Just Him ❤

21. The unexpected ex.

It was Friday, and winter testing had just ended for the final time. Seb had gone straight in for a debrief leaving Chloe with a bit of spare time. She left hospitality and decided to go for a quick walk along the paddock. The press were finally leaving her alone after herself and Seb were swamped this morning. They'd kept up the strictly professional face from the second they'd got out of the car, not wanting to give anything to the waiting paps.
"I was wondering when I was gonna run in to you." The voice of the man she'd absent mindedly walked in to spoke. His black and yellow racesuit tied around his waist. His black fireproof clothing showing off his lean body.

"Daniel." She stepped back.

"Can we talk? Now?" He asked. Chloe knew it wasn't really a request. More of a demand. She nodded her head and he placed his hand on her back, guiding her to his driver's room. She stepped inside and heard the door shut behind her. "So," he began, "enjoyed your little holiday in 'straya?"

"Dan, you knew I wasn't planning on staying long." She stood still, aware of him literally stalking around her.

"You turned up at my door. You let me fall for you again. You even slept with me in my bed." He tried to keep his anger at bay, "Then after a fortnight you fucked off back to England." He stopped, standing in front of her. "No note, no phone call. Fuck all. You just left."

"The job came up Dan, I had to go for it!"

"If you wanted back into F1 that much, why turn down the job Red Bull offered you a few years back? You could have worked for me."

"It didn't feel right."

"Wrong team more like. Your career means far more than I did to you."

"I knew you'd try and stop me if I told you, I thought it best to just go."

"Too right I would!" He raised his voice.

"We would never have worked Dan."

"You never gave us the chance."

"I didn't love you." She looked down at the floor.

"You love Seb though hey." He replied bitterly.

"Even you know not to believe the shit they print in the papers." She spat back.

"I didn't read it. I've seen it." He stepped away and sat on his massage table.

"You've seen nothing." She stated.

"I've seen the way you look at him, how upset you were when he had his crash the other day. That was not the reaction of someone who's just his PA. I've seen how he looks at you. He looks at you how I did, with love."

"There's nothing going on! We're close friends."

"That's bullshit Chloe, don't lie to me. Don't you think you at least owe me that?" His dark eyes burned in to her's.

"I'm sorry Dan." She broke his gaze and looked back at the floor, she was desperate to protect what she had with Seb. "I should be going." She turned and walked to the door. "I never meant to hurt you, I really liked you. I just didn't love you."

"Why couldn't you just be honest with me?" He stood from where he was sat and walked over to her. He put his hand out to stroke her face but she turned her head.

"I didn't know how to tell you without hurting you. And as for my career, yes I was guilty for putting that first. It's always been Ferrari for me." She opened the door, "I had to grab the chance with both hands. I've got to go." She stepped out and quickly re-emerged in to the paddock, hoping that no one took any notice of her coming out of Renault in her red Ferrari uniform. She walked back down the paddock and straight into Seb's room. She sat down on the small sofa with a massive sigh. She had only just got together with Seb, why the fuck couldn't people leave them alone? She flopped back, putting her feet up so she was laying down. Tears of frustration leaving her eyes.