Red Silver

S2.C18 - Devils (Brazil)

I-Can't see you tonight, we need to reschedule-
Carlos looked at the text while he was exiting the meeting with his team principal, he knew that she was busy because she was being called by her boss to tell her that his team talked to the FIA. He was really feeling like shit, he looked back to Charles "Hey, do you think it was the right thing to do?"
"Yes, you don't? God a race without her at that fucking pit wall, a fucking dream"
"You are right"
"Mate, really, stop thinking about her, she is not the Isabelle you knew"
"I know" but what Carlos really wanted to ask to his team mate was what if she still is?

"They suspend you for one race" Toto said to Isabelle
"What? I can't work in Brazil?"
"RedBull and Ferrari request one race of out"
"But why? How?"
"We all know why but the how was something very improbable and never been used in the last years"
"So what do I do?"
"No pit lane pass and no computer or data available for the whole weekend. You'll still have access to the paddock but no garage allowed"
"Weekend means I can still have my computer for tonight?"
"Tomorrow morning you are going to give everything directly to the FIA so there is no possibility to say we are cheating, but yes tonight it is yours" Toto looked again at her "I know what you are thinking about and no, it's too much work even for you"
"Ok"
"Isabelle we are ok, really, don't worry just relax"
"They attacked me, I am not relaxing"
"Isabelle..."
"I'm like you, Toto"
"I know"
"So are you surprised?"
"No"
She smiled and exited the room.

Isabelle entered her hotel room running, Lewis was laying on the bed checking his phone.
"Get your ass over here, love, we have a long night ahead"
"What?"
"I got a ban for a race so I can't be in the garage this weekend"
"Excuse me what?!" he screamed
"Fuck them, come here, I came here once in my life and as far as I studied the track, you are my data base tonight" she was taking off her clothes and putting on a jumpsuit "you need sleep, I don't" she put her hair in a bun and grabbed her glasses and her computer "For the next two hours I need to collect data, from midnight to 5 am I will write down all my ideas, from set up to strategies to random things and 3 hours of sleep then we will go to the track, I'll leave everything to the FIA and you beat their asses al weekend, ok?"
"You are scaring me"
"Good, let's start"

Entering the paddock, Lewis was wearing his customised suit in honour of Senna while Isabelle dressed with her Sunday fit, a call was made to prepare her other outfits for the weekend. The yellow pants and the black crop top were matched to Lewis, and, despite usual, she was wearing sandals and make up, her hairs were braided and her bag was full of her work stuff, from her pit lane pass to her computer. She walked alone to the entrance of the FIA building, she entered, signed a few documents and went out, Lewis stood there waiting for her and grabbed her hand walking to their motorhome.

"I have to go to the garage now, a few things to prepare for-"
"I work here, Lewis, I know how it works, go no worries, I'll wait for you here" she interrupted him.
"Ok" he gave her a little kiss and walked away.

"Hear you got suspended"
"Hello Max, how are you? Yes, such a childish thing, can't fight on track so you try to cut me off"
"It wasn't only me" he smiled "your great friend Carlos was first in line, he was the one who convinced them"
"Carlos?"
"Exactly"
"Good to know" she said as in her ears she could hear the sound of her heart breaking once again.
"Plans for the weekend?"
"Watching my team beating your ass"
"Mhhh maybe this week we will beat yours, ending the winning streak"
"You are underestimating my team, honey" she smiled "I am not the only weapon they have"

Isabelle was already in the hotel room when Lewis came back from the track on Saturday night, she was laying on the sofa wearing her pijama.
"Hey little star, why did you come home earlier?"
"I was tired"
"Mh" he sat next to her "I am not saying you are not tired but what is the real reason?"
She looked up at him "it's ok Lewis, you have a race to prepare I'm fine, we'll talk"
"Tell me, really" she laid her head on his shoulder and he started stroking her hair.
"I met Max today, he was the usual asshole but he said something"
"What?"
"Carlos was the one who proposed the ban" a tear running down her cheek "what did I do to that guy? Why is he always hurting me?"
"I am so sorry Isabelle, I know how much you cared about him"
"I don't get it, why does he hate me?"
"He doesn't hate, he loves you and he knows he can't have you. Love drives people crazy"
"But I don't deserve this treatment, it is not my fault I love you and not him"
"I know"
"I am so tired, Lewis" she started crying "I am so tired"
"I know my love" he hugged her and thought I will talk to him.