Flight Attendant - Lando norris fanfic

16 -An Ultimatum

I knew this moment was coming, but it didn't make it any easier when it finally arrived. Sitting in David Cooper's office, I felt like I was watching my life unravel. The weight of his words hung in the air like an anvil above me, ready to drop.

I glanced down at the magazine he had placed on his desk. My stomach twisted as I saw the headline splashed across the front page in glaring bold letters: "Lando Norris Off the Market? Meet His Mystery Woman." The picture that accompanied it was even worse. It was from that night Lando and I had gone on our first date, a moment that felt so private, so special, now plastered across tabloids for everyone to see.

I felt nauseous. How had it come to this?

David cleared his throat, pulling me out of my spiraling thoughts. "Cordelia, you're one of the best employees we've ever had," he began, his voice calm but firm. "But this situation with Lando... it's becoming a problem."

I blinked, trying to keep my expression neutral. "What do you mean?"

He sighed, rubbing a hand over his tired face. "There's been talk, Cordelia. Clients are asking questions, and upper management isn't thrilled. You've worked hard to get where you are, but being publicly linked to someone as high-profile as Lando Norris—well, it's not something we can ignore."

I sat there, frozen. My mind raced, trying to make sense of everything. Just a few weeks ago, things felt so different. Lando and I had been figuring things out, taking it slow, seeing where it would lead. It wasn't supposed to turn into a scandal.

"I didn't mean for this to happen," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "It wasn't supposed to be like this."

David leaned forward, resting his arms on the desk. "I know. But the reality is, we have a business to run. We can't afford the kind of attention this is bringing. The company is in the spotlight now, and not for the right reasons. You're a flight attendant for some of the most powerful clients in the world. We can't have distractions like this."

His words felt like punches to the gut. A distraction? Was that what I was now?

I stared at the magazine again, my heart sinking. The article wasn't kind, of course. It hinted at all the typical tabloid nonsense: that Lando was a notorious playboy, and that I was just another girl in a long line of flings. They painted me as a nobody trying to make a name for myself by being with him. The more I read, the more humiliated I felt.

"This has nothing to do with your job performance, Cordelia," David continued, his tone softening. "You're excellent at what you do, and I don't want to lose you. But I have to protect the company."

I knew what was coming next. I could see it in his eyes.

"I don't want to make you choose," he said, "but the higher-ups are giving you an ultimatum. Either you end things with Lando and focus on your career... or we're going to have to let you go."

His words hit me like a sledgehammer. I could barely breathe.

An ultimatum. My job or Lando. My entire career, my stability, my future—on the line because of this relationship. I had worked so hard to get here. I had fought for every promotion, every ounce of respect in this industry. And now I had to choose between that and the man who had somehow managed to break down every wall I had built around myself.

"I know this isn't fair," David said gently. "But you need to make a decision. I'm giving you a couple of days to think about it. But the company is serious, Cordelia."

I nodded, unable to speak. My throat felt tight, my chest aching.

"Take the time you need," he added, standing up and offering a small, sympathetic smile. "I'm sorry it's come to this."

I stood on shaky legs, muttering a quick "thank you" before hurrying out of his office. The hallway felt like it was closing in on me, the walls suffocating as I tried to process everything.

How had it come to this? I thought about that night Lando and I first kissed, how everything had felt so right. I had never planned for any of this to happen. I didn't mean to fall for him. But now, I couldn't imagine my life without him. He had shown me a side of himself that the world didn't get to see—the vulnerable, thoughtful Lando who had opened up to me, who made me laugh and feel alive in a way I hadn't in years.

But I couldn't ignore the reality. Dating someone like Lando came with consequences—consequences I hadn't been ready for. The attention, the rumors, the scrutiny... it was too much. And now it was threatening everything I had worked for.

I left the office and walked aimlessly through the city streets, my mind a jumble of thoughts and emotions. My phone buzzed in my pocket, and I pulled it out, seeing Lando's name flash across the screen.

Lando: Thinking of you. Want to hang out tonight?

My heart clenched. I wanted nothing more than to be with him, to forget about the world and just exist in the bubble we had created. But I couldn't ignore what was happening. I couldn't pretend that this wasn't affecting my entire life.

I found myself standing on the edge of the river, staring out at the water as I tried to make sense of it all. How could I choose between my career and the man who had made me feel more alive than I had in years? How could I walk away from him when everything in me screamed that what we had was real?

But how could I risk my job? My independence? Everything I had built for myself?

I opened my phone and scrolled through social media, my heart sinking as I saw the comments on Lando's latest post. Pictures of us had surfaced again, and the comments were brutal:

"Another girl trying to get famous by dating Lando. Typical."

"She'll be gone in a few months. He never sticks with one girl for long."

"I thought she was just his flight attendant. Guess she's trying to move up in the world."

Tears welled in my eyes as I read them. I knew it was stupid to let strangers' opinions get to me, but I couldn't help it. This wasn't what I had signed up for. I hadn't asked for any of this.

Before I could overthink it, I typed out a quick response to Lando's message:

Me: I need some time. I don't know if I can do this.

I hit send and stared at the screen, my heart shattering with every passing second.

And then, I waited.