Career Driven Woman

Chapter 40

Carlos POV

It was now a week since I had seen Saffron and I was hurting. There was just something about seeing her and hearing her everyday that gave me an extra kick in the day. It was currently 6am in Singapore and 11pm in London. I was scheduled to FaceTime Saff today as she wanted to wish me luck for practice today.

I pulled out my phone and dialled her number anxiously waiting for her to pick up as the dial tone tortured me.

"Good morning" she said smiling. She was all rugged up in bed in her long Peter Alexander Pyjamas, covers pulled right up so it looked like she was swimming in them.

"Good evening Saffy. Cold?" I asked laughing.

"You wouldn't believe. It was so lovely this morning and now all of a sudden freezing" she said shaking her head. "How's the weather your way? It's supposed to be hot as hell".

"You have no idea. I am sweating already and I'm not even in the car"

"Oh dear" she chuckled "make sure you stay hydrated".

"Excited for practice?"

"Yeah should be good. I'm feeling really confident about the car"

"That's good" she hummed.

Everything about her to me was perfect.

We talked for an hour or so before I noticed her getting very tired and visibly sleepy. After she let a few yawns slip and tried to deny that she was tired we eventually said good night and she hung up the phone. I shook my head before placing my phone on the table.

I went and had a shower and got myself dressed for the day. We had a full day of PR on before practice so I needed to look my best. I brushed my teeth, did my hair and then sprayed some cologne and left my hotel room. I met Charles downstairs who was ordering a coffee.

"Morning mate" he said smiling and collecting his coffee.

"Morning" I nodded.

"You seem very awake and chipper this morning" he smirked.

"Do I?" I asked thinking I was the same as I had been.

"Yeah. You do" he chuckled "it's good to see you getting back to the old you" he said.

I smiled and pushed him slightly with my shoulder. He laughed and we headed out to the car. After a bit of a drive we eventually headed out to the paddock and wandered around for a bit before finding our PR manager. She had a busy schedule lined up for us this morning. Honestly it seemed a bit overwhelming but I suppose it's what we have to do as part of the job.

"So you'll have a couple interviews and then a couple games and then we'll do lunch, then after that a couple more interviews and then practice starts. After practice we'll meet back in the garage, walk to the office and discuss the track. Tomorrow is qualifying, you'll have the drivers briefing before and then after qualifying team strategy and planning meeting" Penelope said running through a list she had written out in her notebook.

"Got it" I said as we wandered over to the circuit office for our first interview of the day.

The first couple interviews were good but a little boring. Every time it just feels like we are repeating the same questions. How's the car, what's different, confident for the race weekend, what did you do on the summer break etc.

We were sitting in the next interview when the interviewer threw a question at me that I was not quite prepared for.

"So Carlos, we saw you with a mystery woman over the summer break. Any spoilers as to who she might be" the interviewer asked.

I was shocked and didn't say anything. Charles raised an eyebrow and looked to me "uh no comment I am don't want to discuss my private life here".

She smiled "so nothing to say".

I was now slightly annoyed "correct next question".

The interview promptly finished and I got up out of the chair walking over to the table with tea and coffee pouring myself a water.

"What was that about?" Charles asked.

"What?" I asked.

"The question from the lady. She asked about a woman?"

"Oh that"

"It's not Saffron is it?"

I didn't respond.

"Carlos you cheeky boy"

"Don't say anything. No one knows except Lando and Saffrons friend Lottie"

"Oh why does Lando know before me?"

"Because I was staying at his house so I could see her"

"Oh right"

"Don't say anything. Please. No one is supposed to know" I said looking at Charles desperately.

"Your secret is safe with me" Charles said squeezing my arm.

I visibly relaxed and smiled at him.

"So no one knows you guys are uh rekindling?" Charles asked grabbing himself a coffee.

I shook my head "no. And no one knows about the baby which is also not to be spoken about at all. I don't really want to share anything to be honest and I know neither does Saffron".

"It is fair enough it is private" he said nodding "does Lewis know?"

"No and I'm leaving that to Saffron to determine what to do".

We engaged in further conversation heading back toward where we did the last few interviews getting ready for the last one before lunch. Eventually a guy came in and set himself down getting prepared. He introduced himself and rattled on about how the interview was going to go.

We smiled and engaged, the interview going for almost 45 minutes before Penelope cut it off from going any further. Both Charles and I breathed a sigh of relief and joked about the interview ending. We headed out of the office and out into the paddock. As we wandered over to the hospitality building we were approached by a couple of media people.

"Carlos do you have a quick minute?" The guy asked holding out a microphone.

"Uh sure" I said slowing down my pace, Charles doing the same.

"Just some quick fire questions for you, so the first one, we have insider info that you are seeing someone at the moment. Can you indulge who that might be?"

"No" I said politely smiling.

"We also have inside information that you have a baby on the way is this correct?"

I was caught off guard and my eyes widened. Charles looked over at me and I tried to keep my cool. I laughed "I have no idea what you're talking about. You should check your sources before you ask stupid questions".

"Our insider states they saw you looking at ultrasound photos"

"Well your insider is incorrect. You've been fed misinformation. What are your other questions? Are they all going to be as stupid and drama seeking as this?" I asked now annoyed. A frown forming on my face.

The interviewer was silent. I smiled at him before heading into the hospitality building with Charles.

"What the fuck was that about?" Charles asked.

"Someone knows that Saffron was pregnant" I said shooting a worried look to Charles.

"Shit"

"Yeah shit indeed".

I pulled out my phone and immediately texted Saff to let her know. I would call her later and talk to her.