The Markelov Papers - Artem Markelov

CHAPTER 3

On my way to Silverstone!!! Can't wait to see you win a race, racing boy.

Tequila girl

Tequila girl,

What time do you arrive?? I'll welcome you like the gentleman I am! Wouldn't want any other driver to harass you...

Racing boy

Racing boy,

I'll be there at 10! Don't have any friends you can introduce me to? I'm sure there must be a handsome and nice driver out there...

Tequila girl

Tequila girl,

Perfect, I'll have time to show you around before the practice session. Friends I can introduce you to, yes. Although I'm pretty sure I'm the nicest and most handsome driver you'll ever meet, babe.

Racing boy

I shook my head and laughed silently after parking my car in the huge parking of the Silverstone circuit. Artem had sent me a pass allowing me to park in the VIP section. My little Suzuki Swift looked out of place in the middle of the Mercedes, Rolls Royce and McLaren cars. I put the pass he gave me around my neck, it had his name and I blushed thinking that I liked having his name on me.

It was amazing to see that in less than a week the circuit had completely changed. A few days ago, I was there with Artem for a few laps in an Infiniti car and there was no one except some circuit employees. Here, there were thousands of people around the track and probably hundreds of team members. It was overwhelming, yet I felt like a privileged.

Artem was true to his word and was waiting for me at the paddock entry gate. He was casually leaned on the fence, looking around him, waving to fans who called his name. I could see a smile break on his face as soon as he spotted me behind my black sunglasses. It was surprisingly warm and sunny in England that day, a good day to spend outside.

"I'm so glad you could make it, Raina." Artem pulled me into a hug right after I scanned my pass and was allowed to enter the paddock. I felt him take a deep breath, his head in the crook of my neck, probably smelling my monoï shampoo. "You smell like summer."

"Yeah, it's my shampoo." I chuckled.

"You look great!" He eyed me up and down, making me feel totally insecure. I was still not confident about my choice of clothes. I had looked at pictures of women in the paddock in Silverstone last year and they were all dressed with designer clothes, looking like coming from a catwalk during the fashion week. I liked fashion but I was definitely not a fashionista and I was way more at ease in a pair of jeans than in a long dress.

"Thank you, Artem. I saw your car is navy blue so I thought I should wear that colour! Is that alright?" He smiled proudly, probably flattered that I made some research and decided to wear clothes from his team's colour. I had put on a navy blue shirt that was a bit transparent, pulled inside a navy blue skirt with small yellow flowers, as well as a pair of white Nike sneakers.

"It's perfect, don't you worry. At least you'll be able to stand all day long, contrary to all those girls who can't handle their high heels by the middle of the day!" We both laughed and I was reassured to know what he thought. Who cares if people didn't like my outfit or didn't find me "Formula 1 worthy", at least Artem liked it, and it was all that mattered, really.