In the scenic south of Italy, political adviser Ana escapes her demanding career for a much-needed vacation. In a quaint village, she meets Lando, a charming and energetic F1 driver who is also seeking respite from his fast-paced life. Their encount...
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AnaVillanueva: 😷
Ana'sPOV:
I wake up to the blinding light of the mid-morning sun streaming through the curtains. My head feels heavy, and the haze of yesterday clings to me like an unwelcome fog. I glance at my phone and nearly jump out of bed. It's already 10 a.m., and the session has long started.
How did I sleep through my alarm?
Panic sets in for a moment, but then the events of yesterday hit me all at once—Lucas, the unwanted advance, the confrontation. I feel a knot tighten in my chest just thinking about it. I stare at my phone for a moment before making a decision. There's no way I can sit through sessions today. I need space. More importantly, I need to avoid Lucas.
I quickly type out a message to one of my colleagues, crafting an excuse that sounds reasonable enough.
Ana:Caught a stomach bug or maybe ate something bad. I'll have to miss the sessions today, really sorry! I'll catch up on the notes later.
It's for the best. I can't bear to face Lucas—not after what happened. The idea of even seeing him makes me sick to my stomach.
After sending the message, I head straight for the coffee machine. I need caffeine, badly. As the coffee brews, I start scrolling through my emails, trying to get a handle on work. It's the usual rush of messages and updates, nothing urgent. But then, as I sip my coffee and switch to my texts, I see Lando's messages from last night.
Lando:Today was a shit show, but I miss you. Hope you're doing alright.
Lando:Just so you know, I had to take Savi home. She got drunk at the party. Paparazzi caught it, but nothing happened. I'll explain when I see you.
My heart skips a beat. I feel conflicted. Should I tell him about what happened with Lucas? Part of me wants to bury the whole thing, not wanting to drag Lando into more complications. Especially when we won't even see each other for another week and a half, maybe more. What's the point in stressing him out when he needs to focus on the season?
Before I can respond, my mind drifts to Mia. I need to talk to her. Mia's great with PR, and we've dealt with similar situations before. If anyone can help me figure out a plan in case Lucas tries anything else, it's her.
I dial her number, and she picks up on the third ring.
"Ana, hey! What's going on? How's Germany?" Mia's voice is full of energy, as usual.
I take a deep breath, pacing the room. "I... I need to tell you something. Something happened with Lucas yesterday."
Her voice immediately softens. "Okay, I'm almost inside my office now. What happened?"
I spill everything—the confrontation in my hotel room, the way he tried to force himself on me, and how I managed to record the whole thing as evidence. By the time I finish, Mia is quiet, but I can sense her anger simmering through the phone.
