Online Rivals, Offline Lovers

Chapter 24 - High Stakes

[Max POV]

The day before practice was supposed to start, media day dawned clear and bright, although it did nothing to quell the unease, that had settled deep into my stomach. I hadn't heard from Lex since she sent me the evidence, and she was nowhere to be seen. It wasn't just me who noticed—everyone around the paddock was whispering, wondering where she was. Her absence was conspicuous, especially since I expected the Visa Cash App Heineken RB garage to have her picture plastered all over it. But there was nothing, not even a mention of her.

The uncertainty made me angry. I thought of Dolf and his manipulations, of what he might have done to Lex. He was clearly up to something, keeping her away from the media and the team. I was nervous, not just for the race but for her safety. What was he planning, and why was she being kept hidden? My mind was racing with possibilities as I moved through the paddock, ignoring the other drivers and journalists.

Horner was already on the phone with Checo, discussing him ending his break early and returning to the team. It seemed like they were preparing for the worst, a scenario where Lex wouldn't show up. The idea of Checo returning didn't sit well with me. Not that I had anything against him, but I knew how much this meant to Lex. She had fought so hard to get here, and I couldn't bear the thought of her losing it all because of her father's machinations.

I ground my teeth and approached Christian. He was pacing back and forth, phone pressed to his ear, discussing logistics with Checo.

"Christian," I said, interrupting his conversation. "It'll be fine. She'll show up."

He looked at me, his expression a mix of doubt and concern. "Max, I'm just making sure we're prepared. We can't go into tomorrow's practice sessions without a backup plan."

"I understand, but Lex is tough. She'll find a way to be here. I know it," I insisted, trying to sound more confident than I felt.

Christian sighed, nodding reluctantly. "Alright, but if we don't hear from her soon, we're going to have to move forward with Plan B. You know how it is."

I nodded, understanding the pressure he was under.

He returned to his call.

This was the top level of motorsport, and there was no room for uncertainty or delay... and even though I had just vehemently defended Lex, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was very wrong.

As the day wore on, I kept glancing at my phone, waiting for any sign from her, but nothing...

I kept thinking about the evidence Lex had managed to collect. It was more than enough to put Dolf in prison for a long time. Everything from the recordings to the pictures and even the mechanic's confession painted a damning picture of his involvement in the sabotage. Despite the mounting pressure, I couldn't bring myself to hand it over to the authorities just yet. Not until Lex was back, safe and sound.

I didn't want to push Dolf into a corner, like an angry animal. I had to stop him lashing out at all costs.

Media day was almost over, the paddock slowly winding down, when my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw the message was from Lex's phone.

L: Meet me at 939 Jurong West Street 91, Singapore 640939
L: Tonight, half past midnight
L: Bring all of the evidence
L: It's nearly over, after tonight, we'll be free 🩷