Glitter: A Pierre Gasly Story

Chapter 14

ELLIE'S POV

The day had finally come. 

It was Thursday. Media Day for the Belgian Grand Prix and our official paddock entrance.

I had barely slept. 

I'd laid awake for hours, thinking about everything that could go wrong. 

It had to look real. Feel real to everyone watching. And Pierre and I were barely on speaking terms. How were we going to sell this?

Once again Ava had taken great care in choosing my outfit - she had actually sent me with three options in case the weather changed or there was some sort of other unforeseen circumstance. 

But it was hot in Belgium, so we were operating on Plan A: a high waisted, tea length blue silk skirt and a white tank top with low nude heels. Ava called it "quiet luxury," and I had to admit it was perfect.

Feeling good in what I was wearing helped ease a little of my anxiety, and just as I was finishing my make-up, Pierre knocked on the door. We'd obviously be travelling to the track together today, not that either of us were happy about it.

"Hi, I'm almost ready," I greeted as I opened the door and turned to find my shoes and purse without really looking at him.

"We can't be late," Pierre admonished me and I rolled my eyes while putting the essentials in my Dior bag.

"We're not going to be late, chill," I replied and as I turned back to face him, my breath caught. He stood before me in a plain white t-shirt with light colored jeans. But it was the backwards black hat with the Alpine logo on it that made the butterflies take off in my stomach.

Holy hell. He was hot.

It was unfair how hot he was when he made my life miserable.

"You're staring chérie," he said, finally breaking me out of my thoughts, but his tone didn't possess any of its usual sarcasm or teasing.

I frowned. What was up with him? 

I took a closer look at the man in front of me and couldn't help but notice a general sense of sadness.

What had him in such a bad mood that he still hadn't shaken it? Had breaking up with Jasmine really affected him so much?

"Sorry. I was just trying to decide if we were too matchy," I replied, hoping to recover and save a little embarrassment.

He looked at himself and then me before back to himself again. "Oh, I guess we do match. It's fine, I'll have to put on a team shirt when we get to the track, so it's only temporary."

I nodded quickly. "Okay, great. Let's go!"

In the lobby, we met up with Jess and the three of us piled into an SUV to take us to the track.

"Okay, let's review the plan," Jess started as we left the hotel and we both nodded. "When we get to the track, Pierre, you'll enter the gate first and, Ellie, you'll follow. The official F1 social team will be taking video, as will the team. Pierre, you should wave to those cameras and then grab Ellie's hand. Obviously there will be a lot of other media and fans too. Don't stop for them and continue on to hospitality."

We had been over the details so many times. This was the most important moment of the entire plan. It had to go perfectly, but even I was getting sick of this speech.

Jess continued. "The most important thing, Pierre, is for you to look like you're concerned about Ellie's safety. You can't just plow ahead; you need to keep your eyes on her and gently try to protect her from the crowd."