Starting from the Pit lane - Lewis Hamilton

Okok & Lala

Melissa returned to the room and didn't quite understand what had happened. She took a shower and sat at the desk to update her notes on the PC.
While she was busy working, a couple of messages arrived but she didn't read them immediately. She wanted to finish transcribing the notes so that she wouldn't have to work hard the next day, which was also the day of the race.
It usually took her a couple of hours to sort out the notes of a normal day but on the day of the race, taking down all the details of the event, she needed a whole day to sort everything out properly on the computer. Between interviews done by her, clips from other articles... thank goodness the internship was paid and the bulk of the expenses were borne by the management.

Before going to bed he put her cell phone on charge and read the missed messages. It was her "ex". Or rather, the longest story she has ever had. Marco was a boy, a daddy's boy, a bit snooty. His father was a friend of hers, so Andrea, Melissa's father, had tried to "arrange a marriage" for them.
They were wealthy families and would only have had to gain by bringing their children together. They hadn't forced them into a relationship but had done everything to ensure the two remained alone and got to know each other. Marco would inherit his father's company together with his brother and they would have a lot to manage in their hands. If they had actually done what their respective families would have wanted, for them to get married, they would not have had any financial problems. They would have been wealthy, financially well-off and would not have had the problem of being physically close without love because both would have been too busy with work.
Melissa knew that if she followed that path she would necessarily have to give him a child as soon as possible so that he could sign the will and succession as soon as possible.
But Melissa just couldn't fall in love with him, in the end they even got along but a serious relationship between them would have just been a facade. They had lasted a year and a half, rounded off, but then they broke.
He simply asked her how she was but Melissa was too tired to react and went to sleep.

The next morning, in view of the race, she went all out. Little black dress, tights, low heels, make-up with attention to detail. She took the taxi and immediately arrived in the paddocks with her badge.
She had a new notebook, since the other one, although he hadn't finished it yet, was ruined and the pages were falling off. Instead of the usual backpack she had a very large black bag.
She greeted her colleagues and locked herself in a bar. It was all very chaotic, Italians always have to do things big.

She had a coffee and recognized Russell, the two greeted each other friendly -how are you?-
-Everything is fine thank you. Ready for the race?-
In short, similar conversations, nothing too intimate but still kind.
The race started after an hour and Melissa, who was supposed to support Ferrari, didn't take her eyes off the Mercedes wearing the number 44 for a second.
Hamilton confirmed second place. It wasn't a first place but you never disdain a podium. He did everything he could to reach him and interview him, as promised.

-Hamilton, are you proud of this incredible result?-
The Englishman turned and recognized the Italian. He smiled slightly -Very much- and then looked into her eyes. She only had a pen and a notebook, she didn't have a crew, it was a fake interview and Lewis stayed there wasting time to let her have that experience.
-You are unprofessional as a journalist but I will give you five minutes anyway-
-What an unprofessional comment- she giggled and then asked him a few questions. Lewis entered the technical room, not to humiliate her but to make her understand how she should ask the questions. The fact is that Lewis had to go to a real press conference and couldn't stay there much longer.
-Come take notes over there, follow me- and he took her into the room. There were still only the pilots and a few photographers. She sat down in the hope of not causing any problems.

Melissa felt a hand on her shoulder -I didn't know you were here- she turned and saw Marco. They gave each other two kisses on the cheek. He was a tall man, of medium build, with pitch black hair and blue eyes.
After the usual pleasantries they paid attention to the conference.

There was a lot of confusion at the end and Melissa lost sight of Lewis and remained sitting next to Marco.
-It was very nice to see you again. Can I buy you a coffee?-
-yes, willingly- she replied impulsively. They went to the bar, the same one where Melissa had studied in the morning. In the end it was a pleasant moment. On the one hand he was the same Marco as always, on the other he seemed... different. Matured.
They stayed talking for an hour and it was a more than pleasant meeting. Melissa didn't actually notice how much time had passed and when she looked out the window it was already starting to get dark. It wasn't late but winter made night fall much earlier. They greeted each other with a kiss on the cheek and then went their separate ways. Melissa went alone, in the dark, towards the taxi rank. She was a little scared but had no other choices. Thanks to the pass she was able to take the safest route behind the slopes and avoid the fan parking.

-Pizza pasta, are you crazy? Alone, walking around like this in the dark? - she soon recognized the English accent.
-I don't have many alternatives, if I want to take a taxi I have to take this route-
-I'll let you accompany me, come- he said coldly as a cloud came out of his mouth, seeing as his breath was much hotter than the air.
In silence, he walked beside her. He told his collaborator to take her to the hotel, the girl got into the car and Lewis immediately turned to go to his driver.
-Thank you- Melissa shouted without receiving a response.
"He was kind but a hello wouldn't have killed him. Of course, if he's doing so much to avoid having a guilty conscience, he could also have let me take a taxi, like I did last night anyway"

She returned to the hotel, exhausted. She packed her suitcase because the next day she would have to leave to reach the city of the third Grand Prix. He couldn't work but luckily Tuesday was his day off and he could transcribe the notes.
She closed her suitcase for good, put her pajamas in her backpack, and kept the change out for the next day.
She went to sleep with a notification from Marco.