✓ WORKING FOR THE KNIFE ━ lando norris. ¹

[ 059 ] Sin City

   

   

    

( ACT III. ── Fearless )
chapter fifty-nine / Sin City

  

   

   

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Las Vegas was called many things. Annika called it a sardine tin. Too many people, too many places, too many things in too little space. Lando had the time of his life with the remainder of his birthday week, soaking in everything Vegas had to offer. He took full advantage of the Entertainment Capital of the World, the Gambling Capital of the World, et cetera. Annika only had the social battery to spend a small amount of time with him and otherwise left him to his own devices with his friends, but the time they had together was more than memorable.

Vegas was also called the Marriage Capital of the World.

Luckily they didn't fall victim to that.

Unluckily, Lando started the race weekend in the worst way. Hungover.

"Chin up, sunshine." Annika lifted his chin as they walked to the drivers briefing, finding amusement in his blatantly unamused expression.

When they arrived to the narrow room, only Yuki was already there, sitting in a chair, alone, arms crossed, looking absolutely miserable.

"Yuki, why are you so sad, mate?" Lando asked. "You look so depressed."

"I was here early."

Annika laughed as she fist-bumped him in greeting.

Over time, the other drivers trickled in, until the room was packed full of drivers, publicists, event managers, and film crews for Netflix. Max made his way through the crowd to say hello, squeezing Lando's hand then Annika's.

"I didn't do any practice," Lando was saying.

"Why not?" Pierre said in disbelief.

"It was my birthday, I got drunk in a casino. What else did you expect?"

"You didn't get married, did you?" Max joked, looking at Annika, as if he had completely forgotten that there was a camera breathing down the back of his neck.

"Me? No," Annika replied. She not-so-covertly kicked him in the foot like, what the hell?

Max covered his mouth. As if he was completely mortified. And he was the worst actor she had ever seen ─ the art of subtlety had truly died with him.

Someone called out over the quiet murmur of the crowd, "Can I get all the drivers up?"

They gathered. Annika was grateful for the distraction, because the air had suddenly been choked up with awkwardness. Pierre and Yuki, who previously had no idea of the relationship between Lando and Annika, now both appeared to be somewhat suspicious. Annika was already thinking about how she would have to tell Matt to talk to the film crew to hopefully get that bit taken out of the episode. She had dedicated herself fully to making sure that Netflix didn't get a whiff of her relationship. And now this. She would have liked to kick Max again, but decided against it.