Racing Love

Chapter 2

"So when we narrow this out a bit like this" Victoria said as she drew the part on her drawing board. "The air is gonna push the car more-" she was still drawing focused as the team technicians stood beside her following her. She finished and took a few steps back.

She looked at the tech guy. "Think you can simulate that" she asked him. He took a closer look at the drawing. "It's complicated. But can be done" he said. "Good. We must gain a 10th of a second. But yeah baby steps" she said. She looked at the people.

"Once we get the simulation done, we may have to do a long run. That done, we can put them on the cars for FP1" she added. Everyone around her nodded and dispersed. Serra walked towards her. "That is incredible. You are good. Very good" he said with a thick accent. She gave a grateful nod.

"I'll talk with Fred and see if we can get it done immediately," he said and she nodded. Everyone went back to work and then again that sense of feeling creased in her stomach.

Victoria has always been fun. She loves her work and all focused but she loves to be around people, have fun, and crack jokes. She had all that in Mercedes because it was an English team and people were relatable. Ferrari, Ferrari is tough. Ferrari is Italian. She was ok with people, and with work. But she couldn't socialize. Most people talked and joked and had fun with each other but all in Italian, which she didn't understand.

She gave a short sigh and walked towards her office. She took her phone and looked if she had any messages. She had a few of her friends whom she missed. One from her Dad whom she missed more and then a few meeting remainders. She swiftly entered her room when she found Carlos inside. He noticed her entry.

"I'm sorry. Old habits" he said. She gave a small smile and walked inside. "It's alright," she said warmly. He looked around. "This looks-"

She waited a bit anxious about what he could say. I mean it was her office but it was also his old room. She didn't wanna alienate him with it.

"Nice" he finished and looked at her. She sighed in relief. "Thank you," she said with a proud smile.

"How has your first week been?" he asked leaning on her table. She looked at him and he seemed to be a calm and friendly person. He had a warm touch whenever he talked. She wanted to tell him her struggles. But she chose not to.

"Its..It's been good" she said. "Excited for the weekend?" she asked. "It's Monza. Monza is always exciting" he replied.

"I get it. That pressure. It is hitting me slowly" she said and she walked towards him. "Yeah. It's not good when you don't do well in Monza" he said and noticed a bit of change in her expression.

"I am not scaring you. I promise" He said. "Nah..it's just-" Carlos noticed that she struggled to get words. It felt as if she was always debating if she could say them or not.

"-it's nothing. I just hope we get that podium" she said but he knew it was a lie. But he chose not the confront her. He thinned his lips and gave a nod.

"I'll see you tomorrow," he said walking towards the door. She nodded. "Bye," she said as he walked past her. Somewhere down in her heart, she felt maybe she didn't want him to leave. She felt they could just sit and talk around for hours. But she knew it was not possible.

Carlos felt something different. He felt like he wanted to know more about her. Wanted her to open up.

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She parked her car and made her way into the Paddock. She walked past different people from different teams towards the bright red one. Have to say that Ferrari red was something else. She walked when she noticed the Ferrari drivers walking in front of her with their partners.

They didn't notice her but she was right behind them. "Vikki" she heard a familiar voice. This made the drivers look back and notice their newly joined engineer behind them. And the voice was Lewis Hamilton.  He swiftly ran towards her.

"LH!" she exclaimed too when he attacked her with a hug. "Hey Kid! How you doing?" he asked. The Ferrari drivers stopped and noticed the conversation while their partners walked in front of the Paddock. "I am fine. How are you?" she said in an excited tone.

"Good. How is new work? Guys treating you good?" he asked referring to the Ferrari driver. "Yeah. Yeah. They are good" she said in a soft tone.

"We are meeting for lunch. We have catch up" Lewis said to the woman. "Sure. I'll text you" he said. He leaned and kissed her on her cheek and walked away in the same swift motion.

"Look at you! Besties with a 7-time World Champion" Charles teased her. "He just gets excited every time he sees me. We had a good time at my days in Mercedes" she explained. She noticed a lot of people walking towards them. I mean Lewis Hamilton did come and hug her, it's obvious she gets the attention.

The drivers noticed that she shifted uncomfortably. "You okay?" Carlos asked her. She gave that awkward head nod again.

"Yeah! Not good with the attention" she said. She was walking side by side with the drivers when Carlos shited to her other side such that she was now in the middle. She felt a sense of relief as the drivers were able to block the people from reaching her. Only after reaching the paddock, they moved aside.

"Thank you guys" she thanked them. "You know Victoria-" Charles started and then noticed her scruch her eyebrows. "You can call me Vic or Vikki. No one calls me with my full name. I'm pretty sure I won't respond sometimes too" she said with a small smile. Charles shared the smile too.

"You know Vikki. You say a lot of sorrys' and thank yous'" he said. "Can't help it. I'm British" she laughed. Fred walked in.

"Vikki, your upgrades are ready. Which car you want them on?" he asked.

"Both" she replied confidently. "No!" one of the head mechanics said straight. "We don't do things that way," he said.

"But-"

"No Buts. Who in this room wants it on both cars?" he asked the people around the room. Vic felt she was put on the spot but she hoped someone, anyone would support her. She gave out a sigh when it hit her that none of the people working with her was on her side. Not the drivers too. She knew it was asking too much but she felt that at least they would understand.

"We will have in any one car. You just cannot barge and turn things around here." The head mechanic stood right in front of her. She closed her fists tightly and Carlos noticed it. He could feel her anger. She moved aside and walked away into the paddock.