✓ WORKING FOR THE KNIFE ━ lando norris. ¹

[ 052 ] A Few Confounding Things

  

  

   

( ACT III. ── Fearless )
chapter fifty-two / A Few Confounding Things

  

   

   

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Annika Räikkönen caused a stir in Austin, Texas. The free agent of Formula One entering the paddock in the company of Jonathan Wheatley, newly-appointed Red Bull Team Principal, did not go unnoticed. Annika to his left, Matt to his right, as the three shared a casual conversation in front of all those cameras. Annika couldn't help but feel like it was a little bit funny.

"All right, I'll leave you here." Jonathan gave Annika's shoulder a hearty squeeze. "Good luck this weekend. I'll talk to you later."

"Thanks. Have a good one." Annika broke apart from him as he headed to the Red Bull motorhome. She fell into step closer to Matt and adjusted her backpack over her shoulder.

She had decided to let Greta style her again; mostly because her sister had been begging, and also because she was having a horrid couple of weeks dealing with the news about her Dad. She probably knew that Annika was only letting her dress her up like a figurine because she felt bad ─ but, hey, Greta didn't complain, and it gave her a distraction.

The outfit of choice was an ankle-length flowing beige skirt paired with a denim halter top and knee length heeled brown boots. Annika didn't feel as though it was particularly her style, but Greta knew best, and it certainly fit the theme.

Matt had decided to dress up as well and tucked a red flannel into denim jeans and the loudest jeweled belt that Annika had ever seen. But it suited him. His home race was something to celebrate ─ a Texas boy born and raised.

Rather than going to the Mercedes motorhome, Annika met Teddy and her performance engineer beside the garages for a small debrief.

Teddy tipped a large cowboy hat at her. "Howdy."

While Teddy tossed tennis balls in high arcs through the air and Annika caught them with her non-dominant hand, Matt was sitting in the corner with his eyes glued to his laptop.

Annika had been thinking long and hard about his end-of-year bonus. Maybe a car. A McLaren or an Audi ─ nothing so flashy that he wouldn't want it. It would have to be something big, though, as a thank-you for all the work he had been putting in these past months to find her a path for next year.

After today, she would have four races remaining with Mercedes. All her options were looking grim. Williams had already decided on their replacement for George Russell, leaving only one empty seat on the grid, which still had yet to be announced because Checo had not yet revealed his plan to retire.

The closest she came to a contract was with Sauber. And they had just re-signed Valtteri without telling her.

Matt was not going to give up on her so easily, though.