GIMME!GIMME! | Lando Norris

Eight ✨

On Sunday, after returning from London and finally coming to terms with her mother's call, Isabela had the energy to make dinner and get everything ready for the next day—ignoring all of Ema's calls and texts and begging her for an answer. After all, Isabela knew this week was about to be tough - pre-season content shooting, pre-season strategy meetings and she was just trying to organize and get everything ready for this week pre-migraine she was bound to have.

One thing was constantly playing at the back of her mind though - and it wasn't Ema or how pissed off Isabela was at her - but rather her weekend in London and her time alone with Lando. They didn't have time to discuss anything else after he dropped her home - in hindsight, she was perhaps a bit rude for not inviting him in and explaining a little bit better what the hell was going on - and she wasn't sure how to go about it because on the one hand, she had a lot of fun but, on the other, she was his co-worker and, if anyone found out about her helping quadrant or even the lingering flutter of her heart, she would be royally screwed.

Caught up in this mental tug-of-war, Isabela worked through lunch without realizing it. Not that it mattered—she thought absently—it wasn't like skipping a meal would hurt. Still, the nagging feeling of unease grew, and she decided to take a break, get some tea, and maybe clear her head.

But the universe had other plans. As if sensing she was about to take a rare moment for herself, her phone buzzed in her hand. Ema.

She sighed deeply, staring at the screen as the name flashed again. Against her better judgment, she answered.

"Thank god you finally picked up!" Ema's voice was a mix of relief and frustration. "I was starting to get worried. I hope you have a really good explanation as to why you sent me a text saying we need to talk and then completely disappeared off the face of the earth."

"Why did you give my phone number to my mother?" Isabela's tone was sharp, her patience already worn thin. "I hope you have a really good explanation for that sudden lapse in judgment."

"Isa, babes, I can explain," Ema said, her voice softening into a sigh. "You were never going to call her, and someone had to make the first move. She seemed willing, so yeah..."

"Ema, how many times have I asked you to stop trying to force this?" Isabela's voice cracked slightly, her frustration bleeding through. "How many times have I asked you to just drop it?"

"One too many, Isabela, but I know you. I know how stubborn you can be, and I thought maybe—"

"Stubborn without a reason?" Isabela interrupted, her voice rising with disbelief. "Do you have any idea the hell she's put me through? The broken promises, the constant coming and going? She doesn't get to waltz back in like nothing happened."

"Isabela, I know, but people change!" Ema tried to reason. "When I met her, her husband seemed like such a nice guy—"

"You met them?" Isabela's eyes widened in disbelief. "What the hell, Ema?"

"It wasn't like that," Ema said quickly. "We met at a party—Peter's work thing. Her husband works with one of Peter's company partners. We ended up at the same table. She seemed so different, so nice. We even kept in touch..."

"So you're telling me you became friends with her behind my back?" Isabela sat down, her legs trembling with a mix of anger and betrayal. "And then thought it'd be a great idea to force a relationship between us?"

"Isa, I'm sorry. I just wanted what's best for you," Ema said, her voice breaking slightly. "You're so alone in the world, and I thought... I thought if your mom was in the picture, maybe you'd have someone else to lean on."