Italy March 9th 2019
Emma sat on the edge of the hotel bed, her phone clutched tightly in her hand as if it were the only thing tethering her to reality.
Max had left for the paddock hours ago.
She stared at the screen, scrolling endlessly.
"Max Verstappen and Mystery Journalist: A Paddock Affair?"
"Exclusive: Inside the Secret Relationship Taking F1 by Storm."
"Is She the Reason for Verstappen's Q2 Exit?"
"Power Couple or PR Disaster?"
Each headline stung more than the last.
They were everywhere—photos of her, grainy shots of them walking into the hotel together.
Comments flooded in below the posts, brutal and relentless:
"Guess we know how she gets those interviews."
"She's so plain. What does Max see in her?"
"Another paddock girl trying to climb the ladder."
"Poor Max. He deserves better."
Her stomach churned as she read them.
She felt exposed, like a spotlight had been shoved in her face, revealing every imperfection she'd ever tried to hide.
The phone vibrated in her hand, pulling her out of her spiral.
A call. Kika. Emma let it ring out, not ready to hear the pity in her voice.
The vibration stopped for a moment, then started again.
Liv.
Then Andrew.
Then someone else.
People she hadn't spoken to in ages were suddenly blowing up her phone, offering their sympathy or pretending to "check in."
Hours passed.
She hadn't moved from the bed.
The sunlight creeping through the curtains shifted as the day wore on, but Emma stayed frozen, her knees pulled to her chest.
She was still in the clothes from last night, the smell of alcohol clinging to her skin, her hair tangled and messy.
She hadn't eaten, hadn't showered, hadn't even thought about doing either.
She scrolled again.
Article after article.
Post after post.
Comment after comment.
Her eyes burned from staring at the screen, but she couldn't stop.
It was like watching a car crash—horrifying, but impossible to look away from.
She heard a faint knock at the door but ignored it, sinking deeper into her own thoughts.
She couldn't face anyone. Not now.
Maybe not ever.
Max stepped into the hotel room, exhausted from the long day at the paddock.
His body ached, but all that melted away the moment he saw Emma.
She was curled up on the bed, the room dark except for the glow of her phone.
Clothes were strewn across the floor, the food he'd left untouched, and the air smelled faintly of last night's alcohol.
YOU ARE READING
Forever and Always | Max Verstappen *ੈ✩‧₊˚
FanfictionFOREVER AND ALWAYS 💙 "Do you have any idea what you do to me?" "What I do to you? You make me forget all the reasons I should stay away." "Then don't stay away." And you flashback to when he said forever and always 💙 Finished on 4th December 2024...
