Chapter 9 – Richard
The two week break between Italy and Azerbaijan had been great.
I was able to spend some time with David, both in and out of the bedroom.
But now there was only four days until the next race, and we agreed that we wouldn’t see each other.
We both knew the temptation would be too much.
It was killing me. Thankfully, at the end of this weekend, we had almost a month off.
“Tell me again why we come here,” Vincent says to me.
“Tradition, money, there are a whole number of reasons.”
“But this humidity. It’s a killer.”
I can’t disagree with him. Singapore is hot, humid, and there never seems to be any escape from it unless you’re in an air-conditioned hotel, or shops.
Although, on the race calendar, this has to be one of my favourite destinations.
We’re always here in September, and with my birthday being on the twenty-fourth, it has always made the race feel like a birthday present.
This year the race is happening just two days before. I hadn’t told David, but I have a plan.
We talked about going back to his place in Monaco after the race, and the thought of spending time at his home thrilled me, especially when he showed me the new bed he ordered.
The bed itself, at first glance, looked like a normal bed.
A wooden four-legged base, but it was the headboard that caught my attention.
It was a simple frame made up of wooden slats, which he could thread a tie around much easier, but there, in the corner of each post, was a simple black ring.
It looked decorative, but my heart skipped a beat when I thought of the possibilities.
“Rich.” Vincent’s voice breaks into my thoughts.
“Sorry, Vin, I was miles away.”
“I could see that. Thinking about anything important?”
“Not really,” I say, trying to sound nonchalant. “Just the upcoming break. The guys are going to need a break too. The rest of the season is going to be brutal.”
“I know the FIA wanted more races; they’re trying to get more fans, but from October to December, the guys basically have a race every week, with just a two week break in November.”
“Lars and David are pretty fit guys. I’m sure they will manage. Have you spoken to Daniel and Paul about whether there is anything that needs to be put in place to help the guys with fitness?”
Paul and Daniel are two physios that were brought in by Vincent to help with Lars and David’s fitness.
They were both good guys and had gelled well with the team.
Vincent had decided that, when they came in, Paul and Daniel could decide who they wanted to work with.
Paul had decided to work with Lars, and Daniel was with David.
“I spoke with Daniel, he didn’t mention anything in particular, but did say that he was going to keep a close eye on David’s vitals, so that if anything changes, he can catch it early.”
“And Paul?” Wondering why Vincent had only mentioned speaking to Daniel.
“Yeah, interesting development there,” Vincent states, and I watch as his lips twitch, a clear sign that he’s annoyed about something. “Paul quit.”
“What? When?”
“After Italy. He said he would stay through to Azerbaijan, but that’s it,” Vincent explains.
“I cannot believe that he quit mid-season,” I state, it just seems so strange that Paul would want to leave.
“Yeah, well, Paul demanded more money. Said that with there being more races, and so much more time away from his family etc, that he needed to be compensated.”
“What? That’s crazy.” Everyone knows the commitment needed being in an F1 team. The sacrifices that have to be made. Most of us love being in the sport so the sacrifices don’t seem that big. “From the way your lips keep twitching, I guess you told him that it wasn’t going to happen?”
“Nope, I offered him an increase. The same amount I offered all the team members. Twenty percent, with the caveat of a bonus. I thought I was being generous. No one else complained.”
“I haven’t seen anyone complaining either, but then, they aren’t really going to say much in front of me. They know it would come back to you.”
“Anyway, Paul said it wasn’t enough, and I refused to move. Lars is pissed.”
“At you?” This is hardly Vincent’s fault.
“No, at Paul, but it also means that I need to find a new physio, and fast. Daniel offered to cover Lars and David this weekend, to give me that little bit of time.”
“Can I help at all?” My speciality is usually finding drivers. The rest of the team is all on Vincent.
“No, but there is something that you can do for me?”
“Which is?” Suddenly not liking the tone in Vincent’s voice.
“You can tell me what you have planned for your birthday.”
The sneaky bastard. I’ve been keeping my birthday plans under wraps. The plans I have just involve me and David. On our own. In a beautifully air-conditioned hotel, where we can get room service with, maybe, some ice.
“I’m going to be staying here for a few days,” I say truthfully, Vincent knows how much I love Singapore.
“On your own?” There is an accusatory tone to his voice now, that I don’t like.
“What do you mean by that?”
“I think you know what I mean by that. Are you getting your little prostitute to join you?”
I wish I never told him about the service that I used to use, and haven’t used in over a year.
I should’ve just lied. Vincent was never going to understand why I went there.
And I’m starting to wonder if I should try and explain, but then I think that still might not be enough.
I never ever considered my lifestyle would impact my friendship like this.
“Vincent, I’m warning you,” I say, through gritted teeth, and watch as Vincent sinks into his seat. He knows that I’m pissed, and that I’m pissed at him. “The men in that service aren’t prostitutes.”
“In the definition of the word, they sell their bodies for money,” Vincent counters, and I debate getting up from my chair and walking away, before I say or do something I regret.
“Not always. Sometimes, I would just have dinner with them. Just to talk to someone who wasn’t in the F1 world.
Sex isn’t always involved.” Pausing, I collect my thoughts before turning to my friend.
“Vincent, you need to stop vilifying my past; I’m not ashamed of what I did.
But if you don’t stop, then our friendship is on rocky ground, and not only that I will walk away from the team. ”
“It’s just, I cannot get my head around it. Paying for sex.”
“It wasn’t just sex. It was the anonymity that came with it. What you did, bed hopping, was far riskier in my eyes. All you needed was to meet that one person who was offered enough money to go against your NDA and bam, your face would’ve been all over the papers.”
“Maybe,” Vincent admits, and I can see that me threatening to leave the team has put my point across.
“The service could never risk exposure, their clientele are great. So, for me, it was the safest option. But in answer to your original question, no, I’m not calling the service.”
“So, you’re staying here on your own? On your birthday? No, we can’t have that. I will talk to Lars. I’m sure he won’t miss me for a few days.”
Fuck. How the hell am I supposed to tell Vincent that he doesn’t need to stay, without giving the game away. I’m going to have to think of something, and it’s going to have to be good.
“Vincent, really, you don’t need to stay. You hate the humidity here. My plan is to go to the botanical gardens and have a few cocktails. I have a flight to Monaco booked on the twenty-fifth.
“Monaco?”
Oh, double fuck.
“Yeah, I’m considering buying a place there.” This statement causes Vincent to throw his head back and laugh.
“You hate Monaco,” Vincent states, and he isn’t wrong, but there is something there now that makes the place a little more palatable. David.
“Oh, I don’t know, the place has grown on me recently,” I reply, which isn’t too far from the truth.
“How much did you earn last year?” Vincent asks, giving me a sly look.
“I’m not buying a place to avoid tax.” Even though the thought had crossed my mind a couple times.
“Really?” I don’t think he believes me, and if it keeps him off the scent, then I think I’m going to carry on letting him believe it.
“We’re going to have to get moving soon. Quali will be starting in a few hours, and we will need to be trackside.”
“I’m really not ready to go out into that heat.”
“Vin you never are, but come on. The sooner you get there, the sooner you will be able to return to the hotel.”
Vincent gets up from his chair and I follow, thankful that he seems to have forgotten about all the talk about my birthday. Work is Vincent’s Achillies heel. One sure fire way to distract him is to talk about work.
“Lars and David did well in practice yesterday.”
“I know what you’re doing. Just because you’re talking about work, doesn’t mean I’m going to forget about your birthday. But you are right, Lars and David drove well.”
“With David winning Azerbaijan, and if he wins today, he will virtually have the same points as Lars.”
“I know, but I think that Lars is resigned to not winning this year. Especially with how David has been driving, and missing the last two races.”
“Speaking of the final two races, I have decided not to go myself,” I tell him.
“Not going to lie, I’m relieved that you’re not. I know the world doesn’t know you’re gay, but something about you being there didn’t sit right with me.”
“Originally, I thought we could just tell the press that I decided to support you. But when I was thinking about it, I actually don’t really need to come to the races. I come because I love them.”
“Maybe we need to relook at your position in the team. Would you like to get more involved on race weekends?”