FOUR #2
She shakes her head. ‘He flew back to Monaco a couple of hours ago. Leif is still here, though.’
‘Oh …’ I grimace. The thought of Leif ‘welcoming’ me to my new job is laughable and I’m not in the mood for another of his intense looks right now. ‘Never mind. I’ll leave it as it is.’
‘Why? You said we need to boost his online profile.’
I suddenly wish I hadn’t mentioned anything. ‘But like you said, he obviously doesn’t enjoy doing promo and I don’t want to spring it on him.’
‘Leif’s fine so long as nobody asks him anything personal,’ Charlotte interjects, looking up from her desk.
‘He’s a really nice guy. I dropped my bag in the car park last week and he came running over to pick everything up for me.
And when it was Yuto’s birthday, he ordered the biggest ice-cream cake you’ve ever seen.
Honestly, he’s adorable. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind helping you out. ’
‘OK, but has he had any media training?’ I ask, annoyed because this is the second time somebody’s told me how nice Leif is. ‘Only he’s not exactly adorable in interviews. Most of the time he just seems uncomfortable.’
‘True, but it makes a good contrast with Corey,’ Emika argues. ‘You know, one super-friendly driver, one serious.’
‘But that won’t work if we’re going for a one-big-happy-family vibe.
Fans want the drivers to be open and accessible, not monosyllabic.
I’ve met Leif twice now and both times it’s been like getting blood from a stone.
I’d have as much luck using that wall in my video.
Or this cup.’ I lift my empty mug, although it occurs to me that maybe I’ve drunk a little too much caffeine because I can feel myself getting carried away.
‘Um, Ava …?’ Emika clears her throat.
‘You’re right, that was unfair, but he could try lightening up a bit.’
‘ Ava! ’
‘What?’ I follow the direction of her frantic head-nodding to where Leif is standing in the open doorway, one shoulder resting against the frame, dressed in pale jeans and a striped Rask T-shirt.
Crap.
I clamp my lips together. Of all the people to appear at this moment!
Although he could have given some indication he was there – a knock or a cough or a stamp of the foot.
But of course he didn’t because he’s Leif Olsen, king of awkward silences.
And now I’m the queen of them because I have no idea what to say either.
I rack my brain, but I’ve got nothing except a deeply unhelpful flashback to this morning’s dream.
Fortunately, Leif starts the conversation for once.
‘Vienna says you’d like a meeting?’ His brow is puckered into a frown, only this time I can’t object.
Asshole or not, he has every right to frown at me.
Every reason to get me fired too. I’m pretty sure that ‘Do Not Insult the Drivers’ is a golden rule of working in F1 communications and I just compared him to a wall.
And a cup. I’m so embarrassed that I’m blushing to the very roots of my hair.
‘Um … yes, that would be great, if you’re available any time soon?’ My voice is a whole octave higher than usual.
He stares down at the floor for a couple of seconds, as if his schedule is printed there, before looking up again. ‘Nine a.m.?’
‘Tomorrow?’ I blink. ‘But aren’t you …? I mean, don’t you need to …?’ My tongue trips over the words. ‘You know … go to Barcelona?’
‘Not until midday.’
‘Ah.’ I lick my lips, trying to make my voice sound normal again. ‘In that case, 9 a.m. is perfect. Thank you.’
‘Good.’ He turns to go.
‘Wait!’ Emika calls out, just as I’m about to sag over my desk and start banging my forehead against it. ‘Would you mind being in Ava’s video before you go?’
‘Oh, no.’ I hold my hands up as he turns round again. ‘It doesn’t matter. You look like you’re on your way out.’
‘What do you need?’ He ignores my protest, lifting an eyebrow instead.
‘It’s a first-day-at-work short,’ I say hesitantly, because apparently there’s no way out of this. ‘I thought it would be good if Corey could appear at the end, but he’s not here so …’
‘I can do it.’ He folds his arms and nods curtly.
‘You can?’ I feel a need to double-check because his negative body language is so confusing.
‘Yes.’
‘OK! Thank you. So, the idea is that I meet you in the corridor and you say “Hi” and “Welcome to Rask” or something along those lines … if that works for you?’
‘Sure.’
‘Great.’ I exchange a quick look with Emika, who gives me an encouraging thumbs-up. ‘In that case … shall we do it now?’
He inclines his head infinitesimally, which I choose to interpret as another nod, so I get up from my desk and lead him out into the corridor, lifting my chin as I go. I’m not sure whether I’m more resentful of his behaviour or embarrassed about mine, but it’s a disconcerting combination.
‘So I’ll carry the phone like I’m just casually walking along and then you come out of that door,’ I say, trying to emulate Vienna’s brisk manner as I point towards an empty store room. ‘Then it’ll be like we’re just bumping into each other.’
‘Fine.’
‘And it would be great if …’ I pause because I’m not entirely sure how to phrase this without giving offence. ‘If you could maybe try to smile when you come out?’
There’s a flicker of something in his eyes, something that on anybody else might be amusement. ‘I can smile.’
‘Yes. Right. Of course. I didn’t mean to imply –’ I order myself to stop talking before I make things even worse. ‘So you go that way, and I’ll go this way …’
I turn and walk off, taking a moment to gather my thoughts, before lifting my phone out in front of me. I can do this , I tell myself. It’s just ten seconds of film, at most. No big deal. Just ten seconds and then we can go our separate ways.
Ten loooooong seconds.
I turn around to check that Leif isn’t visible, then press record as I walk along the corridor, talking enthusiastically. ‘So that was my first day! I’ve had such a great time. Everyone is really lovely and … Oh!’ I feign shock as Leif appears around the door. ‘Hi, Leif.’
He tilts his head as he comes towards me. ‘Hi, Ava.’
I open my mouth to reply, but no words come out because suddenly I’m transfixed.
His mouth is curving up at the corners in a smile that transforms his whole face so that he looks boyish and handsome and yet also …
devastatingly sexy. My mind stalls and my steps falter.
Now I understand why he does it so rarely.
It’s too powerful. His cologne fills my senses again too, a combination of earth and wood and smoke and leather all rolled into one.
Oh fuck . It hits me that I’ve come to a complete stop to stare at him.
‘Ava?’ His smile fades into a look of confusion.
‘Sorry!’ I let out a shaky breath and snap back to myself. ‘I just … forgot my line – haha! Would you mind if we go again? I’ll get it right this time, I promise.’ I don’t wait for his answer as I hurry away, cringing internally.
People say you should be careful what you wish for, but how could I have anticipated a smile like that ? And ‘forgot my line’? I need to get a grip. He’s an asshole! A rude, monosyllabic asshole!
So how is it possible for him to be having this kind of effect on me?