Dalia has always been dreaming of living a beautiful love story since she was a little girl. She believed that finding a man who would truly love her seemed out of reach, thinking she wasn't the type of woman men desired. On the contrary, her sister Sara, who shared her age, mocked the idea of love and indulged in short-lived romances until she met her perfect match effortlessly. Despite not having the same luck in love, Dalia was dedicated to her studies and just secured a prestigious job in London. She chose to focus on her exciting new chapter in life and leave behind the worries of being alone.

"Watch out !" a man on a bicycle shouted as he zoomed past her, struggling to maintain his balance in the heavy rain. Dalia flashed an apologetic smile in response as she made her way to the coffee shop. The London sky had looked promising when she woke up, prompting her to explore the nearby town. However, the sudden downpour had caught her off guard. "I finally understand why English people always complain about the weather," she thought to herself as she entered the deserted coffee shop. The young waiter welcomed her warmly and led her to a cozy table by the window.

Dalia couldn't help but feel a sense of peace as she sat down, watching the raindrops race down the window pane. The cozy atmosphere of the coffee shop was a welcome change from the hustle and bustle of the city. She took a deep breath, savoring the moment of solitude. As she gazed out at the rain-soaked streets, she couldn't help but feel grateful for this unexpected moment of tranquility. Maybe, just maybe, this new chapter in London would bring her more than she had ever hoped for.

As the doorbell chimed for the second time, a new customer entered the room. Dalia's attention shifted back to the menu, where she found herself pleasantly surprised by the array of options available. The choices somehow lifted her spirits, putting her in a cheerful mood. After a brief perusal of the menu, she gestured for the waiter's attention. It was then that she realized the customer was seated at the table across from her. Despite the mask covering his face, his eyes seemed captivated by the rainy town view outside the window. Slowly, he turned his head, almost as if waking from a trance, and locked eyes with Dalia. Caught off guard, she nervously smiled, only to be met with an inscrutable gaze. His reaction remained a mystery, hidden behind the mask that covered his lower face and the dark brown wet curls that partially obscured his upper face.

In that perfect moment, the waiter arrived, saving Dalia from the uncomfortable staring contest. As she opened the menu to place her order, she couldn't shake the feeling of the stranger's eyes on her, heightening her nerves. "Alright, ma'am," the waiter said with a smile, walking away. Suddenly, the stranger stopped the waiter and started ordering from the menu as well. Dalia felt relieved and foolish for thinking the man's gaze was focused on her; he was simply waiting his turn to order. This realization was quickly followed by familiar thoughts that Dalia had struggled with for years. Thoughts like "Why would anyone look at me? I'm not even attractive," or "You're ugly and undesirable, no one would ever want you..." Ironically, the more she listened to these thoughts, the more her nervousness faded, and she found herself becoming more relaxed around men, allowing her to speak without stuttering or feeling anxious, simply because she believed, in that moment, that no man would ever be interested in her. As she nurtured that belief, her anxiety diminished, replaced by a sense of calm.

"Em..Excuse me" She called out politely to the man across from her. With a slight raise of his eyebrows, he looked up, clearly taken aback. "I have something to propose, sir... if it's alright with you, of course." English wasn't her first language, and she was almost in a panic, trying to be as polite as possible. Leaning forward slightly, he seemed to be giving his approval for her to continue. "Um... I was thinking, since we're the only ones in the coffee shop... maybe we could have a meal together. I mean, only if you don't mind..." The idea sounded friendly and endearing in her mind, but as she heard the words leave her mouth, she panicked at how it might sound creepy, like she was trying to flirt with him. He paused, his eyebrows still lifted. During the tense silence, Dalia panicked. Frantically gesturing with her hands, she struggled to explain herself, stumbling over her words, her face flushed as she nearly knocked over the salt and pepper in front of her. As she fidgeted like a startled cat, the stranger rose from his seat, clutching his small black hat, and made his way towards her table.

 Dalia was doing her best to compose herself, knowing that she had been the one to invite him over. She couldn't afford for this encounter to become any more awkward. As the stranger took a seat across from her at the small table, Dalia began to notice things about him as if she were seeing him for the first time. The first thing that struck her was his scent - a blend of strong musky male fragrance and a soft sweetness, like the perfect combination of fire and ice. Next, she noticed his physique. Despite his hoodie, she could tell that he was a well-built man. Then, she was captivated by his eyes. They were a mysterious color that seemed to change depending on his movements, the light, or his mood. At that moment, they were a beautiful blend of green and blue. As his cheeks lifted , Dalia realized that he was smiling behind his mask. "I'm sorry," she said, leaning back in her chair, trying to recover from her awkward introduction. "I'm Dalia, nice to meet you," she extended her hand. "Nice to meet you, Dalia," he chuckled and reached for his mask, slowly removing it. "My name is Lando..." his amused laugh became clearer as the cloth finally let his voice breathe. In that moment, nervousness crashed over her like a sudden storm. Her heart raced as she realized who was sitting in front of her. "...Norris," he finished with an amused smile.

Observing her response was a familiar sight for him, accustomed to catching people off guard. Despite not enjoying the constant exposure, he maintained a positive image for his fans. However, the unique reaction of this woman intrigued him. Her embarrassment brought a smile to his face, indicating she was not the typical fan seeking autographs or slipping phone numbers into his pocket. She simply intrigued him. "I assume you're aware of who I am," he chuckled in his well-known playful tone. "You can go back to your table", she exhaled, "excuse me?" he inquired with a mix of laughter and astonishment. "I didn't mean it like that," she gestured disapprovingly, "I just didn't intend to interrupt you..." she finally expressed, despite feeling starstruck. "It's fine, you're not bothering me," he chuckled as the waiter set the food on the table."So you ordered three kinds of cake slices ?" he noticed, " Is this why you called me over ? to help you eat all of this ?" he laughed attempting to ease her into a casual conversation. Dalia's face flushed and responded "I...I was feeling cozy because of the rain, and craved some homemade cake", he shook his head in approval as he was reaching for the first bite.

After a brief pause, Lando broke the silence, "So, what is your profession, Dalia?" "I work in sports content creation." "Interesting," he mused between bites, "Which sports do you create content for?" His eyes showed genuine curiosity as he looked at her. Caught off guard, she hesitated for a moment before admitting quietly, "Formula 1." This confession elicited laughter from Lando, who playfully teased her, "Were you stalking me?" Dalia's flustered reaction only amused him further, causing her to fidget nervously as she tried to explain herself. "I'm curious", he said between bites, " who is your favorite driver?" As he leaned forward. Dalia paused, looking a bit uncomfortable. So he decided to ask another question "Okay, how about your favorite team?" he grinned. She hesitated, looking out the window, before admitting softly, "Mclaren." Lando couldn't help but chuckle, "Ah, so you're definitely keeping tabs on me then!". "I swear I'm not ! This was pure coincidence" she pleaded. Lando realized that his teasing had gone too far and he felt a pang of guilt as he saw the distress in the girl's eyes. He quickly changed the subject and turned his attention to the delicious carrot cake in front of him, hoping to lighten the mood. Dalia, on the other hand, took the opportunity to run her fingers through her hair, a calming gesture to collect herself and regain her composure. After taking a deep breath, she finally allowed herself to relax and enjoy her long-awaited hot chocolate, savoring every sip as she let go of the tension that had built up inside her.

"Have you watched the last weekend Gp ?" He inquired still looking down at the desert.Dalia was well aware of what he was referring to - the Hungarian Grand Prix and all the team drama that unfolded. She responded with a short yes, choosing not to elaborate further. However, Lando persisted, "Do you think I should continue driving for McLaren?". The clinking of a fork interrupted the silence, catching Dalia off guard with his question. She met his gaze, noticing a mix of seriousness and frustration in his expression. "My opinion doesn't matter," she replied, hoping to avoid the conversation. He simply shrugged and leaned back in his chair, "I still want to hear it," he said, softening his tone as he realized he may have unintentionally made her uncomfortable. "well.." she started "In my view, driving for McLaren is definitely the right move." she confidently responded meeting his unmoved expression. The silence from him begged for more details, so she continued, "Your team took a bold yet promising approach a few years back by hiring young staff. While their experience may not be as extensive as other teams, like what happened in the Hungarian GP, there's undeniable progress being made." Lando listened closely, but he couldn't resist glancing out the window to avoid getting too involved in the discussion. Dalia hesitated to speak further, fearing she might upset him. "You know the switch cost me points for my championship," he muttered, unable to contain his frustration. He looked at her, waiting for a response. She apologized, silently agreeing with him. Before he could say anything else, Dalia felt compelled to interject, "You don't have to be ruthless and selfish to become a champion," she blurted out, capturing his attention once again. "I know you think the only way to beat Max is to do it his way," she said in a calm yet slightly doubtful tone. "It's the only way," he responded. "Says who?" she challenged. "Says all the champions before... Max, Lewis, Seb..." he explained, his voice tinged with irritation. "Lewis learned the hard way that losing a teammate isn't worth the championship... it's not the only way," she pleaded. "Maybe you'll be the first one to prove that it's not". 

Lando couldn't look away from her, taking a moment to process her words. This wasn't the first time he had encountered such opinion, whether online or in conversations with colleagues. However, what truly captivated him was the sincerity, purity, and optimism reflected in her plea for him to reconsider his beliefs. It was as though she, despite being a stranger, genuinely cared about his well-being. The sudden ring of the phone snapped him out of his thoughts and he glanced at the screen with a chuckle, "Speaking of the devil." It was Oscar on the line, and from their brief exchange, Dalia understood that his teammate was concerned. All she could gather was that Lando had stormed out of a team meeting at the factory, leaving Oscar in a bit of a fix. Despite Lando's attempt to appear calm, it was evident that he didn't want his friend to worry. After wrapping up the call, he put on his black hat, saying, "Well, I should probably get going now." With a smile, he stood up and expressed his gratitude for the lovely meal. Dalia returned the smile, wishing him good luck as he headed towards the door. Just before leaving, he paused and inquired, "By the way, where do you work?" Dalia was taken aback by the question but answered, "Racesports." "Ah, I see," he replied casually, making a mental note. "Cheers," he bid farewell before leaving the coffee shop.