VIPER || Oscar Piastri

Chapter 129

ATTENTION POOKIES:
since we are nearing the FINAL STAGES (menacing thunder sounds) of this book, I shall be releasing chapters every other day!

for ✨ effect ✨

cheerio
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[POV: Narrator]

On her way to find Oscar, and by some stroke of poor luck or poor timing, she found the door to the McLaren hospitality suite slightly ajar, voices leaking through the narrow gap.

One was unmistakably Oscar's. The others were vaguely familiar; people who were usually around Oscar during race weekends.

She slowed, hand on the doorframe, and it wasn't the fact that it seemed to be a closed meeting that made her stop before she entered the room, it was the talk.

It was tense.

Andi paused, just outside. She didn't mean to listen. She wasn't trying to be nosy — but a sudden raise in volume here and a frustrated tone there made her curiosity spike.

"I've told them already," Oscar said, "I know what I'm doing."

"That's not what I'm saying," a voice said back. Andi knew who it was — it was hard not to, with the American accent and all. It was Zak Brown, and he  sounded calmer than Oscar did. "You did fine in there. Better than fine, actually. I just think you need to be more prepared! I'm not here to pile on orders."

"I did what you said, and I answered like you told me to. They're still twisting it, even if I do that! I'm not doing anything wrong — she's not doing anything wrong — why do we need to act like we've done something wrong?!"

"That's not what I'm getting at here! The questions you were being asked—" His tone softened again, hands spread. "They aren't gonna go away just because you avoid them well. Right now the heat's not even on you, it's on her. They've been circling back to the same old stories since God knows when! You've got a blank slate, she doesn't. You know that. The less they see of her, the less they've got to run with. It's better for both of you."

"Bullshit!" Oscar snapped.

Andi flinched outside, pressing her lips together. For half a second she thought about slipping away before anyone noticed, wishing she hadn't stayed to listen, and already mentally deciding that she was going to pretend she hadn't later. She shifted her weight back on her heel, already half-turning—

But Zak's eyes flicked to the door, catching her silhouette in the gap.

Heads turned instantly. Oscar's expression sharpened, not unkind but alert. The PR people paused mid-typing, mid-phone call, as if everything needed to stop just for her to be acknowledged.

"Oh," Andi whispered, surprised to find every eye in the room suddenly pointed her way. Heat pricked at her neck. She began stepping back, holding a hand out to wave it all off. "Sorry. I'll... I'll come back later."

Oscar was already on his feet, moving toward her, shoulders tense like he wanted to block her from view and steer her away. But before he could get a word in, Zak leaned forward in his chair, all easy grin and open hands.

"No, don't be silly! You're just the person we need," Zak said lightly, smiling at her. "Come in, Andreanna, sit."

Oscar gave him a look — a slight narrowing of the eyes — then stepped aside, letting her take his seat. She tried to force a polite smile as she entered the room, but it clearly wasn't convincing as Zak felt the need to reassure her before she'd even settled.