Chapter 18 #2
“I find it helpful to have someone to bounce ideas off of and who can see the bigger picture when I’m sometimes missing it.
I also need someone who is calm in a crisis.
You’ve definitely proven that this year.
The team loves and respects you. People sometimes forget that even though this is a very technical sport, it relies on humans to get things done. You see the human aspect and strategy.”
“So, you’re offering her a job?” Erik said bluntly.
“Yes, that’s what I was getting to,” Jonathan said rather exasperatedly.
“Oh, I already told her she should take it if you offered it, so you don’t need me here,” Erik said. He got up, kissed Ingrid on the head, and left to see the team.
“Doesn’t he ever annoy you?” Jonathan asked.
“I think we’re both so impatient at times that it catches up with each other.” She laughed.
“Back to the job, it would be a strategic advisor role, full-time. I know you still have clients, so obviously, you would start when those contracts are finished. What do you think?”
“I don’t need to think about it. I’m in.”
They worked out some of the details and said Julia would work on the announcement with her. She left Jonathan’s office knowing she was doing the right thing. Erik saw her come out; they shared a smile and a nod, then she went to find Julia.
???
Over dinner with Antoine and Nico, Erik put his foot in it by asking where Carla had been for the past few races. It wasn’t meant to be a mind game with Nico; it was a genuine question to a friend. Ingrid had also noticed her absence.
“Thanks for bringing that up, mate,” Nico said grumpily.
“What? I was wondering, too,” Antoine said.
“I guess I should tell you then…Everything was great. You know she was looking for a job?” They all nodded their heads.
“She found a good one in Milan, which sort of works for us, because of where the factory is, and I could get an apartment there. We were starting to plan the fucking wedding, and she decided to call the whole relationship off because she doesn’t like the racing lifestyle. ”
“What?” Erik and Antoine said in unison, both shocked.
“I’m so sorry, Nico,” Ingrid said, grabbing his hand in sympathy.
“When did this happen?” Antoine asked.
“She at least waited for me to get back from S?o Paolo. I didn’t even see it coming.”
“Surely there must have been some signs?” Ingrid asked.
“The fact that she never wanted to come to races probably should have been a sign, and that she hesitated when I asked her to marry me.” Nico was getting frustrated now.
“Ah, mate, I’m really sorry. I wish you had spoken to us before. Remember, we’re friends off track,” Erik said, and he put his arm around him.
Later, as they reached their room, Erik grabbed Ingrid and kissed her intensely.
“What was that for? Not that I’m complaining.” She smiled at him.
“I’m lucky to have found someone who lives racing with me, that’s all,” Erik said, looking into her sapphire eyes.
“Well, with this new job, we’re really going to be living racing together,” Ingrid said, walking away from him to get into her PJs.
“Look at me quickly.” Ingrid turned her head, and Erik took a photo of her. “Just want to capture little moments like this of us on the road…Now don’t finish putting on those PJs.”
“Yes, we both need some practice staying awake at odd hours of the night.” She gave him a side smile.
Erik kissed her and stroked the developing scar on her stomach, looking down at it.
“You’ve been through so much for me this year, Rookie.” He put his hands on her hips and pressed himself against her.
“All worth it.” She kissed him, taking his T-shirt off. “Perhaps we should start talking about that date and making this a racing family?”
Erik lifted her up and put her on the bed. “I want to get to work on the family part.” He laughed.
???
Walking through the paddock this weekend was different; all eyes were on Erik and whether he was going to secure the Championship.
He was cool, calm, and collected. For him, it was just another race.
For Ingrid, she knew how much this would mean for him.
The team had boxes of T-shirts on standby.
She instructed Julia and Elizabeth to keep them hidden from Erik.
“He would lose it if he knew you had them!” She told them.
“We know, but does he really think he won’t be champion after this race?” Julia asked.
“Anything could happen, Jules. We’ve learnt that this year,” Ingrid responded.
The track conditions weren’t suiting the car.
Erik only managed 3rd in FP2, and Antoine came 4th, but 0.
4 seconds off his pace. The whole team stayed to work on the car overnight.
Ingrid brought them coffee and whatever they needed.
She wasn’t going to leave either. In future, this would be her job to be around the team at moments like this.
“Jonny, I’ve been watching Erik and Antoine working together with the engineers and mechanics. Do they usually do this?”
“Not usually, to be honest. They bugger off, leave it to the sim drivers, and get some sleep. Why?”
“I think they should do this more often. They both have a natural sense for what needs to be done.”
The late-night work paid off. The car was much better the next day. Erik pulled off the lap of his life in qualifying, and Antoine closed the gap so that he only had Nico between them.
Claire was on the grid with Bartoli on race day and found Ingrid.
“Oh, my darling, I’m so glad I found you in all this chaos!”
“You’re looking gorgeous!” Ingrid was happy to see a face she recognised amongst all the celebrities on the grid. “How are you?”
“I’m the one who should be asking you that!” She said in her dulcet tones. “But I’m grand. Have I introduced you to Carlos?” She was calling him over.
“Yes, you have; remember we had dinner together in Madrid,” she said as Carlos kissed her cheeks. “How are you, Bartoli?”
“It’s good to see you, Ingrid! Are the rumours true? You’re making a permanent transition to motorsport?”
Ingrid laughed and just put it down to paddock gossip. She wished Bartoli luck for the race and went to Antoine and Bonnie.
“We all good here?” Ingrid asked.
“Yes, Ingie.” Antoine grinned. “I know what I have to do.”
Erik came over for their pre-race ritual.
“Go get him, mate.” He winked at Antoine.
“Now you,” He pulled Ingrid closer.
She put her hand on his chest, kissed him, and whispered in his ear, “Don’t crash”.
“I won’t, and I love you.”
Mike Button caught them just as they were about to walk off the grid for the big Vegas entrance.
“How are you two feeling today?”
“It’s just another race.” They replied at the same time, laughing.
“Sorry, but we have to go,” Erik said.
Ingrid took up her new spot in the garage next to Jonathan. People would notice, but Elizabeth said she needed to start observing now. Elizabeth moved to the pit wall as a way to make the change less obvious. She also needed to get used to a new position.
???