Mastermind

Japan, October 7th 2022

All eyes were on us as Pierre and I entered the paddock. We walked shoulder to shoulder and laughed at the way he'd addressed the reporters outside.

"May is going to pitch a fit!" my grin wide as we hustled towards the towering Alpha Tauri garage.

"Oh she'll be fine. Look at that", he held his wrist up to me showing the time, "we still have twenty minutes before I need to be dressed." I didn't even read the hands of the watch, instead, my focus was purely on the bracelet that still circled his wrist. Without thinking, I placed my pointer finger on the chain of gold and watched his muscles tense at the touch.

"You still wear it?" My eyes met stormy blue ones and his brows lowered.

"Of course I do Hamilton...like I said, I never gave up hope." My mind wandered to the navy blue and white matching bracelet that sat in the top pocket of my suitcase. I took it off that night in Monaco but never could find the strength to throw it away. Maybe somewhere deep down...I hadn't given up hope either.

Pierre shook hands with engineers as we walked and following his lead, I even waved at a few reporters who's cameras quickly swiveled to get a clear shot of us.

"So!" The Frenchman's voice brought me back to reality. "Are you heading to the Mercedes garage? I'm sure they're worried sick about you making it here." His bottom lip jutted out and a quick laugh escaped me.

"Well I don't see an alternative–"

"Pierre!"

No fucking way.

I watched as Pierre's face tensed then fell as he saw who was now standing behind me. But, he didn't make a move towards her. "Pierre! Bonjour!" I spun on my heel and plastered the most sickeningly sweet smile I could on my face. I watched the model's own smile falter as she noticed me. "Oh...and Evangeline Hamilton! Bonjour."

"Good afternoon Adrienne." My gaze immediately went to the pass that hung around her neck, "oh! I'm relieved you found your paddock pass's! You must have found Pierre last night with no problems?" Without thinking my hand was resting on the driver's shoulder and I could've sworn a controlled smile danced on his lips.

"No actually I–"

"I see...and you must've not gotten them from him this morning because...well I've been with him this whole time. He had to give me, his old friend, a ride to the paddock this morning." For the first time Adrienne was at a loss for words. "Well I'm so happy we ran into each other today! Us ladies have to stick together, am I right? Hopefully I'll see you around this weekend, but Pierre promised me a tour of the Alpha Tauri garage so we have to go." I smiled one last time at her and hoped that she saw just a taste of the vengeance that lurked behind it.

Pierre trailed behind, laughing quietly as I headed for his team's entrance.

"So a tour?" He draped his arm around my shoulders and I made no move to push him off,

"If I get to see Yuki...I'm game." He shoved me lightly and laughed loud and clear as we walked through the open garage doors.

After the tour, Pierre was called over by his race engineers to talk about practice. We didn't hug or anything, but as I waved goodbye to both Alpha Tauri drivers, something shifted in the way he looked at me. I felt that shift deep in my core...and it scared me, so I just turned quickly away and began through the paddock again. The rain was falling hard now and instead of trekking back to the Mercedes garage, I decided to watch practice with the McLaren team instead.

The papaya boys were in full strategy discussion when I arrived, and with a wet practice session on the agenda I hurried into hospitality searching for the drivers room. Flipping on the T.V. I settled in with some snacks and watched as my friends began exploring the track.