Downfall

20.

Unfortunately, Red Bull fixed it.

So they invited me to their hospitality. I think they liked a little rebel. Even though I wasn't but I definitely didn't have a good reputation right now.

Didn't want to be here if I was honest, but I did it for Harry.

"Quick question" I said as I scanned my paddock pass. "Why do you need me to take you here? Can't your boyfriend just give you a paddock pass?"

"Our relationship is a secret" he shrugged.

Meaning: his boyfriend wasn't out yet.

Fair enough, I was gonna keep myself busy while he was sneaking off with his secret boyfriend.

Avoiding Lando and such was definitely one of the things I was planning to do.

"Daisy!" Max Verstappen said as enthusiastically as he could. Only met him a few times, so he wasn't that excited to see me.

He was great at acting though, but I was better.

"Max! My favorite driver" I said as enthusiastic as he did.
All fake too.

"Sure" he chuckled. "So while your friend is busy with his boyfriend..-" he nodded at Harry. "We will take a walk around the paddock"

So he knew about Harry and the mechanic? Thought it was a secret, but I guess Max knew everything.

"I can stay here too" I shrugged. "You probably don't want to be seen with me"

"Are you kidding me?" He nudged me. "You're the only one I want to be seen with"

"Fine then" I sighed. I remembered the last time I was here, all the eyes on me, all the whispers behind my back.

Didn't really want to relive that, but then again, I also didn't want to hide all my life.

"Head high" Max whispered. "They would love to see you miserable"

I looked at Max and nodded. He was right. I was gonna own this.

"Let's go" I said with a smile.

We walked around the paddock and Max didn't leave my side. I was actually grateful for him.
No one really dared to talk bad about me when he was walking next to me.

Pretty sure they were gonna gossip about me after it.

"Can I talk to you?" Someone said from behind me. I recognized that accent, would recognize it everywhere, lately I heard them mostly in my nightmares.

"No" I said as I turned around to face him. He was looking handsome, as always, but I wasn't gonna fall for that.

Not again.

"Daisy plea-" he grabbed my arm but I immediately took my arm back. "Don't touch me"

"I am sorry-" he said. "You should be" I interrupted him before he could say anything else.

"Daisy, just one minute-"

"Lando, stay away from me" I turned back to him. "I told you I liked you, told you I needed you and you left me, let me deal with this all on my own and on top of that, you watched my tape"

Max clearly didn't know all of that, he couldn't hide it on his face.

"So I have nothing to say to you, besides, I think someone's waiting for you" I nodded at the girl standing behind him.

"It's not what you think" he sighed. "I think nothing Lando"

And with that, I nudged Max and walked away with him.

This was exactly the reason why I didn't want to come here. I didn't want to be dragged into this again.

"Thought it was all a PR stunt?" Max asked as he looked at me. "He told you?" I asked.

"Well yeah he did"

I sighed louder than I wanted to. "It wasn't fake for me anymore, but yeah I guess it was for him"

Still not sure why he asked if he could kiss me though. Maybe it wasn't fake for a slight second, maybe it was all real in that moment.

But he ruined it just hours later.

"Head high" he reminded me. "Especially now" he whispered as we walked towards journalists.

So I did what I did best. Smiled, waved at them.

I could do this, even with a broken heart.