In the scenic south of Italy, political adviser Ana escapes her demanding career for a much-needed vacation. In a quaint village, she meets Lando, a charming and energetic F1 driver who is also seeking respite from his fast-paced life. Their encount...
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AnaVillanueva:attention is all yours , @landonorris 👁️👁️
Ana's POV:
After my final call ends, I stand up from my desk, glancing toward the living room. I'm ready for that walk I promised earlier. I find Lando sitting on the couch, scrolling through something on his phone, but he looks up as soon as I walk over. His smile is soft, warm, and patient.
"Ready for that walk?" I ask, trying to keep my tone light, but I know there's a conversation we still need to have.
He nods, standing up and grabbing his jacket. "Ready when you are."
As we step outside, the cool evening air hits my skin, and I breathe it in deeply, feeling the crispness settle into my lungs. We walk side by side, the silence between us not uncomfortable, but heavy with unspoken words. I know Lando's been waiting for me to process everything, and now I'm ready to talk.
"I've had a lot of time to think today," I begin, my voice soft but steady. "About everything. About us, my work, and how... how much I've been struggling with this whole situation."
Lando glances over at me, nodding slightly but waiting for me to continue.
"I felt blindsided by the pictures of you and Savi," I admit, feeling the tightness in my chest return at the memory. "It wasn't just about seeing her with you, but the fact that I had to learn about it through the internet—through Mia, of all people. It made me feel like I didn't have control over. Like I was the last person to know something important."
He takes a deep breath, clearly understanding the gravity of what I'm saying. "I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but I can see how much it hurt you. That wasn't my intention. I didn't want to upset you."
I nod, appreciating his honesty but needing more. "It's not just that. It's how public everything is. My work depends so much on my reputation, on being seen as someone who has control over things. And suddenly, I'm dating someone whose life is constantly in the spotlight, and it feels like my life is getting pulled into it too. I wasn't prepared for how exposed I would feel."
Lando listens quietly, his hands in his pockets as we walk.
I stop walking for a moment, turning to face him. "I'm not blaming you for everything, Lando. I just—sometimes, I feel like I'm being selfish for caring so much about my career. But it's my life, just like racing is yours. And I feel guilty for making it seem like I'm choosing my work over us."
Lando steps closer, his voice calm and reassuring. "You're not being selfish. Your career is a huge part of who you are, and I respect that. I don't expect you to put me before everything else, Ana. I'm in this with you, and I get that we're both balancing a lot. But you don't have to choose between us and your work. We can make this work together."
I look at him, feeling a rush of emotion. "You've been so patient with me. And normally, when something like this happens—when I feel like I'm losing control—I push people away. But you didn't let me do that. You made me realize that I'm not alone in this, and that relationships are about letting go of control sometimes and trusting that it'll all work out."
He smiles softly, reaching for my hand. "I told you, we're a team. We're figuring this out."
I squeeze his hand. "I've also been thinking about Savi," I say, my voice quieter now. "I know you didn't do anything wrong, but seeing those pictures made me doubt everything. And that's what scared me the most. The fact that I even had doubts about us."
Lando's expression grows more serious, his voice gentle but firm. "I'm sorry for how it looked, and I didn't handle it the way I should have. I should've told you about it as soon as it happened. But I promise you, there's nothing between us. Savi's part of my past, and that chapter is long closed."
"I know. And I trust you. It just caught me off guard, and it made me realize how much I value transparency. I don't ever want to feel like I'm being kept in the dark."
"I get that," Lando says, his thumb brushing against the back of my hand. "From now on, I'll tell you everything. No matter how small or insignificant it seems. You deserve that."
We start walking again, the tension between us easing with every step. I let out a small laugh, feeling lighter now that we've talked things through.
"Sometimes, I think you're more mature than me," I say, half-joking but also half-serious. "You're always so calm, so patient with me."
Lando grins, squeezing my hand. "Maybe sometimes. But you balance me out too, you know? I think we need that—both sides. It works."
I smile, "it does. And I'm really glad we're okay after all of this."
"We are," Lando says, pulling me closer to him as we walk. "And we'll keep being okay, as long as we talk. No more running away. Okay?"
I nod, feeling a sense of peace that I haven't felt in days. "No more running. I'm in this. I'm in us."
