Dirty Little Secret/Lando Norris

79. Shit strategy

It was race day and I can see Lando is stressing about something, he has since Friday. I was sitting outside the McLaren garage while Lando and his team had a meeting, my phone rang and I smile seeing Mick's name, we really have become such good friends and I loved him like a brother. "Hi Mick" "Bella how are you?" "Good and you?" "Good, how is it looking there in the paddock?" he ask and I smile. "Good, just worried about Lando for some reason he is stressing about something and he doesn't want to tell me." I say happy to be telling someone. "Maybe he is just stressing for the race, we all know how much he wants to win." Mick say and I sigh. "You're right" "Of course I am" he say and I laugh. I see most of the team coming in the garage, "I have to go but we will talk later?" "Yes, enjoy the race and tell Lando I say good luck I will be watching on the TV." he say and I smile. "Will do"

I walk in the garage again seeing Lando with his strategist and he looked unhappy, we lock eyes and he smile, he say something to the man next to him and he gestured with his head for me to follow him. We walk into his driver's room, "How was the meeting?" I ask as he walk closer and kiss me. "Good" he say and I know he is trying to distract himself. I pull away a bit and look him in the eyes, "are you sure you are okay?" I ask again and he sigh. "I'm just tired and want the race to be over." he say and I nod. "Just two more races baby, and then you can rest." I say and he smile pulling me in for a hug. "I love you Bella." he say against my neck and I smile. "I love you too."

We sat on the sofa, not really talking, he was playing with the ring on my finger, I got the ring from my grandmother before she passed away and I haven't taken it off since. "Someday I am going to give you another ring." he suddenly say and I look at him. "I want to marry you Bella in the future, we have been through too much shit to let each other go." he say and I smile kissing his cheek. "I would love to be Miss Norris" I say and he smile. "That sounds great." he say leaning in to kiss me. "Lando, get ready race is almost starting." Zak shout from the other side of the door and he sigh standing up. "Duty calls" he say and I giggle, he dress in his fireproof suit and I smile, he always look good, with his suit, with normal clothes even naked he is so handsome. We walk to the garage and Lando went to stand to sing the National Anthem.

"Hi Bella, how are you?" Zak suddenly ask next to me and I smile at him. "Good thanks how are you?" I ask and he laugh. "Good, how does Lando seem to you?" he ask and I frown. "Stressed, I know he is tired." I say and Zak nods. "I can also see that, but you being here is helping I can see that." Zak say and I just nod. "Both of you have been through a lot, and he deserve to rest." Zak say and I look up at him. "I haven't said this yet Bella, but I am really sorry for what happened." he say and I look at my hands. "Lando was heartbroken the day he came to tell me, I have seen Lando cry before but not like that day, and I know losing a child can do that to someone." he say and I look up at him shock. "I am just glad both of you are good, and have healed." he say and I smile. "Me too, it was hard but we got through it." I say and he nods, patting my shoulder he walk back to the car as Lando came back in.

"Good luck, and be safe." I say to Lando kissing him before he put on his helmet. "I love you." I say and he smile getting in the car, I went and stand next to his strategist and he gave me some earphones. It was lights out and off they went, the race was a little boring with Oscar and Lando in front, the most action was Hamilton and Verstappen. Then on lap 66 it all started, Lando boxed first and that mean he was first, I was excited he is going to win this one, and god knows he need this win. "Lando, you can go ahead and give back the position." I look at the guy I don't even know his name. "Tell him to catch up." I hear Lando and I know Oscar will not be able to he is 5 seconds behind Lando. "Lando, remember what we all talked about this morning, you will need Oscar to win the Championship, you will need the team." the guy say again and I could not believe it, they want Lando to give up his win.

"Then tell him to catch up." Lando say again, they were on Lap 68 already two more and Lando will win. "Lando you have proven your point, he cannot catch up, I am trying to help you man." he say and Lando kept quiet, a part of me wanted to grab the earphones and tell Lando to keep going, don't give up, but then I see him break and Oscar over takes him. My heart break for him at that moment and it all made sense now that is the strategy they wanted to use that Lando did not like. Oscar wins the Hungarian race but at what cost, I thought to myself. Lando is going to be so broken. I watch as Lando got out of the car and walk to Oscar to congratulate him, he doesn't look happy and I don't blame him, he is second on the championship he had a chance to get 25 point closer to Verstappen and McLaren screwed him.

I watch him walk to the cooldown room, not even coming into the garage like he normally does and I walk to go watch the podium with the rest of the team. I can see Lando is not happy and I don't blame him, they should have let Oscar box first to not put Lando in that position. They celebrate and I walk back to the garage to wait in his driver's room, it was going to be a long day still he had media and a meeting. I sat on the sofa when he came in he threw his hat on the table and sigh, running his hands through his hair. "Are you okay" I ask looking at him and he shake his head. "They should never have put me in that position, they fucked up." he say pacing the room and I nod, I don't really know what to say. "Know I am the guy that is a team player but I am so angry I cannot even celebrate with Oscar, they also took his chance of enjoying his first win away." he kept on ranting and I just listen.

He finally looks at me and he sigh coming to sit with me, he was still full of Champaign, "I'm sorry they did that, you should have won he was 5 seconds behind and Hamilton was 13 seconds behind I agree it's not fair." I say and he nods. "I have media soon, I am going to go shower." he say and I just nod watching him walk to the showers, I hate it when he is like that because he shuts down, and I agree the McLaren team is to blame.

The book is almostdone one more chapter