Right On Track

Chapter 42

Kiara smiled a little,waving to all the fans who called her name and held out items.She went over to the barrier,signing their items and taking pictures with them.There was an extra hype in the air,now that it was both her and Alora's home race.And it was also Red Bull's,which meant that there were extra fans of the team this weekend.
After interacting with the fans,Kiara finally entered the paddock.
She checked her watch,then glanced around.Nearby,Lydia waited for her.
Kiara approached her manager,immediately saying."Now,before you read the schedule-"
"I'm not letting you bunk the conference."Lydia said.
"Hey,how did you know that I was going to ask that?"
"Because you sent me over three emails this morning already asking me."She gave a flat look.
Kiara snickered."Sorry."
Lydia shook her head with a sigh."Anyway...You have to be at the conference in about fifteen minutes.So,I suggest that we start going over there already."
Kiara nodded,following her away to the conference room.
Upon reaching,Lydia said."Now,they might be the idiots that they always are and will ask you the usual lot of stupid questions."
"Reply to them like I normally would."Kiara gave a thumbs-up,saying what Lydia would usually tell her about replying to those annoying and nosy journalists who picked on her just because she was a female driver.
Lydia nodded,giving a weak smile."But also,Ki...There will definitely be some sort of question to do with what happened in Monaco.It happened last week,it will happen again.And if they don't ask directly,they'll sure try to indirectly do it and also get a reaction."
Kiara nodded at Lydia,then walked up to take her seat at the couch in the front of the room.
Though,as she did so,she noticed Esteban sitting at one end already.She didn't want to be rude an sit on the other side,since no other drivers were there yet.So,she sat down next to him.However,she still had to shove aside thoughts about everything that happened last night.
"I need a favour."Esteban said.
"What?" Kiara arched a brow,fidgeting with the mic that was handed to her.
"I might need a Red Bull after this one."He whispered."I heard that there's a lot of questions for me,specifically."
"I'm not exactly the person to help with media problems."Kiara said,almost smiling.
He chuckled,looking down at the mic that was soon handed to him.
A moment later,the other two drivers for the conference walked in.
Lando and Carlos came over to finally seat themselves.
Kiara clenched the mic in her hands as Carlos sat down next to her,Lando being the one who chose to sit at the other end of the couch.
Kiara didn't even spare the Ferrari driver a glance,rather looking ahead at the journalists who waited all around.And as if things couldn't get any worse,she noticed the fimilar journalist amongst them.Nathan just avoided her glare,talking to another journalist.
"Hey,"Esteban said,trying to distract Kiara from both Carlos and Nathan.Both of her exes.
And now that she put that word with Carlos' name,something dropped in her emotions,something like disbelief coming along.
"Who do you think is going first?"Esteban asked,still trying to distract her.
"Hopefully not me."Kiara said,adding a different tone to her voice to show that she was grateful for the gesture.
A minute later,the conference finally begun.
The first questions were given to Lando,mostly on his opinion on the season so far,as well as questions about his car.Though,one journalist asked him about his relationship with the team,more specifically,his teammate.Kiara couldn't help but wonder what were his actual thoughts on Ivy.
Esteban lightly touched Kiara with his elbow,seeming as though he was trying to get her attention.
She looked at him and he gestured to her mic.
She frowned,looking at it for a moment.
What? She arched a brow at him.
He smiled and shook his head,reaching out for her mic.She let him take it,their hands very visibly touching in the moment.Carlos shifted beside her.
Esteban clicked on the switch of the mic,showing her that it had been off all this time.She lifted both brows,nodding as he handed it back to her.
Someone cleared their throat,saying."The next question was for you."
Kiara met Carlos' gaze as he said so.She quickly diverted it to the journalist asking the questions."Sorry,please repeat."
The journalist asked the question again,referring to Kiara's determination now that it was her home race.
Kiara,glad that it was a normal question,replied with a slight smile."No,I can't be happier for any other race weekend more than this one.It's a nice feeling for the team here at the Red Bull ring,too.And we just want to put in all the effort necessary for this weekend."
A few of them nodded,recording her response.
After another two questions,it was another journalists turn.
This time,though,the odds weren't in Kiara's favour.
"What about your opinion on the other drivers this season?Have you managed to develop certain things with one of them?Or maybe a few?"
Kiara paused for a moment,knowing what the jerk implied.Esteban even looked at her in that moment.Carlos and Lando just shifted in their seats.
She thought about a response for a moment,then replied."If by that you mean sportsmanship,I can say that there isn't much of a reason for me not to show respect to those ethics."
The journalist wasn't too happy with the response,but he nodded,asking."And what of recent media situations?Circulation of certain video clips and the fans opinions?"
Kiara paused once again,noticing that this was the arrogant one she would have to deal with today.
"Next question,please."
She stopped for a moment,lowering her mic and looking at Carlos as he said those words.
He didn't meet her eyes,his gaze forward and set cold,his jaw clenched as he ran a hand through his hair.
She almost shook her head.Who was he to think that he could just reply to her questions?If he thought he was helping,he wasn't really.
The journalist moved on,giving another a turn.The next one spoke to Esteban.
Throughout the rest of the conference,Kiara just tried to seem unbothered as she sat between Carlos and Esteban.She didn't spare Carlos any more glances,rather speaking to Esteban when necessary,Lando occasionally as well.And surprisingly,Nathan didn't do anything idiotic like he normally would.She even forgot that he was there.
As the conference finally ended,Kiara stood up and heaved a long sigh.
"Took longer than expected."Esteban said,also getting up from the couch.
"My back hurts."Lando complained.
"Old man."Kiara said.
He frowned."Hey,I am not-"
Esteban laughed."If anything,Lando's the one who actually looks like a twelve-year old instead."
Lando levelled a glare at him,just receiving a snicker in return.
Kiara side-glanced Carlos' way for a moment since he was so quiet.As she did so,she noticed him already walking away to leave the room.
The room also started to clear up,security directing everyone else through a separate exit.
Lando followed after Carlos and Kiara started to walk out soon,Esteban coming up beside her.
Outside the building,Kiara found Lydia again.
"I'll see you around."Esteban said."I have another interview soon."
"Okay,"Kiara nodded.
He walked off a second later.
"Not too bad,I guess."Lydia said,referring to the conference.
"Yeah,I guess..."
Kiara looked over Lydia's shoulder and saw Carlos talking to Caco nearby.She looked on for a moment,thinking about how she had literally cried over him last night.At first,she showed herself some sympathy.But then Alora reminded her that she wouldn't let someone get to her like that.
So,Kiara made her decision.She wouldn't feel affected by that man,but nor would she show any pity on him while displaying that boldness.
And Amber?That woman would get what she deserved.And Kiara wasn't going to make things easy for either of them.
"Kiara?"Lydia arched a brow.
"I'll be back in a second."Kiara said as she saw Caco walk away from Carlos.
She moved away from Lydia and approached Carlos.
At first,she could have sworn that something like relief shone in his gaze when he first saw her.But then it turned cold again as he noticed her own expression.
"I don't need you to answer my questions for me."Kiara said,referring to how he had done so inside.
"Just thought I'd do it since you were taking too long to even think of an answer."
"I had an answer for that annoying journalist."She crossed her arms."And you went ahead with your 'next question,please'."
"I think I had the right to,Kiara."
"And why is that?"She narrowed her eyes,ignoring the way he said her name.It felt so long ago that she heard it roll off like that.
"Because I'm the one sitting with the media problems from that question."He said,his tone lowering as he looked down at her with his hard gaze."I'm the one who has to deal with the videos,those angry Red Bull fans of yours.And-"
"Well,maybe you should have thought of that before you two kissed."Kiara said,putting on a sarcastic smile.
Carlos' frown deepened."For the last time,Kiara.It was-"
"Not your intention?"Kiara lifted an eyebrow."Oh,my I think should take lessons from you then.I think I'll call it 'Hold onto a kiss even though it wasn't your intention'."
He shook his head,saying."When will you actually give me the chance to explain?"
Lydia called Kiara's name from nearby,calling her over.
"I don't think there's anything to explain."Kiara said,turning around to go back to her manager."And next time,let me handle a journalist by myself."
She left Carlos standing there as she walked back to Lydia.
Lydia frowned."I don't even want to ask...But anyway,you have to get going.You have an interview with Dazn in a few minutes."
Kiara nodded,then followed Lydia away.

"Hey,you just swiped that right from under my feet."Max chuckled,giving Kiara a pat on the back as he walked out of the garage.
Kiara smiled in return.Both practice and qualifying had just ended.And she had managed land pole position for her home race,Max right behind her at P2.
Kiara didn't even hesitate to hide her smile after achieving those results.She could also hope that she would still do it flawlessly this sprint weekend.
"Well done."Lydia said with a smile,walking out of the garage with her.
"Thanks."Kiara said and put on her Red Bull cap,her racing suit halfway down.
On the way to the media pen,Kiara heard her name being called.
She turned around,her smile brightening as Elijah started to run up to her.Crouching down,she hugged him back as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Good job,Ki."He said,pulling back.
She winked,standing up and looking down at him.
"Well done,Kiara."Her mother said,giving her a hug.
"Thanks."Kiara nodded.
She looked down at Elijah again and arched a brow."And what are you wearing?"
"This?"Elijah frowned,pointing to his blue jacket.
"No,"Kiara said,shaking her head.She took off his Mercedes hat,saying."This."
"Hey,George gave it to me when I was at the Mercedes garage!"He made a grab for it as she held it up.
She clicked her tongue,shaking her head again."And I thought you supported Ferrari."
"I do."He said."But George Russell gave me this!"
"As if your own cousins aren't drivers themselves."Kiara said,taking off her own Red Bull cap and putting it on her little cousin's head.
Elijah laughed,the hat being a little big for him and nearly covering his eyes.But he didn't take it off,letting Kiara put it on properly for him.
After she did so,she whispered."Don't tell Alora,okay?"
Elijah gave a mischievous smile,then nodded.
Kiara gave him a high-five,then turned around to go to the media pen.
On the way,her gaze met that of a specific Ferrari driver's.She didn't bother holding it,rather lifting her chin a little and seeming unbothered as she passed him.
It meant nothing to her anymore.He meant nothing to her anymore.