Bad Reputation

29.

I flew to the next race in Baku, haven't talked to Frankie since that night.

Heard she was dating Jordan now, which broke my heart a little.

"You good?" Oscar asked as he sat down next to me. "Yeah I am fine" I mumbled.

"Are you sure?" He frowned.

I was sure that I was definitely lying.

"Is it about your girl?"

I sighed. "Yeah, I just miss her"

He didn't know what happened between us, probably thought we were still on good terms and that I missed her having around me.

I did miss her around me.

"Yeah I bet it would be easier if she was around you all the time"

True, it would be much easier.

To have her around me, every race weekend.

I got up and looked down at him. "Thanks Osc, you are right!"

I made my way to the paddock club, which wasn't busy at all.

"Hi Kelcey, right?" I said as I leaned on the bar. She turned around, looked at me and her eyes widened a little.

"Yeah hi Lando" she smiled. "Do you want a drink?"

"No, I was just wondering if you like this job?"

She shrugged. "It's okay"

"You can be honest with me though" I smiled, tried to make her more comfortable around me, make her trust me.

"Not really, but I am thankful for this job"

"My PR assistant got promoted" I said. "So I was wondering if you were up for that challenge"

"You want me as your PR assistant?" She frowned.

I nodded. "Exactly, I will be good, I promise but you might have to step in from time to time" I laughed. I wasn't that bad as I used to be, but I still said stupid shit sometimes.

"Uh-yeah I would love that" she smiled. "Awesome" I said a little too enthusiastic. "I will send someone who will offer you a contract for next weekend"

And with that, the first part of my plan was done.

Now I had to wait for Zak. I knew the guy, I knew he would walk up to me to tell me how stupid I was to offer her the job.

I sat down in the middle of the hospitality. So Zak didn't have to search very long for me.

And he didn't, because only half an hour later, he walked up to me.
Didn't look too happy.

"I heard you just offered the paddock club bartender a new job?" Zak asked as he walked up to me. "As your PR manager nonetheless"

"Yes, she has a degree in communication, why would you put her in charge of the drinks?" I frowned and so did he.

He didn't do his research about Kelcey, but I sure did.

"Okay, but are you gonna make the drinks next race weekend?" He raised his eyebrow, tapped the table I was sitting on a few times.

"Call her, she's an amazing bartender, the best you'll ever find" I said as I gave him a paper with Francesca's number on it.

He looked at the paper. "Who is she?"

"She works in the best club in Monaco, she makes the best drinks, so you better offer her a ton of money"

"Sure" he mumbled, looked at the paper again and walked away.

I smiled, didn't know if she was gonna take the job, but she always wanted to travel, liked making drinks and she would earn more than she earned now.

The only thing that might be a reason for her to decline the job, was me.

And I am afraid that it would be a big enough reason for her to say no.