Before you

15.

Riley came to the paddock after the practice session. She watched the qualifying alongside Xanthi.

I knew they were gonna get along.

I walked in the hospitality after quali, Xanthi and Riley were sitting together.

I just kinda looked at them. Xanthi looked happy, but there was definitely something bothering Riley.

Something that didn't got anything to do with Xanthi or how she now knows I still think about her.

She had her own problems, but she never complained about it and unfortunately I didn't ask her about it before.

I was so selfish lately.

"What are we staring at?" Kelcey asked as she stood next to me. She looked at me and looked in the same direction. "Or should I say, who are we looking at?"

"Shut up Kels" I nudged her. "Don't you have PR stuff to do?"

"You are my PR stuff" she chuckled. "So I've heard you have a girlfriend?"

"Yeah" I nodded at Riley.

"Oh that's her?" Kelcey smiled as she also looked at Riley. "She's beautiful"

"Do you want to take Xanthi for a walk, please?" I asked Kelcey. I wanted a chance to talk to Riley alone.

Without us having to pretend.

Kelcey did what I asked. She took Xanthi for a walk around the paddock so I could be alone with Riley.

"Are you okay?" I asked as I sat down next to Riley. She nodded. "Yeah, you did great by the way"

"Thanks" I smiled. "Did you finish your work?"

She shrugged a little. "I just don't really know how to finish it, if I'm honest"

"What do you mean?"

"I just don't know if I'm doing the right thing" she looked down at the table.

I tilted my head, put my hand under her chin and made her look back up at me. "What's going on Riley?"

She sighed a little, looked straight in my eyes. "My dad, he's-"

"Lando, can I have a talk with you?" Zak asked as he stood behind me, but I could recognize his voice everywhere.

"Yeah later" I mumbled. "I am actually talking to Ril-"

"No not later" he interrupted me. "Right now!"

I sighed. "I'm sorry, we will continue our talk later, you can go to the hotel already if you want" I still looked at Riley.

"No it's fine, I will wait for you" she smiled.

I nodded. Let my hand brush against her arm and got up, followed Zak into his office.

He didn't seem happy, but I don't think I did anything wrong?

I had a decent weekend so far, had good practices and qualified pretty high. What was his problem?

"Are you absolutely insane?" He said as he closed the door behind him, didn't even wait to sit down.

"What do you mean?"

"You bringing this girl here? What were you thinking?" He pointed to the door, he probably wanted to point to Riley through the door.

"What's wrong with her?" I frowned.

"She's the daughter of one of our biggest sponsors!"

"She's what?" I was so confused right now. Who was our biggest sponsor?

Zak sighed. He clearly realized I had actually no idea who she was.

"She's the daughter of Robert Reyes" he said. I had no idea who that was, definitely heard that name before though, but I couldn't put a face or company to the name.

"CEO of Dell" Zak helped me.

"Riley Reyes" I mumbled. Of course. Why didn't I put it together?

She didn't need my money, definitely had her own things going on.

I can't believe she never mentioned it. We really didn't know each other at all.

Fuck, I thought I was bringing a normal girl to the paddock, but she was a billionaire's daughter.

We would be all over the internet in a couple of hours.

Why didn't she warn me?