LIGHTS OUT - A Lando Norris fanfic

Chapter One

Florence Cirello hurried through the bustling streets of London, her steps quick and purposeful. Her chestnut hair, pulled back into a neat bun, caught the morning sunlight in a cascade of golden highlights. Despite the chill in the air, her olive skin glowed with a natural warmth, and her hazel eyes sparkled with determination.

It was a crisp Thursday morning in early winter, the leaves shades of amber and crimson. The air carried the faint scent of pumpkin spice and anticipation, a reminder that the holiday season was fast approaching.

As Florence approached the glass doors of her office building, she adjusted the strap of her messenger bag and took a deep breath, steeling herself for what lay ahead. Inside, the frenetic energy of the workplace enveloped her, a chaotic symphony of ringing phones and clacking keyboards.

"Morning, Flo," greeted a colleague as Florence made her way to her desk. She offered a tight-lipped smile in return, her demeanour guarded and distant. It was a defence mechanism she had perfected over the past few months, a way to protect herself from the prying eyes and probing questions of her coworkers.

Settling into her chair, Florence flicked on her computer and began to sift through the emails that cluttered her inbox. Each message seemed to demand her attention, a relentless reminder of the never-ending stream of tasks that awaited her.

Florence worked in marketing, a field she had entered straight out of school as an apprentice. Over the years, she had climbed the ranks, her hard work and dedication earning her the respect of her peers and supervisors alike. Despite that some bad decisions in the past had now made her dread coming into work each day.

As Florence settled into her desk, the familiar sound of approaching footsteps caused her heart to sink. She didn't need to look up to know who it was; the heavy tread and the smug aura that seemed to precede him were unmistakable.

"Morning, Flora," came Ben's voice, using the name he knew only close friends called her by, laced with a false cheeriness that made Florence's skin crawl.

She forced herself to glance up, meeting his gaze with a cool, indifferent expression."Morning," she replied shortly, turning her attention back to her computer screen.

She had no desire to engage in conversation with him, especially not after what had happened between them.But Ben seemed determined to break through her defences. He leaned casually against the edge of her desk, a smug smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

"So, I just wanted to let you know," he began, his tone casual and nonchalant. "I'll be bringing Stacey as my date to the office Christmas party this year."

Florence felt her stomach churn at the mention of Stacey's name. Stacey, the bubbly blonde intern who had a habit of fluttering her eyelashes at Ben every time he walked by. Stacey, the woman who had been the source of so much tension and insecurity in Florence's relationship with Ben. Stacey, the women she had caught Ben cheating with.

"Oh, how nice for you," Florence replied through gritted teeth, her tone dripping with sarcasm. She knew exactly what Ben was doing; he was trying to make her jealous, to remind her of what she had lost, and to make their coworkers think he was ever the gentleman - looking out for his ex's feelings.

Ben's smirk widened at her response, confirming her suspicions. He leaned in closer, his voice turning to that of false concern, loud enough for those nearby to hear.

"I just wanted to check in and make sure you're okay with it," he said, his words oozing with insincerity. "I know it can be tough seeing your ex move on."

Flo's jaw clenched at his words, her nails digging into the palm of her hand. She wanted nothing more than to tell him exactly what she thought of him, to unleash all the pent-up anger and frustration that had been building inside her for months.