❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 81

Valerie

My eyes were fixed on the monitors and screens. The race had been going for multiple laps, and I could feel the tension growing with every minute passing.
Juliette was sitting next to me, while I stood in front of the TV, my arms crossed in concentration. She was throwing some engineer-terms in the room throughout the race, but I didn't pay much attention to it.
I watched how Verstappen worked his way back up the grid, performing an overcut. My brother and Charles got set back a bit. I gritted my teeth in frustration.

"Hey." I startled as I felt a touch on my shoulder and turned around.

"Hi." My eyes fell on Raphael, and I greeted him politely.
I was still kind if mad.
Even though there was no real reason.
Or maybe, there was.
He didn't even ask about my presentation to the media team. He didn't even know that it got destroyed shortly before. I wasn't someone that loved to be the center of attention, but I did appreciate some kind of interest from him.

Plus, he had a secret. I didn't like it.

I studied him up and down, before shifting my gaze to the screen again.

"You got time?", he asked, his breath against my neck. I could almost feel his grin.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, focusing only on the race.

"Technically, yes. But I'd rather watch the race now.", I answered rather coldly without looking at him.

His tongue clicked, then his jaw made those movements when he wanted to say something, but contemplated with himself if he should.

"Oh, come on. Your ex won't win, anyways.", he nearly hissed, his voice breaking down in a tone of abhorrence when he mentioned Charles.
"Now, I wanna show you something."

My stomach twisted, my fists clenching.
How dare he? I couldn't believe him.
I couldn't do that rather often. Normally, he seemed like an innocent, friendly guy that brings joy into the room when he enters.
But sometimes, I found edgy sides on him, ones that I disliked quite well.

I held myself back from snapping something back, breathing through my nose.

"You are aware that my brother is out there, too, right?"
My body shifted from him, in slight disgust. How could Raphael always project everything on Charles? He wasn't the main reason I was watching the race.

Hell, I watched it because I wanted to, because I could.
It was more or less about family.
He should keep his jealousy in pace.

He wasn't even my boyfriend.
I think, at least.

But did Raphael know that as well?

He exhaled. Inhaled.
Sharply.

With my vision drawn to the cars on the TV in front of me, I nearly forgot his presence.
Until his raspy voice toned up again. Near my ear-shell.

"The staff room is empty during the race, you know.", he mentions with a certain tone, grinning.
Raphael only spoke so loudly for me to hear it, but I looked around anyways.

I knew exactly what he wanted to get at, but ignored his intention.

"I can't right now."

"Later, then?"

I chewed on the inside of my cheek. He was driving me mad, really. And nervous.