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

Chapter 18: Unseen Gesture

The next few days passed in a blur of routine and isolation for Jamie. She had chosen to stay in the hotel, focusing on her work and trying to block out the chaos of the outside world. Alex, Lily, and Logan had tried repeatedly to get her to join them for various outings, but each time, she had declined with the excuse that she had things to do. While it wasn't entirely untrue—she did have work to catch up on—it was more of a cover to give herself space.

Jamie wasn't ready to face anyone, especially Lando. The thought of seeing him after their argument still made her stomach twist in knots. He had called her out, saying she pretended to be someone she wasn't, and while the words had hurt, she was determined to prove him wrong. If he thought she was pretending, fine. She'd show him how good she could be at "pretending" by thriving in her work and proving her worth. It was a game she didn't want to play, but it seemed unavoidable now.

Sitting at the small desk in her room, Jamie had been jotting down ideas for Williams' social media content when the shrill ring of the hotel room phone interrupted her thoughts. She stared at it for a moment before picking up.

"Hello?"

"Ms. Albon, this is the reception. We've received a package for you. Would you like to come down and collect it?"

A package? Jamie frowned, confused. She wasn't expecting anything. "Sure, I'll be right down."

She hung up, closing her laptop and standing up. As she made her way downstairs, she couldn't shake the nagging curiosity. What could it be?

When she reached the reception desk, the receptionist greeted her with a smile and handed her a neatly wrapped box. She took it and stared at the label, her confusion deepening when she saw the name of the brand: Hermès.

It took her a few seconds to remember—this was the clothing she had ordered for Lando after the day of the prank, when he had gotten soaked helping search for her "lost" necklace in the pool. She sighed heavily, holding the box with a mixture of regret and annoyance.

The receptionist must have noticed her hesitation. "Is everything alright, Ms. Albon? Is the package correct?"

Jamie forced a small smile. "Yes, everything's fine. I just... forgot I ordered this. Thank you."

She headed back to her room, the box in hand, trying to figure out what to do with it. She couldn't keep the clothes—she had ordered them specifically for Lando as a replacement for the ones he'd ruined in the pool. But now, after their argument, the idea of handing the box to him directly was out of the question. The last thing she wanted was another confrontation, or worse, giving him the satisfaction of thinking she cared enough to replace his clothes.

She threw the box onto her bed and sat down beside it, staring at it as if it held all the answers. What should I do? She couldn't exactly drop it off herself, but she also didn't want him to know it was from her. She needed someone who could give it to him without making a big deal out of it.

That's when Jon, Lando's performance coach, came to mind. Jon was kind and easygoing, someone who could help her pass on the clothes without making a fuss. She knew Logan and Oscar were good friends, so she figured Oscar would have Jon's number. With that in mind, Jamie quickly texted Logan, asking if he could get the contact information from Oscar.

About two hours later, Logan replied with Jon's number, and Jamie saved it in her phone. She opened a new chat and hesitated for a moment before typing out her message.

Hi Jon, this is Jamie Albon. I hope you're well! I wanted to ask a small favor. I have a package of clothes for Lando that I ordered after an incident we had at the pool, but since we aren't exactly on speaking terms right now, I'd prefer if he didn't know it came from me. Would you be able to pass it on to him for me? Thanks in advance.

Satisfied with the message, she hit send and put her phone down, letting out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. To distract herself, she decided to put on How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, one of her go-to movies when she needed a break. She wasn't really in the mood for romance, but this movie had a way of pulling her in every time.

As the movie played, her mind wandered. She thought about her own relationships—or lack thereof. The argument with Lando had stirred up so many unresolved emotions. She wished for the kind of romance she saw on screen, something real and lasting, but with everything that had happened between her and Chris, she wasn't sure if she was ready for that kind of connection again. Still, the movie gave her a sense of hope, even if things felt distant and unattainable right now.

When the movie ended, she reached for her phone and saw that Jon had replied. She opened the chat, feeling a small sense of relief.

Hi Jamie! No problem at all. I can swing by your hotel tomorrow and pick up the package. How's 10 AM sound?

Jamie smiled, grateful for his quick response. She quickly replied, thanking him and confirming the time. She lay back on her bed, staring at the ceiling. Despite everything that had happened, knowing Jon would handle the situation eased her mind slightly. She didn't have to deal with Lando directly, and that was a small victory in itself.

The next morning would come soon enough, and with it, another day closer to the start of the season. Jamie wasn't ready to confront all the lingering issues in her life, but at least for now, she had a plan. She could only hope that by the time she saw Lando again, things wouldn't be as volatile. But deep down, she knew this was just the beginning of something she couldn't avoid forever.