Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 10 -

Zoe

I couldn't pretend to be sick as Raymond left the paddock at the same time as I was and when we arrived at the hotel there was only half an hour left. So I sighed and started to dress myself after a quick shower.

Verstappens comment "I should dress elegantly this time and not put on such garbage as the last few evenings" in the back of my mind, I put on a little more make-up than usual. Also I changed my glasses to contact lenses once again and curled my hair a bit with the curling iron I had found in the bathroom.

Satisfied with my face and hair I put on the long black satin dress I bought recently. It had thin straps at the top and a long slit down one side. Together with my gold necklace and rings the outfit was perfect and I stepped in front of the mirror.

I looked hot, there was nothing to say about it. I was pretty pleased with my look as I wanted to show Verstappen once more what he was missing. Maybe he thought I was just a boring and ugly girl he didn't know me at all.

I used to dress up like that, but after I broke up with my ex, that side of me just didn't exist anymore. Only now did she slowly come to the surface again and I liked it as it helped me to play the game, our game of faking dating.

Since I was already done, I decided to pick up Verstappen, after all I didn't want him to think that I was always longingly waiting for him. So a couple of minutes later I was standing in front of his hotel room and knocked twice.

"Graham." he was surprised as the door swung open two seconds later.

"Are you ready, I 'm starving." I said quite annoyed as I wanted to bring the evening behind me.

But as soon as we stepped out of the elevator, hand in hand my face changed and I put on a smile, I wouldn't give up and lose the game or reveal our cover. As with work, I stayed firmly behind and would not give up under any circumstances. The Dutch seemed surprised by my quick mood change but stayed silent and also put on a fake smile.

The restaurant we arrived twenty minutes later was quite fancy and the people were dressed very elegant. Until we set down we hadn't spoken a word to each other but I noticed his looks. Maybe he was surprised by my outfit or, more likely, he thought how ugly I were again.

"Is it okay if I take a picture of you reading the menu?" Verstappen suddenly asked and his smiled faded away for a moment and I looked like he really cared.

By his question and the caring look on his face I was surprised and couldn't answer with words which was why I just nodded. He slowly hold up his phone and then quickly shoot a photo of me while I wasn't looking. After that he typed something before showing me the display.

Date night with this hot woman here.

My eyes widened when I read the caption and for a moment I asked myself if Raymond had told him what to write or if he just want to make fun of me once again.

"Very funny Verstappen, but you're good to go." I said without looking at him and shook my head.

"Don't you agree with it?"

My look went from the menu up and straight into his deep blue eyes after I heard his question. We starred each other into the eyes for the next minutes until the waiter interrupted us, luckily so I didn't had to answer.

We ordered and I took a sip of my wine when I saw in the corner of my eye that the Dutch didn't move. I therefore looked up at him again and raised my eyebrow in question.

"I asked you something. Don't you agree with my words?" he asked quite demanding and I rolled my eyes in my mind.

After all it was Verstappen and when he wants something he wants it, no matter if its a win or a simple answer to a question. I kinda liked his situation so I decided to not give him what he wants.

"I guess you have to find out." I said and winked at him before turning to my wine glass again.

Across from me, I heard Verstappen clear his throat and then a harsh laugh left his throat. I played the game a by the noise of him I was playing very well. That was my payback for this afternoon.

Luckily the waiter brought our food a minutes later and we started eating. During the dinner we didn't spoke a word to each other but we were looking at each other quite often and quite intense from what I could tell. 

He also winked at me every now and then or shoved food into his mouth extra slowly, but I wouldn't faint. I was here to pretend a relationship, no more and no less, and that's exactly what I would do, so Verstappen could do whatever he wanted.

But as I thought about it a new idea came into my mind. What if I would annoy him so much or tease him so long until he was so pissed off that he would "break up" with me. Then I would be free again, without faking holding hands or something. Then Lando could help me find a boyfriend or I could just be more open myself for such things.

For example, I got on really well with Charles and I had also noticed him trying to flirt with me from time to time. What if I could give that back because I wasn't tied to Verstappen anymore? He was also always nice to me and made me compliments, other than Verstappen. Okay today he made one but there I was pretty sure he was just joking about it.

"What are you thinking off, me?"

I nearly choked on my food as the Dutch asked me this. When I looked up I saw that he was already finish with his food and now leaning back and watching me.

"Actually yes, I've been thinking about the quickest way to get rid of you." I said honest to his face but Verstappen showed not the slightest emotion.

He just started to grin and shook his head.

"That won't happen anytime soon, as Christian has also reserved a place for us in one of the best bars here."

Now my jaw dropped for a moment but I quickly tried to act normal as I saw how his smile widened at my reaction. Well, he wanted stoppage time, he could have it.

"Fine, should we then go honey?" 

I stretched out the last word and watched how Verstappens face changed. But instead of saying anything, he sighed, put a bill on the table and then gave me his hand. I giggled while following him through the long corridor towards the exit.

Suddenly he stopped and turned around so I bumped against his chest. My right hand went reflexively to his shirt, through which I could immediately feel his muscular body. A shiver ran down my back and I quickly removed it.

"We should take a picture he so they would see us together." he said and pointed at the mirror on the side of the corridor.

To annoy him, I stood in front of the mirror, gave an unmotivated look and gave both thumbs up. The Dutch had positioned himself a step behind myself and he hold up his phone.

"Maybe you can step two meters to the left that would be perfect."

I turned around in horror and stuck out my tongue towards him, because if I would go to the side I wasn't in the picture anymore. Maybe he could make fun of me but I knew what I could do so I stepped next to him.

My right arm I laid around his stomach and my left hand wandered to his shoulder where it also touched his bare neck. He immediately teased up as I stepped even closer towards him. When I also laid my head against his shoulder he let out a deep breath and I knew that I had succeed.

"Are you taking a picture now or not?" I asked annoyed but with a grin on my lips which he didn't see as he was to focused on his breathing.

I liked it how my sudden touch took him out for a moment and how I messed up with his body functions. But my grin immediately went away when I felt his hand on my lower back. From there it slowly moved sideways until it stopped at my waist and tightened the grip.

Quickly Verstappen shoot his picture and then let immediately go of me. I also stepped away pretty fast after he lowered his phone. This time he didn't ask me if it was okay for me or if the caption was right he just clicked a few times before he let the phone disappear in his pocket.

"Let's go, our next stop is waiting." he said casually and went towards the exit.

But this time he didn't took my hand and I was glad about it. His hand on my body, even it was just for a few seconds, was enough for now. Also my mind started mixing up and unknown feelings came through. The next hours therefore would be fun I thought.