GIMME!GIMME! | Lando Norris

✨ Prologue ✨

Life truly has its way of playing games, and most of them are anything but funny. Isabela knew this better than most, standing outside Zak Brown's office, her mind racing as she wondered what she could have possibly done to land herself in this position.

Two scenarios played in her mind, each one more nerve-wracking than the last. Zak had only two reasons to call her—a mid-level marketing and PR employee—on a Friday afternoon right before Christmas break. Either one of their drivers had messed up, which was unlikely with Oscar being an absolute angel and Lando the very image of the golden boy, or... she'd done something unforgivable. She felt a chill down her spine. Was she about to be let go?

The longer she waited, the more she questioned herself. A few things she'd done lately weren't exactly by the book, and she'd often gone beyond her official duties to help Charlotte. Maybe she'd crossed a line? Even now, as she knocked three times on the door, she couldn't predict what had led to this meeting. Her stomach clenched.

"Come in, Isabela."

She walked in, carefully taking a seat across from Zak, her nerves clashing with an urge to blurt out every reason why she loved her job and why they shouldn't fire her. Instead, she forced herself to cross her legs and manage a tight-lipped smile. "You wanted to see me, sir?"

"Yes, I'm sorry for the short notice. With the end of the season, things have been a bit hectic. I hope I didn't cause you any unnecessary anxiety!" Zak's smile was disarming, but Isabela couldn't relax just yet.

"Can't say you didn't, sir," she replied with a lighthearted shrug. "It's not every day your boss requests a 'highly important' meeting for the next day."

He chuckled, nodding. "Well, let's cut to the chase and ease your mind." A pause. His expression shifted to one of seriousness. "This may be a surprise, but Charlotte has recently resigned, effective January. With her departure, we're using this as an opportunity to restructure the Marketing, PR, and Communications teams."

Isabela's heart dropped. Was this it? Downsizing? She braced herself, heart pounding, certain the next words would confirm her worst fears.

"Does this mean what I think it means?"

"Judging by the look on your face, I don't think so," he replied with a reassuring smile. "I'm not letting you go. Quite the opposite."

"I'm sorry, sir, I don't think I'm following."

He leaned forward, folding his hands on the desk. "Here's what the new PR and Communications team will look like. We'll have a senior manager replacing Charlotte to focus on strategy, and we'll add two junior PR managers, one for each driver, to handle fieldwork—race prep, media training, all the groundwork that's so essential to our success. You've been Charlotte's right-hand person these last nine months, taking on responsibilities beyond your role, helping craft strategies for our drivers. Because of that, I want to offer you one of the new PR manager positions."

"Sir, that's an incredible offer. I'm truly grateful." Her eyes widened, a grin spreading across her face as the weight on her shoulders lifted entirely. "I can't tell you how excited I am for this opportunity."

"Glad to hear it." He slid a piece of paper across the table. "Here's your new contract. There's a pay rise, and all travel expenses will be covered."

"Everything sounds great," she replied, signing the paper eagerly. But one question lingered. "I am curious about one thing, though."

"It's Norris."

She raised her eyebrows, grinning. "How did you know that was what I was going to ask?"

"Call it intuition." He laughed, gathering the signed papers. "Now go and enjoy your break. We'll meet with the new department head right after New Year's to kick off 2024 on the right foot."

"I won't let you down, sir."

Walking out of the McLaren building that day, Isabela couldn't have guessed her life was about to do a full 180. Maybe wishing on falling stars or blowing out birthday candles really was finally dealing her a winning hand.

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