It's been two days since the encounter between Dalia and Lando, and she couldn't shake off the memory of their meeting. Somewhere between fascination and regret, she couldn't help but feel like she may have come off too strong with her emotional opinions. She worried that she might have scared him off, not wanting to be seen as just another crazy fan. But in the end, she realized it didn't matter what he thought of her, since they won't simply meet again. She stared at the blank computer screen in front of her. She knew she had a deadline to meet, and she couldn't afford to let distractions get in the way. Sportsrace, a successful online sports channel, was owned by Olivia Abebe, a 45-year-old Nigerian British entrepreneur. Starting as a journalist, she had worked her way up to owning her own company. The team was small but efficient, with Dalia handling digital content, Henry and Noah taking care of shooting and editing, and Olivia being the face of the channel, conducting interviews and directing. Other services were outsourced to freelance agencies.

Olivia warmly greeted everyone with a "Good morning" before leading the way into the meeting room. As Dalia and Noah joined her, Olivia couldn't help but notice Henry's absence. Concerned, she asked, "Where's Henry?" Dalia quickly explained that he was still on sick leave, a fact that Olivia had overlooked when signing his leave request. Olivia panicked, realizing he was having surgery. "Relax, he'll be fine, it's just an appendix surgery," Noah said nonchalantly. "What are we going to do? We have to cover this weekend's F1 race!" Olivia announced. The two colleagues were stunned by the unexpected news, their eyes widening as they sat up straight in their seats. Their small company had never even dreamed of being able to join the prestigious journalists at an F1 grand prix. Olivia shared that she had received an invitation from the F1 communication department for them to cover the Belgium race weekend. If they performed well, there was a chance for future invitations. As Noah, a huge F1 fan, excitedly jumped around, Dalia couldn't shake the feeling that perhaps Lando had a hand in this incredible opportunity. "Alright everyone, let's keep it together", Noah exclaimed with a spark in his eye. "It's all under control. Dalia, you've got the mics covered, and I'll assist you every step of the way. Trust me, we've got this. Right?" Noah's determination was contagious, Dalia couldn't help but nod in agreement. "Great! then I'll take care of everything else" he continued.  Little did she know, she was about to see Lando again sooner than she expected.

As the sun rose on Thursday morning, the small team assembled at the paddock entrance, ready to begin their day. Noah handed out cameras to Olivia and Dalia, assigning them to cover different entrances to capture the arrival of the drivers. Dalia made her way to the other door, passing by the Mclaren hospitality area. She quickened her pace, hoping to avoid a certain someone she didn't want to run into. Upon reaching the rear entrance, Dalia encountered two journalists eagerly waiting. One of them graciously offered to help her adjust the camera settings. Engaging in a friendly chat with them, Dalia was able to momentarily forget about the cold morning and instead enjoy the chance to interact with new individuals and hear about their adventures in the dynamic realm of motorsport.

In just a few minutes, someone caught the attention of a journalist who excitedly exclaimed, "Look, there's one!" as he prepared his camera. From afar, she spotted a bright red top and a group of fans trailing behind, signaling the arrival of one of the Ferrari drivers. Quickly raising her camera, she began snapping photos as the driver approached. It was Carlos Sainz, and he appeared to be in a rush. As a bigginner photographer, she made the mistake of not moving out of his way, resulting in a slight collision. "I am so sorry," they both exclaimed in surprise. The camera knocked against her upper nose, causing her to instinctively reach up to massage it. "Are you okay?" he inquired, pointing to her nose. "Yes, I'm fine, don't worry," she assured him with a wide smile before allowing him to continue on his way. He cast one final concerned glance at her before hurriedly making his way towards the hospitalities, followed by a crowd of fans. While carefully inspecting the camera to ensure its safety, she spotted a wallet lying on the ground. Upon picking it up, she discovered Carlos' driver's pas. Their collision might have caused the item to fall from his back pocket. Dalia found herself in a dilemma, torn between returning Carlos Sainz's lost wallet or missing out on other drivers' arrival. After a moment of uncertainty, she decided to follow her conscience and chased after the crowd. As she caught sight of his distinctive red shirt disappearing into the hospitality area, she realized he was heading towards the McLaren building - a place she had been intentionally avoiding all morning.

The lack of security at the hospitality was surprising, with no bodyguards or staff at the entrance to monitor who entered. It was almost too easy to walk in. Perhaps her media badge gave her an air of legitimacy. As she wandered through the empty corridor, she couldn't help but question if this was normal. Shouldn't there be a bustling cafeteria or lounge? Lost in thought, she was startled by a stern voice behind her, "You're not authorized to be here," she turned around to face the intense gaze of none other than Oscar Piastri. His eyes, half-closed and intimidating, slowly shifted down to her badge before meeting her gaze once more. "This area is strictly for drivers," he stated with a dry, cold tone. Dalia suddenly realized she had wandered into the drivers' rooms area. "I apologize, I must have lost my way," she said, feeling her face flush. It was a dangerous place to be, especially when trying to avoid Lando. "Here," she pushed the wallet towards Oscar, who stood unfazed. "Carlos lost his wallet, and I wanted to return it after seeing him walk through here." "Hmm, yes, he must be in Lando's room," Oscar explained, gesturing towards the door behind her. A cold sweat ran through her body at the thought of him being so close. She reached for Oscar's hand, placed the wallet in it, and hurried back towards the exit.

After a couple of moments of navigating through the building, Dalia discovered the cafeteria, bringing a sense of relief. She confidently approached the counter and requested a refreshing cold cup of tea to calm her nerves. Finding an unoccupied table, she settled in with a sigh of relief. After a brief moment of composing herself, Oscar approached Dalia and sat beside her, catching her off guard. "I wanted to apologize," he confessed, fiddling with the wallet. "I realized I may have been a bit too harsh earlier, and you were just trying to help." He spoke without making eye contact. Dalia paused to process his words, then timidly reached out to pat his shoulder with a smile, showing her acceptance of his apology. "Have you not handed him the wallet yet?" she glanced at his hand. Oscar hesitated for a moment before replying, " Carlos is with him, didn't want to disturb." Oscar's voice was soft as he continued to look down at the wallet, almost as if he was concealing his emotions. However, Dalia could sense it. The tension between the two teammates may still exist, but from her last encounter with Lando, she could tell that Oscar genuinely cares about him. He's making an effort to connect, but he's afraid of how Lando might react. "well" She hesitated before speaking, realizing she was delving into a topic she had been avoiding. "You have a better understanding of Lando than I do," she said, meeting his gaze. "The incident during the last Grand Prix wasn't his fault, or yours. He knows that. I believe he will eventually move past it... He just needs some time to come to terms with everything," Dalia tried to present a neutral perspective. "So, do you think I should put in more effort?" he asked, with curiosity and innocence, revealing a side of him that contradicted his cold intimidating public persona. It was a rare glimpse of his socially awkward side, showing genuine concern for his teammate. She smiled in response, and he reciprocated the gesture. "Okay, Miss Dalia," he declared as he got up. "I'll go take my chances. And if he ever feels like punching me, I'll make sure to blame you for it," he teased before making his way to the rooms section.

The two practice sessions were a success, with Lando setting the fastest time and Carlos and Oscar close behind. Dalia had the opportunity to capture photos and videos for their online pages, as well as conduct brief interviews with celebrities and staff, all with Noah's guidance. She was truly enjoying herself and felt reinvigorated in her chosen profession. After a long day of work, the team gathered at a coffee shop near the Ferrari Hospitality to have a very late lunch. "I have some great news for you all," Olivia announced excitedly after taking a bite of her ridiculously overpriced chicken sandwich. "I've secured an interview with the McLaren drivers." As Dalia listened, her heart started racing. "We'll be interviewing Lando and Oscar in about two hours, so I need everyone to be prepared." The rest of lunch was spent coordinating and organizing, and Dalia barely ate anything as she became increasingly nervous with each passing minute. 

By 7 pm, the team had already settled into a private room within the Mclaren building, diligently setting up for the interview under Noah's direction. Dalia expertly adjusted the lights and arranged the microphones. Suddenly, a group of Mclaren staff entered, with Olivia in tow, causing Dalia's nerves to resurface. Despite her anxiety, she composed herself, took a deep breath, and stood confidently next to Noah, warmly greeting everyone. Oscar was the first to arrive, flashing her a charming smile as he walked past. Soon after, the man who had been on her mind for days entered the room. His presence was magnetic, drawing everyone's attention towards him. With his suit hanging on his hips, messy hair, and a black bottle in hand, he exuded an air of confidence. His eyes met hers with a knowing look, as if he had anticipated her exact location. Casually greeting Olivia and Noah, he finally stood in front of Dalia, offering a simple "Hi" accompanied by a playful smile. 

Dalia's heart raced as she felt the tension in the room rising, why was he affecting her like this? Summoning her courage, she stole a glance and found his gaze locked on her, just like the first time they met. With a deep breath, she finally reached for the microphones and made her way towards the two drivers. Choosing to start with Lando, she stood before him with a smile, her hands trembling slightly as she reached for his shirt collar. "May I...may I put the mic on the hem of your shirt?" she asked, avoiding his eyes. "Yes, you may," he replied with a chuckle in his usual playful tone. " I want to thank you " Dalia expressed, breaking the silence. "I believe you played a role in our media invitation." She glanced up to see a warm smile on his face. He simply nodded in acknowledgment of her appreciation. "So, where are you staying?" His question caught her off guard, causing her thoughts to race. She felt her heart pounding and did her best not to show her flustered state. "We...we booked an Airbnb not too far from the track," she nervously replied. "Well...I would like to invite you for dinner," he added with a smile. "As a token of gratitude for that delicious carrot cake you brought me last time." He smiled, closing the distance slightly. Dalia was visibly embarrassed and couldn't find the words to respond. After finishing fixing his mic and preparing to move on to Oscar, he whispered softly for her ears only, "I'll text you." But how could he? He didn't even have her number. Then again, if he could arrange an invitation to an F1 grand prix for her company, she was certain he could easily obtain her contact information.

"So ,I see you didn't get punched eventually" Dalia teased, a sense of relief evident in her posture. "You're lucky I didn't," Oscar replied with a warm smile, "But it looks like you weren't as fortunate." He reached out to gently touch the top of her nose, concern in his eyes. "It's from earlier when I accidentally bumped into Carlos with my camera. Is it red?" Dalia inquired, unfazed by his touch. "Yes, slightly," he replied softly, brushing his finger over her nose. "Ice will help prevent any further swelling. Trust me, I'm an expert in ice baths," he quipped, eliciting a small laugh from Dalia. As she turned to resume her position behind the camera, she couldn't resist stealing a glance at Lando, who was now giving them a dark, mysterious look. Taken aback by his sudden change in demeanor, Dalia quickly returned to Noah's side and signaled for Olivia to begin her interview.

By the time they returned to the rented flat, they were all completely drained. Luckily, the place had two showers, so they didn't have to wait for their turn. When Noah suggested ordering food, Dalia's phone buzzed with a notification. "Hey, It's Lando," she read the message that appeared on the screen.

D: Hi lando how are you ?

L: I'm good, so when can I come by to pick you up ?

He appeared eager to skip the small talk. Dalia quickly reassessed her feelings about the situation before picking up the phone to respond.

D: 10 pm sounds good, However I have one condition.

L: ??

D: Let's forget the fancy restaurant, and go somewhere more casual. And please don't come picking me up with a fancy car. Something discreet will be nice.

L: Oh I get it now. You don't want to be seen with me.

D: I'm sorry but I can't afford to risk my job.

He stayed silent for a bit, before he started tying again.

L: I'll come pick you up in 20 mins. See yah.