Ride or Die | Lando Norris (ENGLISH)

9

I was walking around the paddock, looking through the photos I took for Ferrari during the first practice and they seemed quite okay. I liked taking photos, but I felt under a lot of pressure taking them for Ferrari. However, I was blindly recommended by Charles, so I had to prove myself. While photographing the Ferrari cars, I watched from the corner of my eye the actions of the McLaren drivers, who were not doing very well. From the Ferrari garage I learned that McLaren had completely lowered their level this season, which surprised everyone because last year they were doing quite well, especially Lando. However, the poor results were due to the car being too weak.

– Excuse me, have you seen my parents? I can't find them anywhere.

I felt a gentle nudge behind my dress, and the soft voice of a girl who seemed to be about six years old reached my ears. She looked terribly lost and her blue eyes were red from crying. I felt terribly sorry for her.

– What do they look like, sunshine? – I asked with a reassuring smile and crouched down in front of the blonde who was watching me closely. She was wearing a white knee-length dress and a purple Mercedes cap.

The girl tremblingly explained to me what her parents looked like and honestly? It could have been anyone. So I took a deep breath and looked around. I couldn't leave her like that. I spent a good half hour with her in the same place, waiting for someone to finally show up.

–Margaret! We've been looking for you for an hour! – a worried female voice spread throughout the paddock.

I breathed a sigh of relief when a woman in her forties ran up to the girl.

– Mom, I just wanted to find dad – the blonde muttered.

The red-haired woman just sighed and wrapped her arms around Margaret. After a moment in which the girl's mother quickly scanned her daughter's eyes to make sure she was okay, she decided to turn her attention to me. I did the same at that time. The woman had long, red, wavy hair, and a few freckles and delicate wrinkles on her face, which she covered with a layer of probably expensive cosmetics. She was short and slim. She was wearing an elegant white suit from Chanel, black high heels and a black handbag of the same brand. The redhead looked at my body from head to toe and after a few seconds her face lit up with understanding.

– Ah, I'm so sorry for all the stress and thank you for taking care of my daughter – she said with a pleasant smile, holding Margaret's hand.

– No problem. I finished work for the day anyway, so I was happy to keep your daughter company – I smiled back, and the woman frowned in confusion.

– Do you work here? – she asked in disbelief, and I raised the camera that was hanging around my neck.

– I'm a photographer – I said, as if just showing her the camera didn't make her understand anything.

– Oh my god, I thought you were a model! – the woman replied with surprise. – My name is Vivienne Woods. I run the Woods Models modeling agency in London. You must come to my agency – she said confidently, shaking my hand.

– Melanie Harris – I replied, shaking her hand. – You know, I like my job and I don't plan to change it for now – I said, wanting to choose my words as well as possible.

What was I supposed to tell her? I really liked my job, although it bored me from time to time, I had no intention of giving it up for modeling, even though I thought about it from time to time.

– Oh, okey – she sighed disappointedly, searching for something in her purse. – Please, at least take my business card. If you change your mind, call this number or stop by our headquarters in London – she handed me a small, elegant business card with the phone number, the name of the agency and the location of its headquarters. I nodded with a gentle smile and put the business card in my purse.

– I really hope you change your mind.

***

The rest of the day passed pleasantly. After returning from the boys' training, I locked myself in my room, looking over the photos I had taken that day, feeling anxious that they were simply not enough. I tried my best, so what more could I do? I sent the photos to the email I received from Ferrari and closed my laptop.

I exhaled loudly, looking at the ceiling. It was getting darker outside, making the room dark. I was thinking more and more about Vivienne's proposal. Maybe it would be possible to somehow combine the work of a photographer and a model in one? I wanted to try something new, but I didn't have the courage yet. I growled under my breath when a notification from my phone interrupted my thoughts.

Lily

Hi! If you don't have any plans for the evening, you already do. Dress nicely and in half an hour we'll have a girls' night at the hotel bar :)

I smiled to myself. This is what I missed. Relaxation among women.

I jumped up from the bed and opened my suitcase, took out a set of clean underwear and a towel, then went to the bathroom and took a shower, tying my hair in a ponytail so as not to get it wet. I quickly washed my entire body and dried it. Then I put on my underwear and went back to my suitcase to find something nice. I decided on a short, black dress made of slippery material, tied around the neck, and black high heels. I tied my hair in a high ponytail and only slightly improved my makeup from today. I glanced at the time and I was already several minutes late, so I took a small bag for my phone and my room card, and entered the elevator.

The elevator doors closed right behind me. I pulled my phone out of my purse to text Lily that I was on my way, but my attention was caught by someone entering the fucking elevator on the fucking eleventh floor.

He looked incredibly hot. His hair was, as usual, slightly messy. There was a gold necklace around his neck. He was wearing a black shirt with the top two buttons unbuttoned, black pants and black and white Jordans. Despite everything, his face still looked terribly tired. The scent of his perfume wafted through the tiny room as he stood shoulder to shoulder with me.

– Where did you get so dressed up? – he asked quietly, watching me from the corner of his eye.

– Girls night – I replied. - And you? – I asked after a moment of silence.

Brown haired man smiled gently, looking at his shoes.

– Guys night – he replied, trying to keep a straight face as I rolled my eyes. He may have been incredibly hot, but he still annoyed me like no other.

We made the rest of the journey in silence. When the elevator stopped on the ground floor, Lando let me go ahead, following closely behind me. From a distance I could already see Lily, sitting at the bar, wearing a pink strappy dress, and Alex standing next to her in a white shirt. Lily was talking furiously to Kelly, who was sitting next to her wearing a white dress, and Max was standing next to her. Separated from the group, Carlos and Charles talked to each other a few steps away from the rest.

– It was supposed to be a girls' night – I said questioningly as everyone's eyes fell on me and Lando. Especially Charles, who straightened his white shirt.

– The boys are running away, calm down – Kelly laughed, waving her hand dismissively.

In the distance, I noticed Penelope driving a miniature Ferrari around the spacious room.

– You look beautiful, Mels – Charles said, examining my body. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lando roll his eyes.

– Thank you, Cha – I smiled at him, which he immediately returned.

– Okay, gentlemen. We're going out – Lando breathed, forcing the rest to leave their partners and leave the hotel. Alex and Max said goodbye to their girls and went with Lando and Carlos to the exit.

– Wait for me in your room – Charles whispered in my ear as he walked past me. Suddenly, shivers ran through my body.

I counld't wait.