Chapter 17 – Otis
Jasper has been missing for days and even though we have spoken almost every day, I haven’t spoken to him in almost two days. I thought that he would be here at my debut, and I feel hurt that he wasn’t. He was supposed to share this with me.
Going out onto the podium, I forget about Jasper and look out over the bandstand.
Watching all the fans cheering and waving flags.
I did it. I won. It still feels like a dream, but then I’m standing on the winner’s spot being handed a trophy, and then the champagne is being sprayed all over me, mostly by Lars.
I’m just about to leave, when I see Vincent walking out with a microphone in his hands.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Vincent starts, “I know that we have had the interviews but there is a special someone who wanted to wish congratulations to Otis.”
Jasper? But why would Vincent be announcing Jasper, we both agreed that we wouldn’t be telling the world yet. I keep staring at Vincent, who has a very mischievous smile on his face.
“Otis,” Vincent says as he steps aside, and standing there is Mum.
“What?” I say, and then Mum is in my arms, and I can feel the tears rolling down my face.
“Ladies and gentlemen, Otis’s mum,” I hear Vincent announce, and I am vaguely aware of the crowd noise increasing.
“Jasper,” Mum whispers in my ear.
Pushing her back, I look at her before pulling her back into a hug. I can’t believe that she’s here. That I’m currently holding her in my arms, and I have Jasper to thank for it.
“Time to leave.” Vincent’s voice sounds next to me and I reluctantly let Mum go, but place my arm around her shoulder and walk off the stage.
How? I know I told Jasper that I really wanted my mum here, but I knew there was no way. We had tried so many times to get her onto a plane, and every time it had failed, and yet Jasper had managed it.
“Mum, I can’t believe that you’re here,” I say when we’re back in the garage and all the screens are up so no one can see in.
“I can’t either. But don’t get used to the idea. I might have to fly home, but then I don’t plan to go on a plane again. They really aren’t for me.”
“Thank you,” I say, pulling her into another hug.
“She found you, then?” a voice says behind me. A voice that I have missed so much.
Not caring that the garage is full of people, I pull Jasper into a bear hug. Just holding him close. Breathing in his scent.
“Oh aye, what’s going on here?” One of the techs sounds.
“Jasper surprised me,” I shout back. “He brought my mum over here and she is scared of flying.”
“Nice one Jasper, that’s really cool.” And the tech just turns back to what he was doing.
“I will thank you properly later, sir,” I whisper so that only Jasper can hear.
“I will hold you to that,” Jasper replies, giving me a slight smile.
“Otis.” Turning, I see Marcus coming over to me with an unhappy look on his face, and I see that he’s holding an iPad.
“Hey Marcus, everything okay?”
“Not really. I’ve spoken to Charmaine and I’m about to see Vincent too,” Marcus replies. “Look.”
Marcus hands over the iPad and there on the screen is a picture of me and my ex. It was a photo I remember being taken over a year ago. What the hell is going on? Looking up at Marcus for some answers.
“Scroll down,” Marcus replies.
Scrolling down the screen, I read the words, and I almost threw the iPad across the garage. What the fuck is going on? Instantly I look over to Jasper. There is no way that Marcus wouldn’t have told him. I need to get him on his own. I need to tell him that nothing is going on.
“Otis.” Mum’s voice sounds, and I just hand her the iPad, and watch as she reads it. “Wow. That fucking bitch.”
“I know, Mum,” I reply.
“I can’t believe the nerve of this woman. We need to talk to some lawyers,” Mum states.
“I’m not letting her take this away from me tonight. Marcus, if you can show this to Vincent. I’m going back to the hotel with Mum,” I tell him.
“Of course,” Marcus replies.
“Otis, who is he?” Mum asks.
“Sorry. Marcus, this is my mum, Lizzie. Marcus is our social media guru. He’s also good friends with Jasper,” I tell her.
“Pleasure to meet you, but if you can excuse me I want Vincent to see this. Maybe I can join you for a drink later to celebrate.”
“I would like that,” My mum replied. “It would be nice to meet some of Otis’s friends.”
“Excuse me,” Marcus says, as he turns and walks away.
“Why the fuck is Marj back?” Mum says over to me.
“Sorry, Marj?” Jasper asks.
“Marjorie,” I tell him. “That’s my ex. She hates her full name so she goes by Marj.”
“Should’ve known that someone like that wouldn’t like their full name,” Jasper replies. “Look, let’s get back to the hotel. Hopefully the press haven’t seen the posts.”
“Jasper, are you joining us for the celebration?” Mum asks.
“I would love to, if that’s okay with you, Otis? Will it look too strange with the team?”
“At the moment I really don’t care. I want to celebrate with you and Mum. You’re my two favourite people,” I say.
All three of us make our way back to the hotel, but with each step I’m looking around.
Looking for Marj, looking for the press, and I finally spot them standing by the front entrance.
Marj looking just as I remember, tall, with that dirty blonde hair, that can take on an almost auburn look.
A fake smile plastered on her face; the make-up immaculate.
“Otis, baby!” she shouts the moment she spots me.
I have no idea what the hell I’m supposed to do. She is surrounded by the press. I can’t tell her to fuck off in front of them, no matter how much I want to. I’m going to have to figure out how to get her away from these people.
“Excuse me,” Mum states, and pushes past me to the press. Oh shit, what is she going to do?
“Marj,” I hear her say. “It is so good to see you again.” And pulls her into a hug and I think I see her whisper something in her ear, and the smile on Marj’s face falls for a second, before Mum sidesteps her and enters the hotel.
“Guys.” And Marj is turning to the press. “I want to celebrate Otis’s win privately. He has been so busy training.”
“Please, just one picture together?” A journalist asks.
“Otis?” I hear Jasper next to me. “Have the photo taken?”
“What? No. I am not going to give anything to this story,” I state.
“They’re not going to let this drop,” Jasper adds.
“I’ll tell them about you,” I say. “That will make them go away.”
“Will it? Or the press could just say that you’re making it up. Plus, we agreed this year was about your racing. After today, you deserve that.”
“Jasper,” I start.
“Otis, it’s just one photo.”
“But…” I hate this idea so much. I hate that there is going to be another photo of me and Marj all over the internet.
“You can control this,” Jasper adds. “We will talk to Marcus and Charmaine and come up with a plan. It will be the only way to get through this crowd. Vincent might need to get security or maybe transport the drivers by car.”
“I’m not happy about this,” I say, because I’m not.
“This is the price of being the next hot commodity,” Jasper adds, giving me a sad smile.
Jasper leaves my side and uses another door and I can just about see him standing with Mum on the other side.
“Just the one photo,” I say, going over to stand by Marj.
“Kiss.” Another journalist asks.
“No.” I say firmly. and instead I place an arm around her waist.
“How does it feel to win the race and have your girlfriend back?” A journalist asks.
“Winning the race was a dream come true,” I reply, but don’t respond to the second part of the question. “You have your photo, and if you guys don’t mind, I want to go celebrate with the team and maybe have a nap. Who knew F1 races were so tiring?”
Turning, I push open the door to the hotel and walk in with Marj beside me.
“We need to get away from the cameras. I am sure that they are going to try and follow us in,” I say over to Jasper and Mum.
“We could go to your room,” Marj says.
“You aren’t going anywhere near my room,” I spit back at her.
“Just be a second,” Jasper says as we pause in the middle of the lobby and watch as he goes over to the reception desk, coming back a few minutes later with a hotel employee.
“If you come with me, we have a small conference room you can use that’s away from the press. I have also contacted security to make sure they’re removed.”
“Thank you,” I say over to them.
“Not at all. The staff took it in turns to watch the race. You did so well out there,” The employee says.
“It’s a great track. Australia is always a favourite.”
“Could I maybe get an autograph? I know I shouldn’t ask, but when am I going to get this close to you again?”
“Of course. Give us ten minutes and come back. Bring others.” Charmaine will probably kill me for agreeing to this, but this employee just helped me out, so the least I can do is sign some autographs.
“Thank you. I will make sure you are left alone,” The employee says before turning and walking out.
I wait a few minutes to make sure that the coast is clear before turning all my attention onto Marj.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” I snap at her.
“I missed you. I think we should give each other another chance,” Marj replies, her voice sickly sweet.
“You bitch,” Mum states.
“Lizzie you have never liked me, but I’m not going anywhere,” Marj states, turning to her.
“Mum,” I say.
“See?” Marj replies, looking smug.
“Oh you are going somewhere, Marj,” I start. “Out of my Goddamn life.”
Marj looks surprised for a moment, before squaring her shoulders. “Am I?” she starts. “I have already sowed the seed. The papers love me. You wouldn’t want any bad press.”
“How the fuck didn’t I see that you were some celebrity crazy bitch when we were dating?” I retort back. “You were only ever going out with me for the fame, and the second you realised that you weren’t going to get that with me, you dumped me.”