Chapter 17
While they’d been gone, Peter had been busying himself with organising the real estate sales. It felt like so long ago for both of them that they had made this decision, but it had only been four weeks. There was already an offer for Erik’s place, which he accepted straight away.
“Don’t you care about negotiating?” Ingrid asked from the bed.
“No. We want out of this place and to move forward.” He was sitting at the desk in the bedroom, signing papers. “Here, you have to sign this one for the new place. It’s in your name, too.”
“But Erik, I haven’t paid for any of it.”
“You can put money in our account when you want to.” He kissed her forehead. “Like I said, moving forward.”
Ingrid wasn’t even aware that there was an ‘our’ account.
“Erik, please come sit down.” She patted the bed. There had been something wrong with him ever since Singapore. “What’s wrong, darling?”
“I still feel like I should have protected you. You’re my teammate. I didn’t do anything.”
“Oh, darling, it isn’t your fault. You did protect me.
If we hadn’t had those bodyguards with us, then who knows what could have happened?
You could have been injured, too.” She stroked his sandy blonde hair.
“I would never forgive myself if your racing career was cut short by some madman because of me.”
“Would you still love me if I weren’t a driver?”
“I would, but don’t talk nonsense like that. You love it too much.” She laughed.
“This is true.” That got a smile out of him. “I just keep blaming myself. It was my friend. It was because of my career.”
“We could just as easily say it was because of my career and Antoine, and that I met and fell in love with you. But I don’t believe in blaming anyone but Mark,” she said calmly. “Now I can’t lean forward to kiss you better, so could you do that for me?”
Erik kissed her properly for the first time since they got back from Singapore.
“Ok, when you frame it that way, I feel better.”
“Good. So, can we stop with this moping around the house, please?”
Erik burst out laughing because he felt like he was being scolded like a moody teenager, which he had been behaving like since they got home.
“I really do love you.”
“I love you too.”
“How long do we have to wait for all this no-physical-activity stuff to end?”
“Doctor’s appointment tomorrow, and then we’ll find out.”
The doctor gave Ingrid another week of bed rest. She felt so lazy taking her client meetings in bed.
Ingrid’s attack and Mark’s arrest had made international news, so her clients understood the circumstances.
She didn’t wear her ring yet. They decided to wait until the news cycle had calmed down before announcing it.
Plus, COTA was critical for both Championships; that was their main focus.
???
“Oh, Erik!” Exclaimed Ingrid when they arrived to work at the circuit the first day. “I’ve seen the flags on TV, but they’re so…”
“Big? Over the top?”
“Yes! I mean, incredible in the footage, but it’s a bit much.”
“Oh, Rookie, I love seeing things through your eyes. After doing this for a couple of years, you stop noticing it all.” He kissed her cheek. “Are you sure you’re ready for this?”
“To work? Yes.”
“I mean a full day of work. You haven’t been on your feet that long for a while.” With the last part, he touched her side gently.
“Don’t make it obvious! I just want it forgotten about. I’ll be fine.”
Erik went off to his meeting, and Ingrid went to greet the garage teams. Everyone was so happy to have her back.
She felt good to be back after almost a month away.
Working remotely with the team wasn’t the same as seeing them in person.
She went upstairs to see who was around.
There was only the media team, so she greeted them and apologised for the hell they must have been through with the Mark story.
None of them knew about the engagement yet, and Ingrid was wearing her ring on her necklace.
They planned to announce the engagement on social media that evening, after discussing it with Julia first. Their publicists knew about it already.
“Jules, can we chat with you, please?” Erik asked.
“Oh god, what’s coming next? Mark out on bail? Escaped?”
Erik laughed, “No, for once, we have good news. We got engaged in Singapore.”
“Please tell me you got photos?”
“We got photos, Jules,” Ingrid said, and they all laughed. “I’m in a hospital gown and don’t look great, but there are photos.”
“Ingrid, you could wear a bin bag and look great. Let’s see?”
Julia flicked through the photos and watched the video.
“Erik, I never thought you would grow up to be so adorable.” She ruffled his head. “At least some good came out of all that horribleness. I’m so happy for the two of you.” She hugged them both.
They wanted to give Jonathan a heads-up, too. He had been like a father to Erik, so it felt like the right thing to do. Jonathan was so happy for them that he cried.
The photos went up, and Ingrid put the caption:
There’s never a perfect setting for an engagement, just the perfect guy.
Engaged: 07/10, Singapore
The person who was most glad to see Ingrid back in the garage was Hannah. She had become like a little sister to Ingrid.
“Oh, Ingie, I’m so happy to have you back. I was so worried about you. Did you get my flowers?” Hannah asked.
“Yes, I did.” She hugged her gently. “They were beautiful, thank you. Are we ready to get this Championship fight underway?”
“Yes, we are! I’ve been chatting to Bonbon regularly.”
“That’s good to hear.”
It was a triple-header with COTA, Mexico, and Brazil.
The team would be exhausted. Erik could secure the Championship in Brazil if he finished on the podium for the next two races.
The team would have to wait until Qatar or Abu Dhabi because of Mark’s shenanigans earlier in the year, and Erik carrying the team for most of the season until Antoine’s arrival. Erik arrived in the garage for FP1.
“Are you feeling ok?”
“Yes, stop worrying about me!”
He could see she was looking a bit pale and had a word with Elizabeth to make sure she sat down through FP1 when she was with Jonathan. Both sessions went well for Wentworth. Nico only split them in the second session, with Callipel 0.3 seconds behind Antoine.
It was the motorhome life again for COTA. They appreciated the quiet and privacy after everything that had happened. Erik was becoming a pro at cleaning Ingrid’s wound and changing her dressing. He insisted on doing it; the only intimacy they were having currently.
Erik stroked her stomach.
“The doctor said just a few more days…” Ingrid said, knowing what he was thinking about. “In fact, after this race.”
“I know. It doesn’t stop me from thinking about it.” He stood up and kissed her.
“We can do other things, you know?”
“I don’t think I would be able to control myself.” Ingrid unzipped his shorts.
“Try. It would be good for you.” As she guided his hand down her pants and slid his fingers into her.
They stood there kissing and touching each other.
She could feel he was getting close because she was too.
She stopped kissing him and looked into his eyes.
“Focus, let’s do this together, teammate”.
Erik exploded all over her. He had been waiting, holding back for so long.
Missing being with her. It wasn’t the same alone.
“Well, I certainly feel better after that. Better than the pain meds.” She smiled at him.
He lay on the bed, feeling more relaxed. “We should do that more often.”
Ingrid let out a giggle, “Oh, darling, under normal circumstances, you wouldn’t last five minutes before you had me on that bed!” She said, walking off to get a towel to wipe him off her.
“True,” he said. “Come back here, I want to hold you now.”
They had some time before Jimmy would be back with their food. Antoine, Gaetan, and Nico were coming over for dinner. Another reason to enjoy motorhome life, it was just like being at home.
???
Erik was on pole. He locked up his wheels going into turn 1 on the first lap, and Nico took the lead. The Cavallo had too much race pace on this track for him to catch it. The fans loved it because this kept the Championship alive. Erik, Antoine, and Jonathan were less enthralled.
“I don’t understand. They were behind us in the practice sessions.” Antoine said on the flight to Mexico City. “Even I was faster than Nico by FP3.”
“You win some, you lose some, mate,” Erik said.
“It does seem odd, though,” Ingrid added. “They didn’t bring any upgrades to COTA.”
“Maybe they were just sandbagging during practice, or the pace in the car came to them because of the change in track conditions? It happens.” Erik settled back and left it at that. He had been through this before; the others hadn’t.
Mexico was a close battle between Nico and Erik the entire weekend.
Erik managed to hold on to first place, with Callipel in second and Nico in third.
Antoine had come in fourth. Callipel’s second-place finish helped Erik’s Championship bid, but the battle for the Constructors’ Championship was now getting tighter.
“Ingie, I’m going to need your help. I can’t let the team down again,” Antoine said to her as they were walking to the plane.
“Of course, my friend! We’ll talk when we get to S?o Paolo,” she said in French.
Ingrid was in demand in Brazil that week. Elizabeth was almost always by Jonathan’s side, so Ingrid hadn’t had the chance to get to know her that well. She approached Ingrid as Ingrid was walking back from a smoke break.
“Do you have time for a chat?”
“Of course!”
“Somewhere private?”
“If you know of somewhere private in this paddock, do tell me!” Ingrid laughed. “Actually, we can use Erik’s changeroom. He’s busy with whatever driver stuff he does.”
“Driver briefing,” Elizabeth said. “Thanks, that will work.”
They went to his room and closed the door.
“This is confidential, right?”
“Always. What’s happening, Lizzie?”
“You know Old Pierre is retiring from Dunham, right?” Ingrid nodded. “I was approached and shortlisted by the Board for the TP position.”
“That’s fantastic, Lizzie!”
“You think so?”
“Definitely! You’d be the first female TP in twenty years.”
“I know. I’m just worried about telling Jonny. Also, if it were to get out and I didn’t get the job, it would look awful.”
“You’re thinking negatively about it. What are the reasons?”
“I think because I have been by Jonny’s side for so many years that I never imagined leaving that position. I would have to find a suitable replacement. I think Jules could do it, but she loves the media aspect too much.”
“You’re thinking about Jonny and not yourself. He’s a big boy; he can take care of himself. Who do you think probably put your name forward for the position?”
It looked like a weight lifted off of Elizabeth’s shoulders.
“Oh, I never thought about that.”
“The TPs talk, Lizzie. You know this better than anyone else. My advice is to fight for the position and with a positive attitude. No more worrying about Jonny or the team. If it happens, then it happens. If it doesn’t, then at least you can say you gave it your all.”
Lizzie got up and hugged Ingrid.
“I’m so glad I spoke to you. I’m really glad we brought you into the team.”
Erik walked in at this moment and seemed surprised.
“What are you two gossiping about? I can’t think of any trouble I’ve gotten into lately.”
“You’ve actually been very well-behaved since you found this one.” Elizabeth hugged him and left the room.
“What was that all about?” He asked.
“None of your business.” Ingrid smiled. “Can we go home now? I’m tired.”
Ingrid was looking exhausted and a bit pale.
“Yes, because you’re on calls to clients at ridiculous hours, plus working trackside. I don’t know how you’re managing!”
“Someone has to pay the bills around here…”
“V?lva!” He pushed her back on the bed and kissed her.
Antoine walked into the room, saying, “Ingie”.
“When did you stop knocking?” Erik asked.
“Oh, sorry, Lizzie said I’d find Ingie in here, but she didn’t warn me about you!” Antoine carried on, unbothered by the couple, “Ingie, you said we could talk?”
“Not right now. She needs some rest.”
“It doesn’t look like you’re giving her any!”
They agreed to talk before dinner because Ingrid was feeling exhausted. Three weeks on the road with clients on different sides of the world was taking its toll on her.
Erik found Antoine and Ingrid having one of their sessions just before dinner.
“Can I join you now?” He asked.
“Actually, we were just talking about you,” she said. “You’ve won Constructors’ Championships already, so I suggested that Antoine speak to you about it.”
“Is that what you’re worried about?” Erik leaned back, surprised.
“Oui, mon pote, why are you surprised?”
“I guess I just don’t think like that.”
“I know how you think…” Ingrid said. “But I wasn’t going to tell him.”
“Stop thinking about the Championship. It’s about the race.
We go racing every weekend because we love it.
Don’t worry about what the other teams are doing.
Yes, I heard you still talking about Cavallo’s race pace.
Focus on your race. We have a great car, a great team, and you’re a great driver.
Also, how do you know how I think?” He pointed this question at Ingrid.
“You think I don’t, darling?” She smiled with a wicked look in her eyes.
“Ok, yes, somehow she knows me better than I do sometimes.”
“Thanks, Rik, I think I understand what you’re saying. I’m going to try.”
Erik put his hand on Antoine’s shoulder and reassured him that they’ve got this.
They did. S?o Paolo resulted in a 1-2 finish for Wentworth.
As long as they could continue with a podium in Vegas, they would take the Constructors’ Championship battle all the way to Abu Dhabi.
For Erik, a win in Vegas would secure his Drivers’ Championship.
This was all the media could talk about post-race.
Erik was getting visibly annoyed. His answer to every question about the Championship was: “You never know what could happen in Vegas. A race is just another race. You’ve seen how unpredictable this year has been for me. ”
“You’re so adorable when you get annoyed with the media,” Ingrid said.
“What else am I supposed to say?” Erik responded. “Yes, I’m going to win the Championship in two weeks? I don’t know that.” He shrugged his shoulders.
Ingrid just laughed and asked if they could finally go home.
What Erik didn’t know was that she had also been organising their move with Peter.
Oliver and Bridget had helped on the UK side to ship some of Ingrid’s more priceless furniture to the new place.
Freja was also helping on her side, overseeing Peter and the movers.
Erik knew they were going home to a new place, but not all the background work that was involved.