Right On Track

Chapter 46

"P3,Kiara."Santiago said."Good job."
Kiara loosed a sigh of relief as she crossed the line at third.
She had just battled for third with Ivy.Mclaren had suddenly sped to the front with their new upgrades.Lando had gotten second,overtaking Kiara in the middle laps of the race.He really put in the effort.
Getting third wasn't such a bad thing.But Kiara,once again,had to scrap her want to win the race.
She pulled her car into parc fermé,getting out and walking over to congratulate Max on another win.After doing so,she went over to Lando and they both shared a side-hug.
"Good work."Kiara said to him.Honestly,she actually admired Mclaren's effort this weekend.
"Thanks."Lando said as she nodded in acknowledgment and started to walk away.
She exhaled,taking off her helmet and balaclava and feeling the wind against as her face.
All around,fans were cheering for all three of them.Kiara just smiled at that,waving once to them before putting on her Pirelli hat nearby.
She couldn't wait to get onto that podium.

"Look who finally decided to pitch up."Kiara commented as Lydia walked into the drivers room.
Kiara stood up,setting her bottle of water aside and moving over to Lydia.
"I needed to fetch something."Lydia frowned.
Kiara arched a brow,noticing the serious expression on her manager's face.She wasn't joking.And it looked like she wanted to discuss something serious.
"What happened?"Kiara asked.
Lydia sighed,handing her a file.
Kiara looked down at the file that was now in her hands.She opened it and immediately read the first page,her eyes widening as she did so.
"What? "
Lydia nodded."The FIA is investigating right now."
"But..."
Kiara shook her head in disbelief.Someone had actually tipped off the FIA on the PR stunt...Both Kiara and Carlos were now under investigation for a "false attempt to bring in sponsors."
Kiara scoffed."Who the hell would do this?"
"That's what we're trying to figure out."Lydia said."And honestly,it can't be me,Caco or even Christian.Even Fred wouldn't think of doing that."
Kiara dragged a hand through her hair,loosing a sigh.
Lydia asked."Is there anyone else who knew?Who you might have thought you could tell?"
"Only Max."Kiara said."And he wouldn't even do this to the team." She didn't know who else was aware of the PR stunt.But it was just all out of the blue that this happened.
"Christian and Fred have a meeting later today with the FIA."Lydia added."Caco and I are going as well to back the situation up."
"Do I have to go?"Kiara asked,wondering if  they would want to hear from her too.
"No,just us."
Kiara pursed her lips."Please,tell me that you have some way to sort this out."
"Caco and I discussed it."She said."We have something to try.We'll just have to wait and see if the FIA take it in the way we want."
Kiara nodded,then watched as Lydia left the room,saying on her way out."Media pen in fifteen minutes."

At the hotel,Kiara paced her room and wondered to herself about the whole situation.She didn't know what to think of it.If Lydia wouldn't be able to sort it out,the team would be in a big problem.
She sighed,thinking about who the hell could have done this.Who even knew about it?
Kiara checked her phone,waiting to see any messages from Lydia.When she didn't see anything,she sighed again and put the phone back into her pocket.
She glanced around her empty room,not knowing what the hell to do as she waited.It was all so stressful.
She eventually got an idea.Then,she moved over to grab her denim jacket from nearby.Pulling her hair up into a pony-tail,she walked out of her hotel room and tried to distract herself.
She heard a door open from nearby too.And she looked over her shoulder to see Pierre and Esteban walking close by.
She acted as though she didn't see them,turning down the next hallway and taking the stairs instead.Besides,her hotel room was only four floors away from the hotel bar,where she eventually decided to go.
Upon finally reaching the bar,Kiara immediately sat down and got a drink.She had too many thoughts running through her mind.
This stunt...coming back.The memories of it all coming back yet again.
She thought about it all over and over again.Every moment with Carlos.From the very first one...Leaving the hotel with him,going to the airport.Also the time she was waiting for him to come to Austria to watch Elijah's race and get the fans attention one time.That was definitely the one where they got closer.At Elijah's race.
And even after that,Formentara was one of the most remembered parts.
She downed the second drink,sighing and shaking her head.
What a waste...She thought to herself.She almost scoffed to herself."I'm never enough for anyone,am I?"
"I now know what that feels like."Someone said,sitting down in the chair beside her.
By now she had about three drinks already,so she couldn't tell whether she was actually hearing that voice or not.
Kiara glanced to her right,seeing Nathan."What do you want?"
He shook his head,ordering a drink."Relax,I'm not here to fight."
"You're obviously here for something."She muttered."What is it?"
He motioned to the drink that was handed to him,replying."Same reason as you."
She glared at him for a moment,then sighed and leaned against the bar.
"It's because of Amber,isn't it?"She added.
He nodded,pursing his lips."As you obviously know already."
Kiara nodded,almost feeling a little sympathy.
"And yours is because of Carlos,isn't it?"He said.
Kiara paused,thinking about whether she should answer that or not.But then again,he knew already,since Amber had obviously broken up with him for the thing she pulled in Monaco.
She nodded,feeling tipsy from the drinks."Yeah."
He gave a tight nod,sipping from his drink."Strange that the same woman ruined both our relationships."
Kiara grunted in response,leaning her face against her cheek as she propped her elbow on the edge of the bar.
Nathan dragged a hand through his blond hair,sighing."I'm sorry,by the way."
"Huh?"She frowned,not believing the words.
"I'm sorry for everything I did."He said."I was stupid to have been so spiteful."
Kiara thought about his apology for a moment.Well,not really thinking because of the alcohol.
She nodded."I guess I've moved on from it all by now.So...Okay.I accept your apology."
He gave a weak smile."Thanks."
"Mostly because the same bitch just hurt us both."She scoffed.
He let out a laugh at that."Well,that's one snappy side someone can't forget about you."
Kiara shrugged,saying."Well,that's just how I am.And I wouldn't change that for anybody."
He laughed again."Yeah,you made that quite clear when we were still together."
Kiara fully turned to face him now,meeting his bright,blue eyes.She hesitated at first,but soon held out a hand and said."I don't know whether you're fine with this...But I say we put those differences aside now.No more literally trying to ruin each other's careers."
He arched a brow."Friends again?"
"As when we were younger."She said,nodding.
"Okay."He said,shaking the hand she held out."I guess that can work."