Accelerating Dreams

CHAPTER 15: THE MEDIA STORM

Jennifer's POV

The morning after the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, I woke up to a barrage of notifications on my phone. The excitement of Lando's podium finish still lingered, but as I scrolled through the messages and news alerts, a sense of dread washed over me. Rumors about Lando and me had started circulating in the media, and it seemed like everyone had something to say about it.

I sat up in bed, rubbing my eyes and trying to process what I was seeing. Headlines screamed from the screen: "F1's New Power Couple?" "Paddock Romance: Lando Norris and Jennifer Piastri." "Oscar Piastri's Sister

Caught in Love Triangle?" My heart sank. This was exactly what Oscar had warned me about, and now it was happening.

My phone buzzed again, and I saw a message from Lando: "Jen, have you seen the news?"

"Yeah, I just woke up to it," I replied, feeling a knot tighten in my stomach. "What are we going to do?"

"Meet me in the lobby in 10," he responded. "We'll figure this out together."

I quickly got dressed, my mind racing with worry. How had the media found out? Had someone seen us together and leaked the information? As I made my way to the hotel lobby, I tried to stay calm, but my heart was pounding.

Lando was already waiting when I arrived, his expression a mix of concern and determination. He pulled me into a quick hug, and for a moment, the world seemed to slow down. His presence was reassuring, a reminder that we were in this together.

"We need to talk to Oscar," he said, his voice low and serious. "He needs to hear it from us before he sees it in the media."

I nodded, feeling a surge of anxiety. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go."

We made our way to Oscar's room, each step feeling heavier than the last. I knocked on the door, and a few moments later, Oscar opened it, looking surprised to see us both there.

"Hey, what's going on?" he asked, his eyes darting between us.

"We need to talk," Lando said, his tone firm. "Can we come in?"

Oscar stepped aside, letting us in. The room was neat and tidy, a stark contrast to the chaos swirling in my mind. We sat down, and I took a deep breath, trying to find the right words.

"Oscar, there's something you need to know," I began, my voice trembling slightly. "The media has found out about Lando and me. There are rumors circulating, and we wanted to tell you before you saw it in the news."

Oscar's expression hardened, a flash of anger in his eyes. "How did this happen? I told you both to be careful!"

"We were careful," Lando said, his voice calm but determined. "We don't know how the media found out. But what's done is done, and we need to figure out how to handle it."

Oscar looked at me, his anger giving way to concern. "Jen, are you okay?"

"I'm... I'm scared," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "This is exactly what we were trying to avoid, and now it's out of our control."

Oscar sighed, running a hand through his hair. "We'll get through this, Jen. We just need to stay united and handle this with a clear head."

We spent the next hour discussing our options, trying to come up with a plan. Lando suggested we issue a joint statement, addressing the rumors head-on and setting the record straight. Oscar agreed, but he was still visibly frustrated.

As we worked on the statement, I couldn't help but feel a sense of guilt. This was supposed to be Oscar's time to shine, his moment in the spotlight, and now it was being overshadowed by my relationship with Lando. I glanced at Lando, who was focused on drafting the statement, and felt a surge of gratitude for his unwavering support.

Once we finalized the statement, we sent it to the team's PR manager for approval. The response was swift, and soon, the statement was released to the media:

"We have seen the recent rumors regarding Jennifer Piastri and Lando Norris. While we understand the interest, we want to emphasize that our personal lives are private. We are focused on our respective careers and supporting each other. We appreciate your respect for our privacy."

The statement was straightforward and to the point, but I knew it wouldn't stop the media frenzy. As the day went on, we were bombarded with questions and requests for interviews. It was overwhelming, but having Lando and Oscar by my side made it a little easier to bear.

In the midst of the chaos, I found a moment to talk to Lando alone. We sat in a quiet corner of the paddock, the noise and activity feeling distant.

"Thank you for standing by me," I said, reaching for his hand. "I don't know how I'd handle this without you."

He squeezed my hand gently, his eyes warm and reassuring. "We're in this together, Jen. No matter what."

As the sun set over the paddock, casting long shadows on the ground, I felt a sense of resolve. The media storm was just beginning, but with Lando and Oscar's support, I knew we could weather it. Our relationship would be tested, but I was determined to fight for it. And as I looked into Lando's eyes, I knew he felt the same way.

This was just another challenge in the whirlwind world of F1, and we were ready to face it head-on. Together.