Risking it all (Lando Norris)

Chapter 16

Lily

The day after our return from Bahrain, I found myself back at the McLaren Technology Centre, the familiar sight of the sleek, modern building welcoming me like an old friend. The glass walls and open spaces, usually buzzing with energy and innovation, felt a little too still today, almost as if they mirrored the weight on my shoulders.

My office was a small, quiet corner of this expansive place, a sanctuary amidst the chaos of Formula 1. The walls were decorated with a few framed photos from past races, reminders of how far I'd come in this world. 

Normally, I found comfort in those images, but today they seemed to only remind me of the challenges ahead. My desk was a mess of paperwork, emails, and a few packages that had arrived while I was away. I dropped my bag on the floor and sank into my chair with a heavy sigh, the conversation with Zak still fresh in my mind.

I couldn't stop thinking about it. Zak's concerns about my relationship with Lando, how it could impact our professional lives, the risks it posed—it all replayed in my head like a broken record. His words had hit harder than I expected, and even now, I wasn't sure how to process it all.

I powered up my laptop, trying to push the thoughts aside. There was work to do, and I needed to focus. Dwelling on things wouldn't help me get through the day, and there was too much to catch up on. The screen lit up, and I was immediately greeted by a flood of emails, some from Zak, others from various departments, and a few from Lando.

I hesitated before opening Lando's emails. He knew everything about my meeting with Zak. He'd been supportive, even though I could see the concern in his eyes. Still, I wasn't ready to face more questions or worries, not yet.

I started with the emails from Zak, mentally preparing myself for whatever tasks and questions he had lined up. Most of them were straightforward, asking for updates on various projects or scheduling meetings. I responded quickly, keeping my answers professional and to the point, even though my mind was far from focused.

Next, I moved on to the emails from other departments. They were mostly logistical—travel plans for upcoming races, sponsorship details, things that required my attention but not much thought. I was halfway through responding to one about the next race in Saudi Arabia when my phone buzzed on the desk. It was a text from Lando. 

Lando: How's your morning going?

I stared at the message for a moment, debating whether to reply. I didn't want to worry him, but ignoring him wasn't an option either. After a few seconds, I typed out a quick response.

Lily: Busy. Just catching up on everything. How about you?

I sent the text and turned back to my laptop, trying to refocus on the email. But before I could finish it, my phone buzzed again.

Lando: Same here. Feels weird being back after such a crazy weekend. Missed seeing you this morning.

His message made me smile despite everything. Lando always had a way of brightening my day, even when I was stressed. I quickly typed back.

L: I missed you too. Hopefully, we can catch up later?

I put the phone down, forcing myself to concentrate on the tasks at hand. There were too many things to do to let my mind wander. But it wasn't easy. Thoughts of the conversation with Zak kept creeping in, and with them, doubts and fears I hadn't allowed myself to fully acknowledge.

What if Zak was right? What if our relationship—or whatever it was between Lando and me—really did jeopardize our careers? It was one thing to enjoy each other's company, to lean on each other when things got tough, but could we maintain that without it affecting our work?