfast bar, plate of pancakes each. Just as I'm about to put a forkful of pancake in my mouth, my phone pings.
"Who's that?" Charley asks.
"Lance, Mike gave him my number and he texted me this morning" I say not looking up from my phone.

From Lance-  That's true 🤣 it's not looking good, both my arms are pretty beat up as well as my wrists, big toe and foot.

To Lance- Oh gosh! How bad is it? Like surgery bad or?

"Lance is in pretty bad shape by the sounds of it. Both arms and wrists, big toe and foot." I say looking at Charley.
"Ooh ouch, that sounds awful! I have a feeling that he won't be able to drive this season"
"Yeah. Like I want him to get better to drive but the racer in me doesn't, like this could be my shot to show everyone I am cut out for this sport" I put some pancake in my mouth, putting my phone down next to my plate.
"I get what your saying, but you have testing to show everyone that" Charley beams at me "your a fantastic, talented, fierce driver, teams and people will notice"
"I just hope I don't fuck it up"

Charley and I jump into my Aston Martin DB11, a perk that comes with being their reserve driver, at exactly 9:15. Reversing the car out the space and onto the road, the roar of the engine, making my lips turn up into a smile. The whisper of the radio the only other sound in the car for most of the way before Charley speaks up.

"Have they announced that you'll be driving in testing yet?"
"I don't think so, they probably will announce it after the meeting if anything" my eyes flick to her before focusing back on the road. After about 5 minutes, I pull into a parking space outside Aston Martins headquarters, shutting off the engine. Walking through the big automatic doors, a cool breeze tickling the ends of my hair, I go up to the receptionist.

"Hello! How can I help you?" He smiles, looking between me and Charley.

"Hello! I'm Gabriella, I've got a meeting with Mike Krack at 10" I smile back politely.

He taps on the keyboard in front of him before looking up "Ah yes right this way, Miss Barker"

He rounds the desk before heading for the staircase just off to the side, Charley and I follow behind him, in sync up the stairs. We walk down a small corridor, before he stops outside a door with a sign on it saying 'Mike Krack, team principle'.
"Just knock when you're ready he's expecting you" the receptionist turns to Charley and I and smiles before turning around and heading back the way we came.
"You ready?" Charley places a hand of my shoulder comfortingly.
I turn to her and smile "Hell yes."
Raising my fist to the door, I knock thrice before I hear a call of "come in" from the other side. Turning the door handle, we enter Mike's office, his desk straight in front of us, a large photo of an Aston Martin F1 car hanging on the wall behind him.