Magnetic Hearts

The Slip-Up

Franco couldn't contain his excitement when he told Chris about Lando Norris' birthday party. "It's going to be a small thing, just the drivers and a few close friends. You should come with me," he said, his green eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Chris immediately tensed. "Franco, you know that's a terrible idea. Lando's villa is crawling with people who live for gossip, and someone will leak a picture of us. I've been in this game long enough to know how it works."

Franco sighed, leaning back in the chair across from her. "I get that, but I want you there. It's not like we have to broadcast our relationship. We'll be careful. No one will even notice."

Chris rubbed her temples, trying to push the paranoia aside. She could feel the weight of their secrecy pressing down on her more with every passing week. The nights together were perfect, the chemistry undeniable, but every public appearance felt like a tightrope walk. She hated being constantly on guard.

But Franco's expression softened. He reached across the table and took her hand. "Look, I'm not asking for a grand reveal. I just want you there with me, by my side. That's all."

Her resistance wavered under his gaze. She could see the sincerity in his eyes, how much he genuinely wanted her to be part of his life-even in the shadows. Against her better judgment, Chris nodded. "Okay, fine. But if anything happens, Franco..."

"I promise, we'll be careful," he said, his smile lighting up his face.

The night of Lando's birthday party came quickly. As they approached the sprawling villa, Chris felt a knot of anxiety tighten in her stomach. The place was buzzing with energy. Fancy cars filled the driveway, and laughter echoed through the spacious garden. Music thumped in the distance, and groups of people-drivers, celebrities, and influencers-mingled under the night sky.

Franco held her hand, squeezing it reassuringly. "You look stunning," he whispered in her ear, pulling her closer as they entered. Chris wore a sleek black dress, understated but elegant, the kind of outfit that made her feel less conspicuous, even though she was now walking into a den of high-profile gossip.

Inside, the other drivers were already deep into the party spirit. Charles Leclerc was chatting with Pierre Gasly near the bar, while Carlos Sainz and Oscar Piastri laughed at something Lando was saying by the pool. As soon as they spotted Franco walking in with Chris, heads turned, eyebrows raised.

Charles was the first to approach, a teasing grin on his face. "Franco, man, you've brought company?" His eyes flicked to Chris, surprise evident.

Chris felt a flush rise to her cheeks, but Franco squeezed her hand again, his smile never faltering. "Yeah, this is Chris. We've been spending some time together."

Pierre leaned in, clearly amused. "This is the Chris, right? The one who keeps grilling you in interviews?" He shot a wink at Chris. "You must be something special if you got him to break his focus."

Chris forced a polite smile, trying to act like this wasn't a disaster in the making. "It's all professional," she said with a hint of sarcasm, though inside, her nerves were fraying. The drivers exchanged knowing glances, but luckily, no one pressed the subject further.

As the party continued, Chris stayed close to Franco, trying to blend into the background. The music was loud, drinks flowed freely, and everyone seemed too caught up in the celebration to notice them. It was a perfect cover-until it wasn't.

After an hour of mingling, Franco pulled her aside, his eyes dark with intent. "Come with me," he whispered, his breath hot against her ear. The heat between them had been building all night, and Chris knew exactly where this was headed.

They slipped away, unnoticed, into one of the villa's massive bathrooms. The adrenaline of being so close to exposure only made their desire more intense. As soon as the door closed, Franco pinned her against the wall, his lips crashing against hers. The world outside melted away as their hands roamed each other's bodies, the forbidden nature of their tryst adding fuel to the fire.

It was fast, reckless, and thrilling. The bathroom was luxurious, with marble tiles and soft lighting that made their skin glow as they moved against each other. Franco's hands gripped her hips, pulling her close as he kissed her neck, making Chris forget all her worries at that moment.

But as they both caught their breath, still tangled in each other's arms, neither of them knew what had just happened outside the door.

Later that evening, they rejoined the party, acting as though nothing had happened. They laughed with the others, Franco's arm resting casually around Chris's waist. Everything seemed perfect. But then, Lando pulled out his phone to snap a selfie with a group of friends near the pool, and in the background, barely noticeable, was Franco and Chris. The angle was just right-or, in this case, horribly wrong. They were locked in an intimate kiss, oblivious to the fact that they had just been caught on camera.

Lando posted the picture to his Instagram Stories, unaware of the implications. Within minutes, eagle-eyed fans spotted it. Screenshots flooded social media, especially TikTok. The gossip accounts exploded with speculation, and within seconds, the story was out. The rookie Franco Colapinto was dating none other than the journalist Chris, the very woman who had been grilling him in interviews for weeks.

Chris's phone buzzed in her pocket. She pulled it out, and her heart dropped when she saw the notifications. Messages from colleagues, gossip websites, and F1 fan pages were already spreading the news like wildfire.

Franco noticed her expression. "What's wrong?"

"Franco...look," Chris muttered, showing him the phone. His face paled as he realized what had happened.

"Shit."

The room seemed to shrink around them as the reality of the situation sunk in. There was no hiding it now. The secret they had worked so hard to keep was out in the open, and there was no way to control the fallout.

Chris felt her stomach twist in knots. "I told you this would happen."

Franco ran a hand through his hair, frustration, and guilt flashing across his face. "I didn't think-God, I'm so sorry, Chris."

She shook her head, trying to push down the panic. "We have to get ahead of this before it gets worse. Damage control. We need to talk to the team-figure out how to deal with the media."

But even as she said it, Chris knew there was no going back. The world would know now, and their relationship-whatever it was-was about to be put under a microscope.

Franco reached for her hand, his grip firm despite the storm brewing around them. "We'll get through this," he said, his voice steady. "Together."

But as they both stared at the phone screen, seeing their private moment splashed across social media, Chris wasn't sure if they could.