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

Chapter 31: A Run in Monaco

The soft light of dawn crept into the guest room, painting the walls with a gentle hue. Jamie lay in bed, wide awake, staring at the ceiling. She had always found it difficult to sleep in new places, and Carlos's luxurious apartment in Monaco was no exception. The silence was almost unnerving, far different from the comforting hum of life in her own home. She knew she wasn't going to fall back asleep, so she decided to get up and go for a run to clear her head.

Slipping out of bed quietly, careful not to wake Alex in the other bed, Jamie changed into her running clothes. Before she left, she scrawled a quick note and left it on the kitchen counter: Went for a run. Be back soon. – Jamie. She laced up her shoes, grabbed her phone, and headed out the door.

The early morning air was crisp, refreshing even. Monaco was just beginning to stir awake, and the streets were blissfully empty. Jamie took a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm wash over her. She opened the maps app on her phone, quickly scanning for a good running route along the coastline. Once she had it memorized, she pocketed her phone and set off at a steady pace.

As she ran, the steady rhythm of her footsteps and the cool breeze brushing against her skin started to ease the tension that had been building up over the past few days. The argument with Lando still gnawed at the back of her mind, but she was determined not to let it ruin her time here. Monaco was supposed to be a weekend away, a chance to recharge before the next race, not a place to dwell on old fights.

But fate seemed to have other plans. As Jamie rounded a bend along the coastline, her heart nearly stopped. Up ahead, stretching and preparing for what appeared to be his own morning jog, was Lando.

Panic surged through her. The last thing she wanted was another confrontation, especially not this early in the morning. Without thinking, she skidded to a halt, her pulse quickening. She needed to get out of there before he saw her. Glancing around, she spotted a side path leading away from the coastline and immediately turned on her heel, sprinting in the opposite direction.

Her heart raced, partly from exertion and partly from fear of being caught. She didn't dare look back, too afraid that Lando might have seen her. Why did it have to be him? Of all the places, of all the times, why now?

After what felt like an eternity, Jamie slowed her pace, finally stopping when she reached a secluded beach. She bent over, hands on her knees, trying to catch her breath. The beach was quiet, save for the gentle lapping of the waves against the shore. She sat down on the sand, trying to calm her racing heart.

As she stared out at the water, lost in thought, she suddenly felt a presence behind her. Before she could react, two hands grabbed her shoulders.

"Jay!" a voice called out, laced with amusement.

She screamed, jumping to her feet and whirling around, ready to defend herself. But it was too late. She was face to face with Lando.

His grin was infuriatingly smug, clearly enjoying the scare he had given her. "Why did you run off like that?" he asked, as if they were old friends catching up.

Jamie's fear quickly morphed into anger, her eyes narrowing as she glared at him. "What the hell, Lando? You can't just sneak up on people like that!" she snapped, her voice dripping with irritation.

Lando's grin only widened. "You're the one who bolted the moment you saw me. What's the matter? Scared?"

Jamie's blood boiled at his teasing tone. She turned on her heel and started walking away, refusing to engage with him any further. But Lando wasn't about to let her go that easily. He quickly fell into step beside her, his playful demeanor not wavering for a second.