Behind the Pit Wall: Jamie Albon's Challenge // Lando Norris // F1

Chapter 8: Games and Ghosts

The next few days passed in a blur for Jamie, each one blending into the next. She kept herself busy, focusing on her work and avoiding Lando at all costs. Since the incident at the bowling alley, Jamie couldn't get him out of her head. His hands, his voice, the way he got under her skin—it all clung to her like an unwanted shadow. Sometimes, she found herself dreaming of him. They would argue in her dreams, the tension between them crackling like a live wire. But other times, the dreams shifted—soft touches, heated glances, and before she knew it, they were making out in some corner of her mind, and she'd wake up feeling restless and confused.

The dreams scared her. Jamie wasn't sure what bothered her more—the fact that she was dreaming about him at all, or the fact that part of her didn't seem to hate it. She kept telling herself that Lando was nothing more than an annoyance, but her subconscious seemed to be playing tricks on her. Every time she saw him in the paddock, she would quickly change direction, hoping to avoid another confrontation. But no matter how much she tried to push him out of her mind, he always found a way back in.

Alex, of course, noticed her mood shifts. He'd ask her occasionally if she was feeling alright, but Jamie brushed off his concern, saying she just needed time to adjust to the demands of working with the Williams team. It wasn't a lie—there was an adjustment period—but it wasn't the whole truth either.

Meanwhile, Lando was having a field day. He could sense Jamie's discomfort whenever she saw him, and it amused him to no end. He enjoyed the way he could get under her skin, the way her cheeks flushed when she was angry, or the way she rolled her eyes whenever he made a snide comment. Since that night at the bowling alley, he'd noticed her trying to avoid him, and while he found it mildly irritating, it also added fuel to his game. He could read her like an open book, and the more she tried to stay away, the more interested he became.

But it wasn't just a game to him. The memory of Jamie in the club with that random guy, Noel, still gnawed at him. Lando had been furious—furious that someone else was trying to kiss her, furious that she seemed oblivious to the guy's true intentions. As far as Lando was concerned, Jamie wasn't meant for just anyone. If anyone was going to have her, it would be him. She was his, even if she didn't realize it yet. At some point, Lando thought, she would have to accept that.

During those days, Jamie found solace in her conversations with Kika. She often confided in her about the recent events—the tension with Lando at the club and the uncomfortable encounter at the bowling alley. Kika listened patiently, asking Jamie if she thought Lando might be interested in her. But Jamie quickly dismissed the idea, shaking her head.

"Trust me," Jamie had said to Kika, "Lando and I would rather kill each other than be together for more than five minutes."

Kika had grinned, not entirely convinced, but let it drop.

One afternoon, after a long day of training sessions, Jamie was making her way back to the Williams hospitality when a man approached her. He was tall, with a confident smile, and introduced himself as Kean, saying he worked for Red Bull.

"I've seen you around the paddock these past few days," Kean said smoothly, his eyes not leaving hers. "I couldn't help but notice how beautiful you are. I'd love to take you out for dinner tonight."

Jamie blushed at the compliment, feeling a warmth she hadn't felt in a while. He seemed genuine, and there was something about his easy demeanor that put her at ease. After all the stress with Lando, it felt nice to have someone interested in her without the baggage. She smiled and agreed to the date, exchanging numbers with Kean before they parted ways.

As she walked back to the Williams hospitality, a grin spread across her face. For the first time in days, she felt like something good was happening. Maybe this would be a fresh start, a chance to focus on someone who wasn't trying to get under her skin.

But just as Jamie reached the entrance to the Williams area, a voice cut through her thoughts.

"That date's a waste of time. You shouldn't go."

Jamie didn't need to turn around to know who it was. She felt her blood boil instantly, her fingers tightening around her phone as she stormed inside, refusing to acknowledge Lando's comment. She was done with his games. Done with him trying to dictate her life. They had been friends once, long ago, but those days were long gone. Now, Lando was nothing more than a thorn in her side, a constant reminder of someone she used to trust.

Later that evening, Jamie returned to the hotel and began getting ready for her date. She carefully chose a dark blue dress, something elegant yet simple, and curled her hair just enough to frame her face. A light layer of makeup completed the look, and as she checked herself in the mirror, she felt a surge of confidence. Tonight, she would focus on herself—no thoughts of Lando, no stress, just a nice dinner with a guy who seemed genuinely interested in her.

She made her way to the lobby, where Kean had promised to pick her up. But as she waited, minutes turned into an hour. Jamie checked her phone again, but there were no messages. She had sent him a text earlier asking if something had come up, but it was still marked as undelivered.

With each passing minute, Jamie's excitement faded. The sky turned from a bright sunset to the dark purples of night, and the once-bustling lobby became eerily quiet. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, Jamie realized he wasn't coming. The thought of being stood up twisted painfully in her chest.

Had this all been some cruel joke? She had felt good about Kean—he seemed like a decent guy—but maybe she had misjudged him. Jamie stayed seated for a while longer, holding on to the slim hope that he might show up, but as the night dragged on, it became clear that he wasn't coming.

Feeling utterly defeated, she returned to her room, her earlier excitement replaced by a deep sense of embarrassment and hurt. She slipped out of her dress, tossing it carelessly onto the floor, and changed into her pajamas. As she lay in bed, her thoughts raced. Why hadn't Kean shown up? Was she a fool for believing that he had been genuinely interested in her?

Jamie felt her eyes sting with tears as she stared at the ceiling, her thoughts haunted by the evening's events. She hated feeling vulnerable like this, hated how easily her excitement had turned to disappointment. And as much as she tried to push it away, a small voice in the back of her mind reminded her of Lando's comment earlier.

Maybe, just maybe, he had been right after all.

With a heavy heart, Jamie closed her eyes and tried to force herself to sleep, but the nagging questions and the memory of being stood up kept her awake.