✨✨ 😉

🏎🏎

"Alessandro, we've been hearing a lot about a few issues the team has been facing since Baku. Care to share more on that?"

No.

"Well of course my team is working hard to sort things out and I can't say much on internal matters, but we are here to win and we'll do whatever it takes to make that happen."

"Does this involve Lando and the whole team, or is it just unique to your crew?" the reporter pressed, quickly pushing the microphone into my face again.

"Uh, as far as I am aware it's just between my crew. And I really hope it stays that way."

"How come you were unable to get into the top 10 for qualifying?"

Because I just wasn't good enough.

"The cars performance just wasn't there, but the team has done some tweaking on it. I think we should be okay for the race," I replied, clenching my jaw.

"What are your hopes for the weekend?"

Your eventual job loss.

"Definitely hoping for some decent points this weekend, Paul Ricard is a very straightforward circuit so I'm optimistic," I replied, repeating my very rehearsed and scripted response.

I wonder if they realize I give the same response to that question every time.

"Thank you for your time," the reporter said.

I gave him a nod before hurrying into the paddock so I could get to the McLaren garage without being stopped again.

"Good morning!" Lando called from his side of the garage as I entered from the back entrance.

"Morning," I replied, less enthusiastically.

"Not a good morning I take it?" he asked as I removed my hat.

"No morning is a good morning. Especially if you're hounded by reporters on your way to work."

"Unfortunate, but comes with the job description," he shrugged.

I disappeared into my driver room to get changed and wait for my physio to come in. We went through some reflex drills to get me ready for qualifying.

My mind wandered to the final night in Baku when I had seen Dakota leave the FIA building, her face pale.

She stood right under the bright floodlights, allowing me to see her figure clearly. She had seen me standing on the balcony, but didn't seem to realize who it was.

Dakota had been on my mind the entire week.

She looked beautiful yesterday. Something about her looked different, but I couldn't figure out what it was until Carmen pointed out her hair.

Her long hair was left open, falling down to her waist. She was dressed in white wide legged trousers, a teal satin cami tucked into the waist line.

We hadn't spoken a word to each other, aside from the round of spitfire we had.

Now a part of me was itching to see her again.

As odd as it sounds, her banter made my day more interesting. I looked forward to hearing the shit come out of her mouth, which concerned me to an extent.

"Where's that idiot?" a voice called, making me look towards the pitlane.

Dakota stood there, her brows furrowed as she glared at the garage.

"Be more specific, there's a lot of idiots in here. Specifically, the two that drive," Zak offered, coming out of his office.

"Oh, sorry. Nice to see you," Dakota blushed sheepishly, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. Clearly she wasn't too keen on calling someone an idiot in front of their boss.

"That's not very nice, Zak," I rolled my eyes, standing up from the stool.

"Truth hurts," he shrugged.

Dakota stifled a laugh, her eyes shining with amusement.

I raised a brow at her and she quickly looked away, clearing her throat.

"Lando. I'm looking for Lando," she said.

"Why don't you just call him?"

"I already tried that, smartass," she replied, waving her phone at me.

I guess she's still mad at me.

"Why are you looking for him in the first place?" I asked, tying the laces on my racing boots.

"He stole my sunglasses."

"Nice," I smirked, putting my own sunglasses on. Just to get on her nerves.

An irritated sigh left her looks and she muttered something under her breath.

She turned and stepped out into the pitlane. The sun was shining and as I followed her out, I realized why she wanted her sunglasses back.

I looked down the pitlane towards the exit and spotted Lando's familiar neon hat in the distance.

He made eye contact with me, his eyes widening when he noticed Dakota standing near me.

Putting a finger to his lips, he tried to sneak into the Ferrari garage.

"Lando!" she shouted as her eyes landed on his figure.

"Hold this."

My eyes widened as she shoved her phone into my hand, taking off after him.

With that, a mad dash began as the two sprinted down the row of garages.

Carlos had just come out of his garage and Lando ran right into his shoulder.

"Aye, cabron!" he exclaimed, steadying the Brit.

"Save me!" Lando shrieked, a terrified look on his face.

Sure enough, in his hand was a pair of sunglasses.

"Give it back!"

"No! Finders keepers!"

The two were weaving in and out, trying to avoid any mechanics. People moved out of the way as they came barreling towards them.

"I swear I will fucking key your car if you don't give them back!" Dakota shouted, coming to a stop by the RedBull hospitality.

Lando had disappeared out of sight.

"You really need to build up your stamina," I commented as she walked back towards the FIA hospitality, breathing hard.

I could make her breathe hard in other ways.

"Right, as if you're any better," she rolled her eyes.

"I am. I can show you if you'd like."

She frowned, narrowing her eyes at me. My eyes trailed down her body, but her race suit covered most of her figure. A twinge of disappointment ran through me, but I quickly shook it off as Zak came out of the garage.

"I would rather jump off the Burj Khalifa than know what you're like in the bedroom, Moreno."

"I never said it would be in the bedroom, Dakota. Tell me, are you thinking about my sex life again?" I teased, raising a brow.

"What sex life? The one with your right hand?" she countered, crossing her arms.

Zak tried to cover his laugh with a cough, but failed miserably.

I glared at him.

Good to know I can't even count on my own boss to have my back.

Zak sent me an apologetic look, patting my back before disappearing into the hospitality.

"Aye dios mio, the sexual tension!" Carlos exclaimed, catching me off guard.

I gave him a bewildered look.

"Just kiss already and half your problems are solved," he said, throwing his hands up as he walked away.

I had been playfully teasing Dakota, but it didn't look like she was being very playful. If looks could kill, I'd be six feet under.

She glared at me, as if I was responsible for Carlos' out of pocket comment.

I flipped her the middle finger as the 5 minute reminder for qualifying was announced.

She gave me a sly look as she spoke, her words barely audible over the engines starting up in the pitlane.

"Don't give me the finger unless it's going inside me."

I didn't have the chance to respond because she had already disappeared into the neighboring garage.

She had left me speechless, and with my mind in the goddamn gutter.

With my thoughts now focused on imagining myself giving her the best orgasm of her life, I jumped into the car to start qualifying.

———————————————————

Nothing really exciting happened. It was a typical, but slightly underwhelming qualifying session. Lando and I both knew our cars weren't suited for this track.

In all honesty, this was the most boring circuit on the calendar. I wasn't expecting the race to be too exciting either. I had qualified right on the edge in P10, whilst Lando had finished P8 with Esteban Ocon's Alpine splitting us.

Max was on Pole which wasn't too shocking either. It was either him or Hamilton at this point.

I sipped on my water, waiting for Lando to finish his interview.

"Nice sunglasses," the interviewer said as Lando sat down on the stool beside him.

"Oh thanks! They're Dior," he replied, as if he hadn't just stolen them from Dakota.

"Yeah, they actually look really nice!"

"I know right! Super chic," Lando grinned.

"Are you seeing what I'm seeing?" Dakota's voice spoke as she came to stand beside me.

"Lando taking credit for your atrocious sense of style?"

"Excuse me?" she scoffed, "He just complimented them? What do you mean atrocious?"

I chuckled at her response.

Man, I love messing with her.

Suddenly I felt my own pair of sunglasses being snatched right off of my face.

"Hey!" I exclaimed as she placed my SunGod glasses on the bridge of her nose.

"Alessandro, your turn!" Lando called.

Dakota smirked victoriously, knowing I wouldn't have time to try and get them back.

I stood, holding my hand over my forehead to block the sun.

The interview only lasted a few minutes and then I was free for the rest of the day.

I hurried into the McLaren hospitality for some shade and a nice glass of cold water.

"Here's your jacket," my physio said, handing me the orange softshell team wear.

I thanked him, suddenly noticing how heavy it was. One of the pockets had something in it making the jacket sag.

Sure enough, inside was Dakota's phone. I stood up, making my way back to the garage to try and find Dakota.

"Hey, Mark. Have you seen Dakota?"

He turned to look at me, a sly grin on his face.

"Oh, she just went up to the FIA hospitality She should be back in a few minutes."

"Okay, thanks," I gave him an awkward smile before returning to my garage.

I felt her phone buzz in my had, lighting up her lock screen.

A photo of her and a few other people was set as the wallpaper.

She was dressed in a green bikini top and denim shorts, her hair much shorter and dyed blond from the bottom.

On the left stood a boy who seemed to be around my age, sunglasses covering his face. Two older adults stood behind them. The background of the photo was a luscious green mountainous region.

"Heads up!" Lando shouted. I looked up from scrutinizing Dakota's lock screen, only to see Lando with a shit eating grin on his face.

Immediately alarm signals went off in my head.

That was never a good sign.

Seconds later, a a water bottle was flying towards me. Out of instinct, my grip on the phone loosened and I reached up to snatch the bottle from the air before it collided with my face

"Lando! Fucking shithead!" I exclaimed, reaching for the phone that had fallen face down on the stoney floor.

"Ooooh, that's gotta hurt," Lando remarked as I held my breath. Slowly, I flipped the phone over, praying it wasn't broken.

I turned it over to reveal a spiderweb of cracks.

"Ouch," Lando muttered, cringing when he saw the damage.

"This is Dakota's phone," I panicked, trying to see if it was just the screen protector.

"Oh shit, sorry mate. Why did you drop it then?"

I looked at Lando as if he'd grown two heads.

"Hm, maybe because something was fucking flying right at my face!"

"Right," Lando muttered sheepishly.

Great. Another reason for Dakota to hate me.