Mind the Gap

Chapter 33

AnaVillanueva: Duty calls in 🇹🇷

Ana's POV: 

The meeting is intense. We're seated around a long, polished conference table, Turkish counterparts presenting updates on our joint initiatives. I listen intently, jotting down notes, but my mind drifts back to the images Mia sent me last night. Lando and Savi, in some candid photos from the post-race celebration in Monza. I haven't responded to Lando's messages yet. I needed space—needed to sit with myself and figure out how I felt about it all.

Reyes sits beside me, his presence steady, but I can feel his eyes on me occasionally, as if he's waiting for me to crack or say something. He knows me too well by now, and I've been trying hard not to let this distract me, especially with everything else on my plate.

The meeting eventually wraps up. I gather my things, trying to maintain my professional demeanor despite the storm brewing inside me. Reyes gestures for me to join him in the hallway, and I follow him out.

"You handled that well," he says as we walk. "Kept things moving despite the hiccups."

"Thanks," I reply, forcing a smile. "It's been a productive trip."

Reyes slows his pace, glancing at me with a knowing look. He reaches into his jacket pocket and pulls out a cigarette. I watch as he lights it with a well-practiced flick, the orange glow briefly illuminating his face. "You sure you're okay? You've seemed a bit... distracted."

I hesitate, then let out a sigh. "It's nothing I can't handle."

He nods, taking a drag, the smoke curling around him as we make our way outside. "If it's about Lucas, you don't need to worry anymore."

I turn to him, surprised. "What do you mean?"

Reyes taps the cigarette ash onto the ground, leading me toward a quieter part of the hotel's patio. "I understand Lucas was threatening to pull half the sponsorships when you reassigned him? It's not going to happen."

Relief floods through me, but I raise an eyebrow. "How can you be so sure?"

Reyes smirks, taking another puff. "Because Lucas' dad made that sponsorship deal, not Lucas. And his father is fully committed to the campaign. He's in talks with the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff. Lucas can make all the noise he wants, but it doesn't mean a thing."

I let out a deep breath, the tension easing slightly. "Thank God. I couldn't stand the thought of him ruining everything because of his personal..."

"Issues? Yes." Reyes, cigarette between his fingers, looks at me more seriously. "You made the right call. Lucas has no real power here, and the campaign is secure. Focus on what's ahead, Ana. This is a minor bump in the road."

I nod, appreciating his words but still feeling the weight of everything else hanging over me. "Thanks. That takes a lot off my mind."

He takes a long drag, exhaling slowly, and studies me for a moment, his gaze softening. "You've had a lot on your shoulders lately. It's good that you seem happy, I've noticed."

I can't help but smile a little at his comment, though the weight of last night's pictures still sits heavy in my chest.

"It's good timing too," Reyes continues, taking a final drag before flicking the cigarette to the ground and stamping it out. "Better to let everyone figure out some parts of their life now than during the campaign. I know we started our pre-work already and I need everyone at their best by January."

"True," I reply, nodding in agreement, though my mind drifts back to the pictures. "But the figuring-out part is easier said than done."

Reyes raises an eyebrow but doesn't pry further. "Just remember, you're doing an excellent job. Don't let the noise distract you."

After our conversation, I make my way back to my hotel room. My phone buzzes, and I glance down to see Lando's name flash on the screen. He's already at my apartment in Madrid, texting me updates about his day. But I still don't know how to respond. I've been holding back, trying to decide how I feel after seeing those pictures with Savi.

I need time to think.

Later, at dinner with our Turkish partners, I can feel the weight of the whispers around me. Some of the staffers glance at me, and now I know why. They've probably seen the same pictures. It's unsettling, but I push through, keeping my focus on the discussions at hand.

Still, the frustration gnaws at me. How Lando didn't mention Savi being there? I feel a tightness in my chest, like something is slipping out of control. I want answers, but I need to approach this carefully. This isn't just about jealousy—it's about trust, about setting boundaries in this new chapter of my life.

After dinner, when I'm finally alone in my room, the emotions come crashing down. I pick up my phone, staring at Lando's messages. I need to talk to him, but not tonight. I need space first.

Me: "We'll talk when I get back to Madrid."

I hit send, feeling a strange sense of finality with it, though I know it's just the beginning of a difficult conversation.

I sigh, tossing my phone onto the bed before sitting down at the desk. Tomorrow, I'll head back to Madrid. Tomorrow, I'll face this head-on. But tonight, I need a moment to breathe, to gather my thoughts before everything.