Racing Love

Chapter 11

Vikki strolled from her bathroom covered in blankets towards her couch. Her illness became only worse. She had a high fever and her body couldn't work anymore. She slowly sat down on her couch feeling a sense of anxiety. They were 16th and 17th. The world and media will not be soft on her if they don't have a damage limitation race.

The papers Carlos bought lay in front of her and she had been going through them for about an hour trying to find what was wrong. She sighs loudly and takes the papers back in her hand.

"One last time" she whispered to herself. She put the data of both the cars in front of her. ANd her eyes scanned the numbers. Her phone started ringing and it was her Dad.

"Dad what are you doing awake? You are suppose to be asleep" she said her eyes still focused on the numbers.

"Wanted to check on you. How are you now? you don't sound good"  he asked concered. "Yeah, it's become worse now. Guess I may stay here few days till I can fly back again" she said softly.

"I miss you" he said. Now her attention shifted to her Dad's voice. "You okay there Dad?" she asked. There was silence for a couple of seconds and then he replied.

"I am fine Vikki. I am fine as long as you are fine" he said. "It's just a bug, Dad. I'll be back in no time" she assured.

"I know sweety. I know" and she caught it. She caught the discrepancy in data. "Oh my god," she said to herself.

"What? What happened?" her father panicked. "Dad, I gotta go. I'm sorry. I'll call you back" she said cutting the call and standing up from her spot. She immediately dialed Serra.

"Come on! Come on!" she paced. She tried everyone but no one seemed to pick up their phones. She looked at her watch and there was an hour for the race to start.

She had to inform them. She changed into a Ferrari T shit that lay on the couch, picked up her car key, and ran outside the hotel room.

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She sprinted like her life depended on it. Her body ached, but she didn't care. As she sprinted, she looked at her watch. About 20 minutes were left. Her legs worked faster. She ran past everyone in the paddock. The Mercedes drivers were getting ready when they noticed their former employee ran past them for life.

"Vikki, slow down" Lewis shouted but she just didn't hear him. She noticed a few looks she gathered and just as it became a bit overwhelming for her she reached the Ferrari garage. She noticed the drivers discussing with their race engineers.

"Carlos! Charles!" she called them out with a strained voice. "Vikki?" Carlos said confused and walked towards her. But her attention was on the tyres. She opened the tyre blanket and noticed them on softs.

"Get that out. Put the hards" she said to the mechanic. "What?" he asked confused. "DO IT NOW!" She shouted and looked at Charles's garage, particularly at his tyre engineer.

"Hards Now!" she said. "Vikki, what happened?" Charles asked when Fred and Serra walked towards them from the pit wall. Everybody's attention was on her.

"The car is underweight" she declared catching her breath. "What?" Serra cried. "Yeah, Ricci, Bryan the dimensions?" she asked as the men ruffled through the papers in their hands. They found it and handed it to her.

"Here," she said pointing at the numbers. "The new parts-" she struggled with her breath. "Vikki, maybe you need to sit down," Fred said.

"The new parts don't add up. The car is underweight" she declared when Serra found the mistake too. She looked at the driver taking a step towards them. "If you put softs, you are gonna get disqualified," she said leaning against the table beside her. Her body ached like hell.

"How did we miss this?" Serra asked. EVerybody looked at each other. "Ok, we'll have a debrief after the race. Now it's time. Carlos, Charles you guys should be in the car" Fred said. "Vikki.." the team principal called her. "Thank you" he gave a grateful look. She gave a thumbs up when the entire energy drained from her body.

"Vikki?" Carlos placed a hand on her back steadying her. She tried to stay awake but her body just gave out. She got hold of his hand for support. "Carlos-" she whimpered when her eyes rolled out and her legs gave out.

"Vikki!" he called her when she collapsed in his arms. He caught her before she hit the ground. Charles was the one immediately next to them. "Vikki?" Carlos tried pushing her hair out of her face when Charles removed his gloves and took her hand.

"Carlos..she is burning," he said when the Spaniard gave his teammate a worried look. "Get her to the driver's room," Andrea said. Before anyone could even think about helping Carlos scooped his arms under her and swiftly carried her towards his driver's room. The drivers, their trainers, Serra and Fred followed him.

He slowly placed her on the bed taking her hand. "Carlos, you have to go. You don't have time. we'll take care" Rupert said. His eyes were still on her worried.

"Hey," Charles placed his hand on his shoulder. "She is gonna be ok. Rupert and Andrea are the best. Come on, We have a race" he assured his teammate. Carlos slowly stood up and looked at the trainers.

Before he could say anything. "We will take care. Now go and get in that car. She would want you to do that" Fred said to his drivers. Both made their way outside slowly when Rupert and Andrea immediately placed the ice packs on her head.  She was indeed burning.

"Why? Why does she have to do that?" Carlos said in a pissed tone as the drivers put their balaclava in. "That is just who she is," Charles said when Carlos looked worried towards his driver's room. 

"Hey, she'll be alright" his teammate assured him again. But Carlos got into the car worried about her.