Right On Track

Chapter 9

There was thump on the ground as the driver unloaded Kiara's bags in the parking lot of the hotel.She climbed out of the car with a yawn and walked around the back,meeting up with Lydia a second later.Kiara had just arrived at the hotel in Melbourne.But so did someone else.
"What is one thing that annoys you so much that it can't get off your mind."He asked.
"You."Kiara pointed at Carlos after he asked the question while passing by.
"I was talking to Charles."He grinned,trying to make her feel a little embarrassed.But it didn't work,as she jerked her chin in the direction of the hotel lobby and said."Charles is already inside."
Carlos,looking down with a smile at his failed attempt,saying."Fine,you got me."
"And why are you asking me this?"She asked,since it had been so random.
"Only making sure that I'm still on your mind."He started off towards the entrance of the hotel.
She paused in place,a hand gripping the strap of the bag on her shoulders.She had fallen for that little trick in his question.He was already out of earshot.And yelling a response after him would be useless.
Kiara clenched her fists,then turned to Lydia,who was smiling.
"What?"She frowned.
"Nothing."Lydia shook her head.
Kiara turned away from her and approached the building.On the way inside,she saw George and Alora making their way to the elevator.Kiara had already seen most of the drivers already at the airport,where lines of fans waited for them.She loved the atmosphere that was already developing.
"There is a dinner tonight with a few other drivers."Kiara told Lydia."Are there any arrangements that need to be moved?"
Lydia checked the tablet in her hands and soon replied."Nothing tonight."
Kiara nodded as they entered the elevator,Lydia added."There isn't much for tomorrow,either.Majority starts on Wednesday."
"Sounds good."Kiara said.
Lydia clicked the button in the elevator and asked."Just to be sure...You have made your decision not to send in-"
"I made up my mind."She cut her off."And I am not sending it in."
"And if Nathan does something like that again?"
"Well..."She sighed."Then,I'll have to report it."

Kiara grabbed her purse from the nearby counter,checked the time and swore under her breath.Ten minutes late.She was ten minutes late for the damn dinner.
She left her hotel room and looked down the hallway,not seeing any other drivers who,she hoped by chance,could accompany her down so she wouldn't be the only one late.She was supposed go with Pierre,but he cancelled on the dinner last minute as he and Esteban had to attend some sponsorship meeting for Alpine.And Kiara,thinking that she could just plan ahead earlier on,already told the driver that she had a lift and he could take the time to run his other errands.She was basically left without a lift now.
She dialled Alora.And her sister picked up,knowing her very well and simply replying."I'm already here.So...You're on your own."
Kiara groaned and cut the call.She made her way down the hallway and towards the elevator.She stopped at the doors and waited till it opened,checking the time on her phone while she did so.Maybe she could catch a cab or something downstairs.She had lost track of time while sorting herself out for tonight.One thing she couldn't help with was keeping track of time.
The elevator doors opened and she stepped in.But as she did so,a door slammed from nearby and someone ran up to the elevator."Woah,please hold it."
Kiara glanced at Carlos as he slipped in just as the doors began to shut.He sighed,straightening his leather jacket and fixing up his dark hair."Thanks."
She muttered her response,causing him to pause and realise that it was her.
"Late too?"
"Mhm."She didn't look at him.
A moment of silence passed by.Then,he asked."Kiara?"
"What?"She frowned,finally glancing up at him.She met his gaze.
"Can you please press the button?"He asked.
She looked away from him,holding back a curse while clicking the button for the ground floor.
"Let me guess,"Carlos said as the elevator started down."You were sleeping?"
"No,"She shook her head."I nearly did,though."
"Well,I did."He almost laughed.
"I could tell."She said,not meeting his gaze again.She gestured to his messy hair,which he tried to fix up as quickly as possible.She nearly laughed at that.And she had to admit that even his messy hair.
"And Lando was supposed to meet me in the lobby."Carlos said."But he never came back to the hotel in the first place.Apparrently he was leaving straight from wherever he was."
They stood in that odd silence for some time,Kiara surprised when he hadn't found a way to start some pointless debate.
When the doors opened,he let her step out first before following behind.Kiara looked around the lobby,then watched as Carlos made his way out.She askes the receptions if any other drivers had left.And,obviously,the ones in this hotel had already left.
She sighed,then made her way to leave the hotel.
Kiara stopped outside the entrance and looked around.She then checked the time and clicked her tongue.Fifteen minutes late.
"Kiara."Carlos called her name from nearby.
She glanced to her left,looking at where he stood outside of a Ferrari in that section of the parking lot.She shook her head and motioned for him to go away.
"Kiara,come here."He said.
"No,I'm waiting for someone." That someone being a cab.
"Just come over here."He said,gesturing for her to come closer.
"I don't need a lift."She said,not wanting to go with him at all.
He gave her a flat look and she narrowed her eyes down at him from where she stood at the top of the short staircase.
"Kiara,"He said,more firmly this time."I said come here."
She glared at him for a moment,then rolled her eyes and walked down the stairs to him.
"What?"She crossed her arms.
He came closer,then put a hand on her back and led her towards the grey Ferrari.
"I told you,"She snapped,trying to stop him."I already have a lift."
"And as can be seen,"He said."That lift is clearly a hired taxi."
She scoffed as he opened the door to the passenger seat and held it open for her.His hand lingered for a second on her back,then he dropped it and motioned for her to get in,saying."Unless you want us to be extra late,I say you get in."
She looked at him with a frown,then got into the car,leaning back against the leather seat with her arms crossed.
Carlos shut the door,then moved over to the driver's side and climbed in.He started the car,the sound of the engine at least lifting her mood a little.She had Ferrari Spider of her own.But it was at her house in Monaco.
Carlos reversed the car and made turn to face the exit.But he slowed down and looked at her before driving out of the gates.
Kiara shrugged."What,now?""
He reached a hand out,his arm touching her chest as he gripped the seatbelt compartment next to her head and pulled it down.He stretched the belt across her and she grabbed the clip from him,buckling it herself while saying."I can do it myself."
He lifted a shoulder,slightly smiling."Safety first."
He switched the gears and started to drive out,glancing at her once more as he did so.She didn't look back at him.She rather looked out of the window,at the fans who waved at them while waiting outside the hotel.God,how did people have the patience to just wait outside a hotel for a whole night.All just to see their favourite driver or some other celebrity.
Kiara soon faced forward after some time.She side-glanced at Carlos,who seemed totally relaxed as he drove.The only thing that gave away the tension he felt was the way his fingers gripped the steering wheel.
Both of them didn't say anything.But Kiara started to think about what was said when she was with Sebastian yesterday.Once again,she felt some guilt rise up.Seb was right...in a way.Carlos had nothing to apologise for.And Kiara was the one who was supposed to apologising because of how she reacted.But as always,her pride always found a way to stop her from being sincere.And instead she found herself veering away from apologising.She pushed away those thoughts and looked out of the window.
"Oh,no."Carlos muttered,quickly turning down another road.
"What?"Kiara asked,looking around to see what was wrong.
"I took a wrong turn..."He shook his head."See,why are you distracting me,cariño?"
"And we're already late as it is."Kiara sighed,ignoring his second comment.
"Oh,come on."He said."If I let you drive you probably would have done the same thing.Most of these roads look the same."
"No,I wouldn't."She rolled her eyes."Because we have been there before,Carlos."
He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as he took a few more turns.After some time,he got back on the normal route.
"Who is driving you to the course tomorrow?"He asked.
"Definitely not you."She said."I don't want the car to end up in a lake instead of the golf course."
Carlos,without looking at her,reached an arm out and poked at her shoulder."My driving skills are fine outside of the track.You should see Charles."
"I have."Kiara yawned,feeling a little tired."Parked totally wrong at a lot in Monaco."
"See,"Carlos smiled."I'm not so bad."
He stopped the car outside the long building of the restaurant and pointed at the entrance,where Ivy and Lando arrived."Looks like we're not the only ones late."
"So,that's where Lando was?"Kiara laughed,arching a brow.
"Let's not jump to conclusions till they drop the hints."Carlos chuckled,opening the door and climbing out.Kiara got out before he could open the door for her and offer a hand.
She turned to look at her reflection on the window of the car and fixed up her hair,smoothing a hand along her beige palazzo pants and cream satin cami top.While she fixed up the strands of her loose hair,Carlos said."Yes,you look beautiful,cariño. Now,can we please go inside?"
She sighed and turned around.He motioned for her to hurry up and she moved around him,making her way to the entrance of the restaurant while he moved up beside her.
"Ivy."Kiara called her friend when she reached the entrance.Ivy and Lando both turned to look at her.
"Woah,why are you too so late?"Lando grinned.
"As if you aren't late yourself."Carlos said,both of them sharing a quick hug.
Ivy gave Kiara a look,a smile coming to her face.
Kiara shook her head,then lifted her brows,pointing between Ivy and Lando.
But the only difference was that Ivy didn't object.She only rolled her eyes and asked Lando and Carlos,who had already become distracted in a conversation."Can we please go in?"
"Yeah,actually."Lando checked his watch.
Ivy and Lando walked in first,then Carlos let Kiara pass by him and enter before him.They made their way to the long table near the end of the restaurant,which was a little quiet since only certain individuals were let in.
While approaching the table,Kiara looked at who was there.Alora sat near the end of the table with Charles beside her.George was there,too.And so were Yuki and Nyck.
"Look who finally decided to show up."Said Nyck as Ivy and Lando sat down.
Carlos pulled out the chair beside Ivy for Kiara and she sat down,side-glancing his way as he sat down on the chair to her right.
"We took a wrong turn."Carlos said,which wasn't a lie.It was partly the reason for them being late.
"Us too."Lando said,referring to himself and Ivy.
Alora,who was across from Kiara,asked."What about Danny and Max?"
Kiara shook her head."Max is only coming tomorrow and Daniel is busy preparing for the rest of the week."Kiara had been surprised when Daniel had told her that he wouldn't be available.And it seemed like everyone around her was feeling the same.
The waitress approached the table and began to take down everyone's orders.While the waitress did so,Kiara leaned her face against her hand,her gaze laying on the surface of the table.She was soon in her own thoughts.So much so that she didn't even realise when the waitress asked for her order.
"Kiara."Alora said.
Kiara blinked,then looked up from the oak surface of the table and at her sister."Yeah?"
"What do you want?"She gestured to the waitress.
"Oh,"Kiara straightened in her chair,quickly glancing at the menu."I uhh..."
"Same as me."Carlos told the waitress,who nodded and jotted it down on her notepad.
"Wait,"Kiara looked at him."What are you even having?"
"Pasta."He replied.
"But what type,idiot?"She arched a brow,not fully aware of what he had ordered for the both of them.
"Seafood."He shrugged.
Lando gagged,forcing himself to cough."I thought that this would be a night that didn't include seafood."
"Shut up,"Ivy told him."Or else I'm ordering for you a fish platter."
He narrowed his eyes."You wouldn't."
"Oh,yes I would."She jabbed a finger at his chest.
"Okay,"Kiara looked back at the waitress."Mild,though."
"Nope!"Alora cut in."Give her the highest level."
"Alora!"Kiara made as though she would kick her sister under the table.
"Extra hot."Carlos told the waitress,then looked back at Kiara.
"No,"Kiara frowned at him,then playfully whacked his shoulder.
"Come on,guys."Charles said."That's just cruel."
"Thank you,Charles."She said,giving Alora and Carlos a glare each.
"Mild is fine."She told the waitress,who nodded with a smile and started to walk away.
"I feel like punching you."Kiara said to Carlos.
He smiled."Nobody is stopping you."
She levelled a glare at him.Before either of them could say anything,Yuki said."We should have ordered earlier.I am hungry."
"If only being hungry could extend height..."Nyck laughed.
"Shut up!"Yuki snapped."You are not so tall yourself."
Nyck shot Yuki a look and they both began to needlessly argue.
"Anyway..."Ivy shifted in her seat.
"On the bright side,"Charles added."Nobody threw any hands yet."
Carlos smiled,looking at Kiara while saying."Someone here looks like they are about to."
"I'm tired,okay?"Kiara told him,leaning back in her chair.
"You better not fall asleep right now."Ivy said."Because I am not dragging you all the way back to your hotel."
Kiara sighed and closed her eyes for a moment,then inhaled some air.
"Hey,"Carlos put a hand on her back,her shoulders stiffening at the sudden touch."Are you okay?"
She nodded,ignoring her headache."Like I said,I'm tired."That jet lag was really catching up to her.
"Do you need anything?"Carlos asked,concern lacing his tone.
She shook her head.Then,he called over a waiter and asked them to get her a glass of water.
"Don't make me spill this all over you,now."She told him with a little laugh as he passed her the glass.
He grinned."I'll try not to say something that's probably true."
"Probably true?"She raised her eyebrows.
"I'm only speaking facts."His grin slightly dropped,his eyes studying her.Her gaze softened,just like his.And she noticed the shine in his eyes.
Kiara quickly looked away,taking a sip of water from the glass in her hands.Gosh,he was so annoying.
Some time later the food came.Kiara stared at her dish for a moment,suddenly losing her appetite as she began to feel drowsy.She should have listened to Lydia when she had told her to get some rest before she flew down to Melbourne.Instead,Kiara had spent that time talking to Sebastian.Last year,something similar had occurred too.And Kiara had found herself struggling to beat the jet lag.
"Finally."Yuki said as the waitress set down his food.
Nyck was about to make a comment,but Yuki stopped him by saying."Shut up."
Nyck raised his hands in defence and George sighed,shaking his head."Really,guys?"
"Tell that to the one afraid of dogs."Yuki pointed Nyck.
"So what?"Nyck shrugged."I am afraid of dogs."
"You're afraid of dogs?"George arched a brow.
"He is afraid of all animals."Yuki said.
Kiara looked down at her food,then began to eat once everyone did the same.
"Woah,this is good." Charles swallowed some his food and looked at Alora."You should try it."
Alora shook her head."No,I'm okay."
Charles clicked his tongue,then picked up a piece of his chicken with a fork.And even after Alora objected,she laughed as he shook his head and fed it to her.
Kiara,sensing his eyes on her,looked at Carlos.He smiled and gestured to her food."Me next?"
"Nope."She said,emphasising on the p.
He laughed."Yours is probably too plain anyway..."
"Mild is not plain at all."She told him.If there was one thing she wasn't a fan of,it was really spicy food.
Carlos shrugged,then went back to his pasta.Kiara did the same.Then,Ivy leaned closed to her and whispered."Oh,come on.Don't be shy."
"Stop it,"Kiara quietly snapped."I am not feeding him."
Ivy tried hard to hold in her laugh.And she eventually let it out,Lando glancing up in confusion.
Kiara released an exaggerated sigh,shaking her head.She turned back to her food,but paused.
"Really,Carlos?"She snapped her attention to him as he stole a shrimp from her pasta."I thought mild was too plain for you."
"I was just trying it."He smiled while propping the shrimp into his mouth,as though he was innocent.
Kiara batted his hand away as he grabbed one of his own and offered it it to her.
"Hey,"He said."It's not that hot."
"I'm fine with how mine is,thank you very much."She pointed her fork at him,then picked at the pasta.
Time passed by,conversations and all.Then,everyone began to finish up.
Yuki and Nyck were the first to leave,both needing to get a good sleep before they had to attend a meeting in the morning.On her way out of the restaurant,Kiara walked beside Ivy and Alora,Carlos with Lando and Charles behind.George was already waiting for Alora at their lift.Before Alora left to join George,she asked Kiara."Do you need a lift?"
"Don't stress,"Carlos said as he exited the restaurant with Lando and Charles. "She has one."
Alora looked at Kiara with raised brows,asking in her gaze.Really?
"Uhh..."Kiara looked at Alora,then Carlos as he pulled out his car keys while greeting his teammate and Lando."Yes."She nodded.
"Okay."Alora chuckled."I mean we're going to the same place.So,whatever."
"See you tomorrow."Ivy told Kiara.Then,she and Lando started off towards their car.
Alora left after giving Kiara a hug,then Charles,who had arrived on his own,also left.
And soon it was only Kiara and Carlos.They walked back to the Ferrari in silence,Carlos opening the door for her.She got in and so did he,taking his own time to start the car.But just as he started it,he gave her a look.
She lifted her shoulders,indicating that she had no clue as to what he was saying.
He smiled and pointed at the seatbelt as he pulled down his own.
She found herself holding back a smile as she strapped on the seatbelt."Safety first,I guess."
"Always."He said,starting to drive off.
As he was driving down the next road,he asked through the silence."Am I going the right way?"
She scoffed,then looked out the window to confirm."Yes,idiot."She leaned back in the seat."You have a bad sense of direction."
"It's not that bad."He said.
"This happened last year.Twice."She told him."So,I think it's bad."
"When did I do it last year?"He asked, drumming his fingers on the steering wheel.
She glanced at him."In Baku last year."
"And?"He arched a brow.
"Remember that time in Austria?"She said,recalling her first home race in F1."That time when you refused to let me give directions because you apparently knew where you were going."
"Hey,"He said."You were the one who gave the wrong directions."
"That is my home town,Carlos."She nearly laughed."Why would I get us lost?"
He shrugged,turning into the parking lot of the hotel.As he pulled into a parking,she looked out the window and saw Alora and George walking into the hotel.And Charles had just arrived as well.She couldn't see any of the Mclaren drivers anywhere,since Ivy would be dropping Lando off at the hotel.Ivy was staying at her house here in Melbourne for the rest of the week.
Kiara turned back to Carlos,already finding his eyes on her.She met his gaze and softly said."Thanks for the lift."
He smiled."I thought that it would be hard to earn a thank you from you."
She leaned her forearm on the middle console of between the seats,saying."Consider yourself lucky this time,Sainz."
He slightly leaned towards her."So,I always have to be lucky in terms of you?"
He was closer this time,his face only inches away.
Kiara felt her heart race a little as his gaze dropped down to her lips for a moment.And she blushed us he slowly raised his gaze again to meet hers.She could have pulled back,opened the door and left.But she found herself staying in her exact position,slowly leaning towards him as he did the same.His hand slowly moves up to touch her own on her lap.She lightly held held his hand,his thumb rubbing across her fingers.
They drew closer,his nose nearly touching hers.She could feel his breath against her skin.
Then,just as his lips lightly brushed hers,she pulled back.He paused and watched as she opened her door and quickly got out,saying."Thanks again for the lift,Carlos."
He didn't reply,rather nodding as she shut the door and started to speed-walk into the hotel,tightly clutching her phone and purse in her hand as she did so.
She swore under her breath while entering the lobby while saying tk herself: God,why him?What is wrong with you,Kiara?
And as soon as she got to her room,she tossed her belongings aside and dropped down on her bed,brushing a finger over her bottom lip while thinking to herself.