Chapter 2 #2
“Erik offered his jet for you all.” She smiled with a twinkle in her eye.
Ingrid had managed not to think about Erik too much up until this point.
Now she was going to be on a five-hour flight with him – and his girlfriend.
For her own sanity, she was considering buying a ticket for herself.
However, it would be good to observe Antoine relaxed and amongst his friends. Antoine was next at her door.
“I’m treating you to a proper driver lifestyle after our success with a jet to Shanghai,” he said, grinning.
“Yes, Daniela already ruined your surprise.”
“It will be Erik, Nico, me, and you. Carla has to go back and start on her university work.” Oh, so no girlfriend coming along. Carla was Nico’s girlfriend, one of the few girlfriends who was doing a degree and not specialising in modelling or influencing.
“Sounds like fun.”
“I promise you, it will be!” He said. “Are you almost ready? Erik hates being late.”
“I’m packed and ready.”
“Ok, great. See you downstairs in the lobby in ten?”
Ingrid quickly adjusted her hair and clothes. There wasn’t much she could do. She always wore a tracksuit when she travelled. The rain today had made her hair wavy.
Erik was already in the lobby when she arrived downstairs. It was just the two of them. Ingrid immediately reached out to his injured head and stroked it.
“Oh my god, what happened?”
“An incident with a lamp and an angry woman.”
“Is it bad?”
“The head will heal, but who knows about the woman?” He shrugged.
Erik had grabbed her wrist at the spot where she had touched him. He didn’t let it go. A rush was going through Ingrid’s body which she couldn’t explain.
“I didn’t crash, and I won.”
“I saw. Are you going to let go of my wrist now?”
“I suppose I should. The others will be here soon. Although Nico is always late.” He let go. “We have about five hours together anyway.”
“I will probably sleep for all five hours.”
“I promise you won’t...”
The rest of the group arrived before he could say more, and they left for the airport. Although Ingrid had several high-profile clients, she had never flown on a private jet with any of them. It was definitely an upgrade from business class.
“What the fuck happened to your head, Rik?” Nico asked as he sat down across from him.
“I broke it off with Bianca, and she threw a lamp at me.” He laughed.
Ingrid realised that this was the first time she really heard him laugh.
“Oh, thank fuck she’s gone. I think she was one of the worst girlfriends that you’ve had,” Antoine responded.
“Remember, boys, we have a guest with us.” Erik pointed out.
“Oh, don’t worry about Ingrid. She has a twin brother, so she’s used to this. Remember, she’s also just had her first weekend in the garage, and that language is worse.”
Ingrid confirmed and told them to go ahead as if she weren’t there.
She made herself comfortable and listened to the boys talk about their weekends.
For an F1 fan, this was like gold – all the behind-the-scenes info and gossip.
Once their debriefs were done, a proper lunch was served.
Ingrid decided to have a glass of wine because it was technically her day off.
She only had other clients to deal with from tomorrow. The boys were taking selfies.
“Is it true that you have private Instagram accounts?” She asked.
“Of course! Although some fans have found them.” Nico replied. “We just change the handle and block them. We try to give some of our private lives on our official accounts, so they feel they have enough access, but some just want too much.”
“Rik, you’re going to have to explain that head scratch. It’s already on social media.”
Antoine showed him a photo.
“Shit, I was going to borrow some of Ingrid’s makeup before media day.” He looked at her and chuckled. “I’ll just blame it on you, Antoine. Say you threw your padel racket at me.”
“I’m staying out of this one,” Antoine said. “You’ll have to come up with your own story this time.”
“There have been others?” Ingrid enquired.
“Didn’t you see the black eye?” Nico asked.
“No, another lover gone bad?”
“Not fair, Nico, that was a jealous ex-boyfriend who punched me at a bar during the summer break, and people came up with all sorts of stories.”
“Oh yes, I remember that!” Ingrid had read about it. “Everyone started thinking you were prone to fighting after that, and you had to do a media blitz of how sweet you are.”
“All completely true,” he said, smiling innocently. “This won’t help, though.”
“Completely innocent story: you were helping me with my bags, and one of them knocked you on the forehead. There you go,” Ingrid said.
“Told you she’s good,” Antoine responded. “Nico, game of chess? At least I can beat you there.”
They settled into a game of chess, and Ingrid stared out the window, hoping to drift off for a bit. It had been a long weekend.
Erik watched her as she curled up, knees to her chest. She looked more innocent than the woman who had been plaguing his thoughts all weekend.
The soft wave of her hair suited her more than the harsh, straight style she usually wore.
The chess game didn’t interest him, so he moved across to Ingrid’s side, where Antoine had been sitting.
She was fast asleep now. He pressed the button to have the flight attendant get a blanket.
Moving slowly, he put it over Ingrid. She didn’t move.
“Something we should know?” Nico asked.
“No, she just looked cold.”
“Just remember she’s my coach,” Antoine said. “It’s professional, so please don’t screw it up.”
“I won’t. You know I love you too much.” Erik smiled at him.
“Good, so hands off.”
“Although I will say this. I don’t know how you keep your hands off her.”
“I have to agree with Rik, Antoine. I can understand why she was confused for one of the girlfriends.”
“Mecs, she’s like an older sister. Also, have you seen my girlfriend?”
Erik had heard this from Antoine numerous times, but he didn’t really see the appeal of Daniela.
She was a classic Ukrainian beauty, tall, fit, and powerful on the tennis court, with long blonde hair.
Perhaps she just wasn’t to Erik’s taste.
If Erik was honest with himself, he didn’t know what his taste was – certainly not Bianca.
He wondered what blowback he would get from this latest breakup because he was sure she would be all over social media about it in a day or two.
After all, she had only gained followers and fame because of their relationship.
The plane was about to land, so he gently woke up Ingrid.
“Hmm,” she mumbled as she sat up and looked at him. Erik found himself wanting to see that look again and again. He’d never felt that way before.
“We’re going to land soon,” he said. “Have a good nap?”
“I must have been so tired,” she responded. “Where did this blanket come from?”
Antoine started, but Erik interrupted.
“Antoine got it for you because you looked cold.”
“Thanks, Ant.” She smiled at him.
Antoine looked at Erik with a question in his eyes, and he just shook his head slightly.
They landed in Shanghai, ready for the circus to start all over again.