The Hotel - Lando Norris

Part 35

Lando and Nisha put open the trunk of her car and sat there watching the stars while eating McDonalds.

Nisha always had spare blankets and pillows in her trunk for those occasions specifically.

She loved watching the stars at night in her car.

'Tell me, what happened today?' Nisha asked Lando when she put a chicken nugget in her mouth.

She didn't really wanted to hear him out if she was honest, but she knew deeply she had to give him another chance.

'Well I think I should start at the very beginning and just get it over with?'

'Go ahead.' Nisha nodded.

'Well first of all, I am so sorry for the way I acted towards you. It wasn't my intention to do anything like that, if you believe me or not. But everything I'm going to tell you now is an explanation, definitely not an excuse. I know. I'm aware of what I did was completely wrong.' Lando started, already nervous.

Nisha nodded. 'I will listen from beginning to end and I won't interrupt you.'

Lando took a deep breath and started with when he joined McLaren and how they treated him back then. That Zak treated him like a son.

'I've been so happy since then. I secured a seat that I secretly knew I wasn't going to lose randomly. A seat that wasn't going to be replaced by another driver mid season.

Until I started seeing you. And no, it's not your fault that it happened, it's mine. I told Zak. He didn't take it great, he kept telling me over and over again that I should focus on F1 and not see any girl. I started falling for you Nish. I really did.

A while ago, he called me to his office. I sat down and he put a new contract in front of me. I felt forced to sign it, because if I didn't I would've lost my seat right away. I felt so betrayed by the man who secured my seat since the beginning.

But I didn't want to lose this part of me. This part of my life. So I signed. In the tiny letters was written that I would be committed to F1, with no distractions like relationships. So that's why I cut you off.'

Then he stopped talking and drifted back to that day...

'I wish you wouldn't see that woman tonight Lando.' Zak said.

'How could I stay away...? For the first time in my life I am head over heels in love-'

'But Lando...'

'I know what you're thinking! I should be winning races, focus on Formula One, I have no right to fall in love. But things don't always work out the way we want.' Lando said.

'You're right. Come to my office tomorrow. Then I will show you how things work here.' Zak said and left.

A day later he signed the contract and Zak showed him that things indeed don't go the way we want to.

Then he started explaining again.

'That whole thing with that model, I don't even remember her name, was a whole publicity stunt. And I am so so so sorry if that hurt you, I'm sure it did.

Then a few days went by and today happened. The team give me shit strategies. Every time I try to do the opposite of what they tell me to do, I get threatened by them. Then they say they will fire me. And then I crashed.

I didn't go to the garage like we are supposed to. I went to my room in the McLaren motorhome. A while later Zak came into my room and yelled at me and then you came.

I don't know what I need to do. I don't feel good. Those reasons got me in a bad headspace 24/7.' Lando ended.

'Lan... I'm so sorry.' Is the only thing Nisha can say. She doesn't know what to respond.
'What are you going to do with Zak?'