Chasing Nico || Nico Hülkenberg

Chapter 2: The Paddock

He’s a bit scary.

The security guard examines her pass very carefully, as if determines to prove that it’s fake. After what feels like a decade, he runs it through the scanner and Olivia hears a familiar beeping sound—she swears it’s the most beautiful sound she’s heard in a long time. She snatches her pass back, giving the guard I-told-you-I’m-not-an-intruder glare, and walks past the gate.

After the gate there is a tent with an x-ray machine and a metal detector. Just like in airports. She shakes her head, putting her handbag on the x-ray machine, and walks through the metal detector. The machine beeps loudly and a female security guard approaches her. Olivia curses inwardly. Now what? The woman checks her body with a handheld metal detector and it beeps when it reaches her jeans’ pocket. Olivia reaches down and takes out her phone.

“It’s my phone. Sorry, I should’ve run it through the x-ray, too,” she tells the guard. Despite still looks a bit suspicious the guard nods and gestures her to pass. Olivia grabs her bag and strides out of the tent, before the guard changes her mind.

Okay, she’s finally inside the paddock. Now where can Nico possibly be? She has checked her timetable and there are a few hours between free practice 1 and 2. He should be here around the team’s hospitality. What’s his team again? Oh, yes, Sauber.

Remembering the team’s name is one thing, finding it is another thing. The number of buildings confuses her. Okay, every building has a sign; she just has to read them. That one reads FOAM—no, FOM. What the hell is that? She shakes her head and keeps walking. Well, she just needs to keep looking.

Each hospitality building has some kind of a terrace, where there are tables, chairs, parasols and people. Some are chatting, some are drinking; the bottom line is that no one seems to notice/care about what Olivia is doing. It’s better that way. She’s not in the mood for making nice; she just wants to find Nico and get it over with.

After passing through lots of lots of hospitalities, she finally finds Sauber’s. She double-reads the sign, and yes, this is the one. Now, there is another problem: how exactly will she find him? She’s not stupid; she knows she can’t just storm in. Claire had told her that it’s almost impossible to be in the hospitality unless you’re associated with one of the sponsors or knowing someone in the team.

What is she going to do now? She can’t (won’t) leave before seeing him. And today is the best time as the teams and drivers will be very busy on Saturday and Sunday. She hovers near the low fence, still isn’t sure what to do. It’s not long until a girl, with a blond ponytail and team shirt comes over. “Can I help you?”

Her tone is polite and professional. She doesn’t seem to be as snotty as the icy woman from last night. Maybe she can help her. “Hi, I was just wondering if it’s possible to see Nico for a second. It won’t be long, really,” Olivia says courteously, adding a smile. Smile always helps. Most of the time.

“You want to see Nico?” the girl asks, still with a nice tone. “Are you a fan?”

No, she’s not, but admitting it won’t help her case. So, Olivia merely smiles.

“Well, we don’t normally do this, but I’ll see what I can do.”

“Really? Thank you so much,” says Olivia gratefully. It isn’t as hard as she thought. But, of course the number of stalkers must have been reduced drastically because of the crazy airport-like security system, so the girl doesn’t even seem to be suspicious.

But, it’s way too soon to be glad. Before the nice Sauber girl replies, another person approaches them. And as Olivia recognises who it is, she feels the insides of her stomach twist into a knot. No, not her!