✓ WORKING FOR THE KNIFE ━ lando norris. ¹

[ 053 ] Wish Me Luck?

   

  

   

( ACT III. ── Fearless )
chapter fifty-two / Wish Me Luck?

  

   

   

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When Annika stepped up onto the back of the platform for the drivers parade, the expectant American sun warmed the back of her neck. She put on her Mercedes cap on backwards, both for sun protection and to keep her hair from flying all over the place.

"Mooorning," Lando dragged the word out like a song as he sidled up to stand beside her at the railing.

"Hi," she said, and gave him a reserved smile. There were cameras on them from every angle, and not to mention all of their coworkers. Oscar and Yuki were a little to the right, Valtteri and Lewis a little to the left. This was a time like any other ─ a time to play it completely cool.

"Lovely day," he remarked.

"Yeah."

"Good race conditions." There was a smug little grin pulling at the corners of his lips.

Annika shrugged.

"Patrick will love to watch this one."

"Fuck off." She rolled her eyes away in annoyance as he laughed.

As soon as Lando caught wind of the untrue rumors about her and Patrick Koskinen, it became his favorite joke. Every text message or conversation starter was punctuated by irrelevant little jabs ─ "as long as it's fine with Patrick," or "we'll see what Patrick has to say about this," or "let's get Patrick's opinion." It was driving Annika up the wall, and Lando was having the time of his life.

"I'm teasing," he followed her further down the railing and started poking her in the ribs.

She swatted his hand away. "You better be."

He chased her along the side of the truck for a moment before she scolded him to stop. As fun as this game was, they were being too obvious. They settled a decent distance apart from each other, ensconced in the safety of the other drivers around them, standing the same length apart.

As they started off, Annika felt her phone buzz in her back pocket, and she twisted her hat around to create enough shade to check it.

It was a Facebook notification, strangely enough. She couldn't even remember the last time she had used Facebook.

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FACEBOOK MESSENGER
( ciaran parkinson & annika räikkönen-accola )

Ciaran Parkinson
Hi Annika, firstly I want you to know that despite being late to the news, I'm so proud of you for getting your first race win! I know how much this must mean to you. I hope things work out for you contract-wise next year. You've given your whole life to F1, and you deserve everything you achieve. However, I'm also messaging you here to let you know that Liv is pregnant. I know you don't want me to unblock your number, but I still knew I should tell you directly because I don't want you to hear it first from other people. I truly hope you're doing well and that this message doesn't cause you any further hurt.