Bad Reputation

34.

We were back in Monaco and I kinda hated it. I kept myself busy with lots of stuff, with workouts and dinners with friends.

But I was only thinking about one thing, or one person.

Francesca.

I texted her a few times to ask if she was okay, but she never answered.
So I texted Jess instead, asked her if she was working tonight.

Which she was.

I wanted to have a lazy night tonight, but I guess my plans changed.
I was going out tonight.

Took Verstappen with me, with a couple of other friends and went to the club.
Jess and Chase were standing behind the bar, luckily without Jordan.

"My favorite F1 driver" Jess smiled widely, only to notice that Verstappen was standing behind me.

"Which one of us?" I asked with a smirk.

"Uh-" she chuckled. "Obviously Max"

She was lying, I was definitely her favorite.

"Do you have a minute?" I asked. She nodded. "Yeah, I have a little break, let's go outside"

She gestured at the backdoor. I followed her outside. She probably knew what I wanted to ask her, and she probably didn't like it.

"Have you heard from Francesca?" I asked.

She leaned against the wall, sighed a little. "Less and less since she's dating Jordan"

"He's not treating her right, her arms were covered with bruises"

She looked down. She already knew about that, but just like me, she didn't know what to do about it.

"I saw her yesterday, she was wearing sunglasses.."

"Okay?" I frowned, didn't understand what she was getting at.

"Inside, at night" she said as she looked up to me.

"Are you fucking kidding me?"

She said nothing, she just sighed.

And I knew I had to do something. I had to come up with something right now.

"Text Jordan, ask him to come here" I said as I looked at Jess. She frowned. "Why?"

"So I know Fran will be alone"

"Smart" she nodded as she grabbed her phone. "I will text him to take over my shift, I know he will do that for me"

And she was right, because not much later, he texted that he was coming.

"Thanks" I smiled. "You're the best"

We walked back inside, but before I could walk to the exit, she put her hand on my shoulder. "Please text me if you need me, okay?"

"Sure" I smiled. "Thanks Jess"

After that, I made my way to Francesca's apartment. I didn't know if she was here, had no idea where Jordan lived so I actually had no backup plan if she wasn't here.

I pressed the button of her apartment, waited for a little while before her voice came on the intercom. "Hello?"

"Francesca! It's Lando" I said a little too enthusiastically.

"Lando" she sighed. "I am not in the mood to talk or spend time together tonight"

"Please Frankie, I only need 10 minutes" once again I was begging. I never begged so much in my life.

"Sorry Lando" she said, hung up after that because it was quiet on the other side of the intercom.

Frustrating, but I kinda expected this. I texted her that I was home if she needed me.
But I also didn't really expect her to come with me.

So as soon as I walked in my apartment, I changed into something more comfortable and laid down on my couch.

I was gonna sleep here, just in case she actually would come to me.

But unfortunately, I don't think she was gonna show up.