The Surrogate

A little win

He looks gorgeous even though the blue and white patterned shirt he has on isn't one of his best fashion choices. Up on the roof of one of buildings used by Formula One over the weekend, the evening has started with a relatively quiet but large gathering, where people who work in and around F1 can come and say farewell and wish Seb luck for the future.

It's late, due to the timing of today's race, and the night air is still quite hot and sticky while the lights of Abu Dhabi twinkle glamorously all around them.

Holly's mouth feels as dry as the desert and she stands awkwardly to one side, on her own, watching him as he talks to a man dressed in Red Bull team wear. Towards one corner, close to the balcony, she can also see Norbert, Heike and Fabian talking to Aston Martin's team principle, Mike, while Britta is engaged in conversation with a man who she's not seen before but thinks that he could be someone who works in tv or journalism.

She feels like an outcast, like she doesn't belong here and she glances towards the stairs, wondering if she should quietly slip away and try to get herself back to her hotel.

"Well hello there," she's joined by Jake, a wheel gunner on Seb's pit crew. She surprised to see him back, given that Seb had managed to get him removed from the travelling team at one point. "I'd heard you were here," he says with more than a touch of relish.

She inwardly rolls her eyes and looks to Seb to come and rescue her but he's too engrossed in his conversation. "Had you really," she replies sarcastically, sounding bored of him already.

"What can I say, news travels fast," Jake drawls, moving to stand beside her and fling an arm loosely around her shoulders, "and you being Seb's baby momma is hot news. Mind you, you're even hotter," he adds, leaning back enough to eye up her behind.

She wants to slap him but realises that he's already pretty drunk, given the waft of alcohol she's getting from him. There's been copious amounts of champagne consumed by everyone already tonight and even Seb is starting to look a bit glassy eyed, having moved on from champagne to white wine. He's obviously going to get drunk tonight and she can't blame him for that, it's been a long season for him, he's just retired from the sport he gave so much of his life to so he deserves it.

"And now he's got his ex back...." Jake drawls on, the champagne is making his mouth move before his brain gets into gear and he's freely airing the views of what other people have been saying behind his former driver's back, "...well, you're single and ready to mingle."

The only words she's fixed on are that he's got his ex back, is that why he's wanting to take everything slow? Because he's seeing Hayley again and needs time to decide who he wants to be with? Her stomach churns at the thought and she looks in Seb's direction just as Hayley arrives at his side and joins in the conversation he's having.

Suddenly she feels sick and she hands Jake her untouched glass of champagne before dashing off to find the bathroom.

Jake says nothing but quirks an eyebrow, thinking his luck might be in, before following her. With Seb being rumoured to be back with Hayley, Holly is fair game as far as he's concerned.

He's not far behind as she descends a set of stairs, leaving a delicious trail of her perfume in the air as she goes. To spend time alone with her is a rare and unexpected treat and with Seb preoccupied, he's determined to make the most of it. After tonight he probably won't get to see her again so he's keen to see where he can get with her.

She rounds a corner at the bottom of the stairs before dashing through a door into the toilets unaware that he's in hot pursuit. Making it to a cubicle, she slams the door shut behind her and drops to her knees where she starts to gag and cough. She's blown it. She's too late. It's all her own fault, she should never have left like she did, treating Seb appallingly and literally leaving him holding the baby. It's not surprising if he's got back with Hayley, she's been there to pick up the pieces and been the friend and support that he's needed.