The two weeks after Jeddah are busier than ever, we are redesigning a part of the car so I basically live in the office, when we finally leave for Australia I sleep for the entire flight.
On Friday the new parts are tested and they give even more speed than expected
"Great job team, really great job" says Toto smiling
-Feels great guys- I hear George saying on his radio while he closes his last lap
"I think we can still fix that brake issue" I say looking at the datas
"Brake issue?" Says Lewis, he got off the car and took his helmet off but I was too concentrate and didn't notice "there were no brake issues"
"Turn 6"
"Yes?"
"The telemetry is showing you brake more than other cars, I have to investigate it"
"Baby I don't think..."
"I'll eat later" I say giving him a little kiss "Going to fix it before FP2"
Lewis watches Isabelle running away with the notebook in her hands and the headphones still on, he is still worried about her, he knows she is doing it because she loves it but lately pressures are increasing and everyone is watching her. He remembers what's the feeling when you have everyone watching you and waiting you to prove you are enough and not just the "black lucky kid", he remembers how much he hated that feeling and he knows she is trying to prove she is more than "Lewis girl"
After the quali and our pole position with George I am exhausted, I haven't eaten yet so I walk back to the hospitality hoping some pasta is still available at the buffet, before I can reach it a man comes in my direction
"You are wanted in the FIA office" I look at the man confused "now"
He guides me to the main building where I get called in one of the conference room, inside there is Horner with a bunch of papers and photos on the table in front of him.
"Miss, have you been spying RedBull work?" A man with a FIA jacket asks me right when I step into the room.
"What?"
"There are proofs of the car your team is using this weekend" says Horner pointing at the pictures
"We made some changes so?"
"Those changes are suspicious"
"Why did you call me and not the team principal?"
"You were the one analysing our car in Jeddah" says Horner
"I was watching the car so? Everybody does"
Horner is ready to reply when Toto opens the door "What is happening here? Why did you call one of my engineers and not me?"
"Toto calm down this can be solved easily if she admits she..." says the man
"Easily? This girl needs to be suspended" screams Horner
"What?" I say and Toto grabs my arm
"Oh c'mon Christian you can't hate her so much, I want all the proofs and in 2 hours we will do another meeting with just the team principals so I can talk with my employees"
"Ok" said the FIA member
"Wait no" says Horner standing up
"Mr Horner no opposition, we will be here again at 7 pm"
Toto guides me out of the room with a hand on my back, then he turns around and talks to his secretary "Call Lewis, George and the A24eng group, conference room 3 in 30 minutes. Isabelle, see you there in 30 minutes too" I nod and exit the building.
I walk back to the garage but I can feel a panic attack coming so I just hide behind a truck, trying to calm down enough to reach the motorhome.
"Hey what's happening?" I hear Carlos, he looks worried as I am not answering and my breath is more and more heavier "Isabelle?"
"I...I..." I can't talk, I feel like I can't even breath
"Panic attack?" He asks and I nod "Ok, come here" he hugs me "Try to follow my heart pace, one... two...one...two"
I slowly start to calm down my breath "Carlos?"
"Yes?"
"Can you call Lewis?" I break our hug and look at him, Carlos feels his heart broken again but he tries to not show that and looking at her he just answers "Wait here and I'll go look for him"
"Thank you"
Lewis appears from behind the truck, I am sitting on the floor watching my hands trying not to break down again.
"I'm here" he whispers sitting next to me "I'm here"
I don't answer, I concentrate on his smell, it is so familiar his perfume mixed with his sweat. He touches my hair and kisses my forehead "what happened?"
"We need to go to our motorhome" I whisper on his chest
"Why?"
"Toto...Toto will explain, I..."
"Ok ok, honey put my sunglasses on, so media will leave us alone"
I sit on the corner of the table while Toto explains the situation to the team, I keep my sunglasses on and I hold Lewis hand for the entire time.
"But they can do it?" Asks George "I mean, we have a good engineer why is it so bothering to them?"
"My personal opinion? Horner offered Isabelle a job and she said no plus she is Lewis girlfriend and she is helping us to get back to the top, collect all this details and you can see why" says Toto sitting down.
George looks at me, he didn't know about the job offer "It is..."
"Unprofessional and a coward move" says Lewis looking at George
"Ok now that I have your feedbacks I go back to the FIA office, Lewis, George go to the post quali debrief, Isabelle stay here"
Lewis comes closer and whisper to me "I texted Carlos so you are not alone, I'll be right back"
"Carlos, thank you for before, I am sorry for..."
"It's ok, it's totally ok really" he said smiling and giving me the box in his hand "I already finished my debrief and I am free, this is something to eat, Lewis told me you haven't eaten yet and I thought that your fav salad from the Ferrari hospitality might be a good shot"
"The tomatoes one?"
"Yes"
"Thank you, I am starving actually" I say opening the box
"Is it a big deal? You look very stressed lately"
"I don't think it actually is but Horner wants me to be suspended so I think they are creating a big deal for nothing"
"I am sorry"
"No, I am sorry that I am annoying you with this"
"Don't even say it, it is not a problem"
"Thank you. So... to change a bit the topic, are you seeing someone?"
"I am actually"
"And..." I say smiling, I am happy he is forgetting our situation from last summer and I really want him to be happy.
"She is nice, I really like her, can't say more for now but I like her"
"Carlos I need details" I say smiling
"Ok, ok, she is from Spain, I met her on my sister wedding..."
We spend an hour talking and I almost forget everything till I get a text from Toto and I have to say goodbye to Carlos and go to his office.
"Hi Toto" I say closing the door
"Isabelle, please sit"
"So am I suspended?"
"No, as we imagine the accusations were very weak and all our changes are legal, you watching the car in the Parc ferme is legal. Horner got a warning and the case is closed for now"
"Thank you"
"No problem"
"Thank you Toto, really"
"You don't have to worry for this, it is my job" he relaxes a little bit "From Monday you have one week off, Lewis asked me and I think he is right, you look a bit exhausted lately and you are working really hard which I appreciate but you also need some rest and one week off on the three weeks break is a good choice"
"Alright, thank you again"
"And you and Lewis are invited for a karting afternoon and dinner, Jack misses you"
"Yes, it'll be amazing"
"This world is awful sometimes and more they see you are talented more they will come after you. I expect Ferrari to do the same in the future so I want you to be prepared, ok?" I nod "Take it as a compliment Isabelle, that's what we all do"
YOU ARE READING
Red Silver
FanfictionSEASON ONE "You're like red silver" Toto says. "What do u mean?" I am confused. "You have always been silver, just red painted at the beginning. The paint is gone and you're one of us now, a silver star, Lewis favourite silver star" he smiles. SEA...
