Right On Track

Chapter 98

"Let me know if you need anything." Alora said as she was about to leave to board her flight back to Monaco.

"I will," Kiara smiled and gave her a hug. "Thank you so much.

Alora left a few minutes later after greeting everyone else and Kiara found herself already missing her sister. Which was weird, because she was already going to see her again the next weekend when she and Carlos would go back to Monaco too.

Carlos slung an arm around Kiara as they watched Alora leave. "Have you decided yet?"

"When to call my boss and literally say to him 'Hey I'm pregnant and can't race next year' ?" She huffed and shook her head. "No, I am not ready for that."

"Christain should be fine with it." Carlos assured.

"It's not him in worried about." She sighed. "It's the team."

Carlos gave her a knowing look and said."Hey, like I said. If anyone is unhappy- "

"Carlos!" Elijah called as he ran over, waving a balloon he had gotten from Alora from the nearby gift store.

"Yes, niño?" Carlos answered as Elijah stopped next to him.

"Can I come with to Monaco?"

"Oh?" Kiara laughed. "That was quick."

Elijah just grinned. "Please?"

Carlos shrugged. "You have to ask Aunty Lina first."

"But she'll say no." His smile dropped as he crossed his arms.

"Exactly why you have to convince her first." Kiara pointed out.

Elijah sighed, muttering something under his breath. He was about to turn and go back to the others, but Carlos stopped him by asking. "Do you want ice-cream?"

His eyes lit up again and he gave a small nod.

"Come on, niño." Carlos smiled and picked Elijah up with one arm, keeping the other still around Kiara. "Let's go get some ice-cream."

•••

When Kiara arrived at Milton Keynes, nobody had suspected a thing. Nobody would guess when she was wearing a white hoodie that belonged to Carlos in order to hide the belly that now began to swell.

"We have to do it." Christian said as they walked out of the room where Kiara had been tested on the simulator. "I know that...The car setups have been modified closer to Max's style these past two years. But regardless, you two still have a similar manner of driving."

They entered the office and Kiara sat down across from him, finding it hard to build up the words.

"So, what is it that you wanted to discuss?" He asked and leaned forward with a tight smile. "If it's... about the car setup-"

"It's not about the car setup." She assured him, folding her arms.

"Then?"

She waited a moment, taking a deep breath. Then, she met his questioning gaze. "I won't be able to race next season. "

"What?" His eyes widened. "Kiara, we've just begun the planning for your title victory. What are you saying?"

His confusion only increased when she hesitated to explain it to him.

Kiara shifted in her chair, trying not to break up her words as she finally told him.

"I'm pregnant."

Christian froze, eyes slowly widening.

"I won't be able to come back till 2025." She sighed.

He just stared at her in disbelief and shock. Not a word left his mouth as he slumped back in his chair.

"I'm sorry." She apologized, bracing herself for what was to come.

"No,it's..." He let our a shaky breath. "No, I must say congratulations. This is... This is big news."

"But not good for the team." She said, knowing what he was thinking. She leaned forward, surveying the documents he had already printed out for her. Documents which she would no longer need.

"I wanted to ask..." She continued. "Will Redbull be willing to take me back for 2025? Because, really, I do plan on returning as soon as I can."

He paused for a moment, pursing his lips. He thought of an answer for quite a while.

Hope filled her heart. Hope that they were willing to keep her.

But that hope faltered a little as he said. "I have to... discuss it with the board first. Only then, I will have you know."

She nodded, sighing heavily. "Well...Thanks for hearing me out."

He gave a nod, once again saying to her. "Congrats, Kiara."

They stood up from their seats and greeted each other. As Kiara was moving to leave, however, he asked. "Um, Kiara?"

"Yes?"

"It is Carlos or...?"

"Of course it is!" She put a hand on her heart dramatically. "What do you think of me?"