Chapter 16
Zaid
@LIGHTS_OUT_GOSSIP
It’s been nearly a week since the news dropped that Ava Farahani and Zaid Yousef are expecting a baby together, and personally, we’re still in shock.
Honestly, this is some Montagues and Capulets kind of chaos, because who in their right mind knocks up the boss’s daughter from a rival team? That’s bold, if we do say so ourselves.
The two stepped out together publicly for the first time today in Monaco and we’ve seen photos of them from every paddock photographer, including close-ups of Ava’s (admittedly kind of cute, ugh) baby bump.
Guess we’re adding Zaid to the list of DILF racing drivers, but is anyone else worried about how this is going to affect his championship chances??
COMMENTS
no1_axel_berg_fan who wants to bet that baby’s actually Axel’s
Mascort4Life It has to be Axel’s. There’s no way Yousef would be dumb enough to knock up OMID FUCKING FARAHANI’S daughter. Bergmüller, though? Nothing but rocks in his little head. He probably thinks that’s his way to earn a place permanently in that family since his own father hates him
mrsreidcoleman i hope its axel’s baby they would be so cute together omggggg
vivelamarchand VINDICATION.gif i KNEW they were together all those years ago. can’t believe they thought they could lie to us about it
deck_me_decker do you think they’ve been a couple this entire time??? I swear I haven’t seen anything about Zaid with other women since they were linked years ago so I kinda wonder . . .
dambrosiclownshow i should have known they were together, did you see the closeup shots of her in Imola on sunday? she was literally WEARING HIS NUMBER ON A NECKLACE it was so fuckin obvious we were so blind
jimboracingman big nose bitch
gridgrrrrrrlz there’s gonna be a new world champion in about 18 years mark my words
zaids8thchampionship fuck me it’s so over for my GOAT
formulafans4jesus literally what does he see in her why would he risk it all for Specter’s Spy
hopelessly_DEVoted what’s that saying about having a wife and two kids at home?
The media is number one on my shit list this week.
They usually are, week after week, but I mean it more than ever.
There’s a horde of photographers crowding Ava and me as we walk through the Monaco paddock, attempting to reach the Mascort motorhome.
Adnan and the two extra bodyguards hired by the team do their best to clear a path for us, but they’re barely holding back the crush of bodies.
It’s Saturday, qualifying day, which will essentially decide the outcome of tomorrow’s race since it’s so difficult to pass on this circuit.
It’s also the first time Ava and I have been seen together since the photos at my father’s memorial leaked, let alone since our press release.
This time, it’s an official debut instead of a violation of privacy.
Still feels like a violation, though, especially with how many people are pushing in. It’s not just the press, but fans too, some with no concept of how to conduct themselves in public.
I keep my hand on the small of Ava’s back so she doesn’t get lost in the melee, wishing I could tuck her fully into my side and bark at everyone to back the fuck off.
The stress of this can’t be good for her or the baby, and I regret ever selfishly asking her to travel with me.
But this entrance was her idea, to give these bloodsuckers a taste and satiate their curiosity just enough that they back off in other ways.
‘I think we should get it over with,’ she said last night when she told me her idea. ‘The longer we drag it out, the worse it’ll be.’
I’m sure she’s right, but it feels spectacularly bad right now.
And yet, like the princess she is, she’s smiling and giving little finger waves to the people who call her name, ducking her head and blushing when they yell their congratulations or ask when she’s due.
It’s better than focusing on the less-than-wholesome things others are shouting.
I can tolerate most of the inquiries, like How long have you been dating? or How is this going to affect your racing? I have to fight to keep my expression impassive when one of them asks if I’m considering retirement, but I pretend I don’t hear and let the words bounce around in my head.
Telling Ava my decision was nerve-racking enough, so I can only imagine what it’ll be like when the secret circle expands to my friends and family, let alone when I have to tell Mascort as a whole.
They’ve been my team for ten long years and I’m going to walk away from them, gone for good instead of just across the paddock like it was when I left Deschamp.
‘You okay?’ Ava murmurs, loud enough for only me to hear over the chaos.
My eyes flick across her face and then down, making sure she’s okay before I can give her a proper answer. Her dress today reaches the tops of her sandals but the stretchy black material clings to her every curve, including the small one of her bump, which she has a protective hand over.
‘I’m—’ I start to say, but I’m cut off by another shout from the crowd.
‘Did you knock her up just to get one over on Specter Energy?’
The man’s tone is joking, cajoling, like we’re mates who sit around and take the piss out of each other. He carries on, this comment a little sharper than the last, far less friendly.
‘Or did you just want a quick fuck and got more than you bargained for?’
My blood is near to boiling as my head snaps up, searching the mob for whoever’s said it.
He’s easy to spot, with his smug grin and combed-back blond hair, a VIP pass around his neck that he spent entirely too much money on.
But isn’t that the whole point? To prove that he can buy his way in here?
Prove that he’s just as important as the rest of us, even though he’s done nothing to earn it?
Doesn’t matter. What matters is he’s here and he has the fucking gall to talk about Ava that way.
I can feel her edging closer to me, pulling away from where the man lingers on the outskirts of the crowd, and I don’t hesitate wrapping my arm around her waist to keep her to me, my hand curving around the swell of her stomach.
‘Speak that way about the mother of my child again and you’ll never see another paddock,’ I snap before I can think about the consequences.
Camera flashes and shouts and general murmurings pick up at my outburst, and it’s sure to end up online in the next few minutes if it hasn’t already been live-streamed.
Basil will certainly have some choice words for me when I get to the garage.
Hell, I might even end up getting reprimanded by the FIA.
But I can’t say I care. Lucky for them, I’ve had enough media training that I didn’t threaten that man’s shitty life or drive my fist straight into his face.
All I can think about is Ava. Not just the fact that she has to face this now, but all the shit she dealt with previously because of me.
I stood back for too long then, listening to everyone who told me to ignore the vicious whispers and let it die out on its own.
It didn’t, though, and she suffered for it.
I’m not letting that happen again.
Thankfully, the Mascort motorhome is within sight, and I carefully guide Ava along until we’re up the steps and inside, the press and fans kept out by security.
I keep moving until we’re out of view through the glass walls of the building’s front, then slow to a stop, reluctantly dropping my arm from around her waist.
‘Well,’ Ava exhales, self-consciously patting her hair as she looks up at me with those wide doe eyes. Somehow, she’s still smiling, even if it’s a bit dazed. ‘That was an experience.’
I blow out a matching breath but I’m not amused. ‘I’m sorry about what that man—’
‘You didn’t make him say that stuff.’ She shrugs, somehow letting this all roll off her. ‘It’s not your fault. Besides, I’ve gotten worse.’
Hearing that is a kick to the chest, but the pain is dulled by Ava running her fingers down my arm until she’s grasping my hand. ‘Thank you for defending me,’ she says softly.
I swallow hard because she shouldn’t feel the need to thank me. I want nothing more than to keep her safe from anything and anyone who would ever dare to harm her. ‘From now until forever, princess.’
A beat of silence hangs between us and I simply ground myself with the sensation of her warm hand in mine. I don’t let go until my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I murmur for her to give me a second as I check the notification from Sami, who’s supposed to be off coordinating with my press officer.
It’s a link to a gossip page I’m unfortunately all too familiar with, but I don’t bother tapping on it since I can guess what it is.
Sami’s message underneath is Especially liked the part where they called you a ‘bad boy baby daddy.’ What a stunning piece of journalism.
As I’m staring at the screen, another message from Sami comes in.
I’ve watched the video of you snapping at that man three times already.
Also, tell Ava she looks great, truly glowing.
I lock my phone and slip it back into my pocket, annoyed and a little amazed at how they got that post up so quickly, but everyone wants to be at the scene of the crime. The one thing Sami’s right about is that Ava looks great.
People talk about the glow pregnancy can give, but Ava has always glowed.
Now, though, it’s like the intensity’s been turned up, like the happiness that radiates from her has reached a new level.
This pregnancy, as rough on her physically and emotionally as it’s been so far, has brought her incandescent joy.
It’s made it even harder to take my eyes off her.
I clear my throat to ease the viselike grip that’s suddenly tightened around my heart. ‘Are you sure you want to hang around?’ I ask her, needing to get my mind on something else. ‘You’ve already had a fair bit of attention today.’
Ava waves it off. ‘I’m fine. I’ve always wanted to see how Mascort operates.’
‘Sure, but—’