The Deception ~ LN4

4

"Absolutely not," Mercedes said firmly, holding up a sparkly mini dress Sienna had thrust at her. "I'm going to dinner, not clubbing."

"But you'd look hot!" Sienna protested, digging deeper into Mercedes' closet. She'd shown up three hours before the date, armed with makeup supplies and an intensity that would have impressed military commanders. "Come on, Merce. This is Lando freaking Norris we're talking about!"

"Exactly why I want to look like myself," Mercedes replied, pulling out a simple black dress she'd been eyeing. "Besides, you're the one who kept saying how genuine and down-to-earth he seemed in all his interviews.

"Sienna flopped dramatically onto the bed. "Fine, but at least let me do your makeup. And your hair. And maybe—"

"Si," Mercedes interrupted, catching her friend's hands. "I love you, but you need to breathe. This isn't some fairy tale where I need to transform myself to impress the prince. We've already had dinner once, remember?"

"Yeah, when you were pretending not to know who he was!" Sienna sat up, her expression turning serious. "Though that was actually pretty brilliant. But now it's different. Now it's a proper date." Mercedes' phone buzzed

Lando

Today 12:01

 Looking forward to tonight! Promise the restaurant's paparazzi-free... mostly 😉

~~~

Sienna, reading over her shoulder, squealed. "He uses emojis! That's so cute! What are you going to reply?"

"Nothing, if you don't let me get ready in peace," Mercedes laughed, shooing her friend away from the phone. 

Lando

Today 12:02

Mostly? Should I wear a disguise? 

Nah, you're perfect as you are 

~~~

Sienna, who had naturally read this too, clutched her heart. "Oh my god, he's smooth. Like, actually smooth, not trying-to-be-smooth smooth."

"Don't you have your own love life to obsess over?" Mercedes asked, though she couldn't hide her blush. "How are things with that investment banker anyway?"

"Oh no," Sienna wagged her finger. "You're not deflecting this onto me. Not when you're about to go on a date with literally the most eligible bachelor in Formula 1!"

An hour later, after Sienna had finally been satisfied with Mercedes' hair and makeup (kept natural, after much debate), they were interrupted by Mercedes' first officer, James, calling.

"Please tell me you're not canceling tomorrow's flight," Mercedes answered, putting him on speaker.

"What? No, I'm calling because Sarah just sent me a link to a Twitter thread about you and Lando in Nice, and I need details. Now."

Mercedes groaned. "Not you too. I've already got Sienna trying to plan the wedding."

"Hi James!" Sienna called out. "She's getting ready for their second date right now!"

"What?!" James exclaimed. "Captain, you've been holding out on me! Also, any chance you could ask him to sign my son's McLaren cap? He'd literally explode."

"I am not asking him to sign anything on our second date," Mercedes insisted, though she made a mental note to mention it to Lando later. James' son was only seven and absolutely obsessed with racing.