Chapter 6
JESSICA
I pace down the paddock, trying to breathe and glancing at my hand for the tenth time since my run-in with Luke.
Still no burn marks, just like the other nine times I’ve checked.
It felt like he burned me with his touch, a sizzling tension that lasted only a second before I pulled my hand away. He must think I’ve never touched a man’s hand.
Not that I care what he thinks, or maybe I do, and that’s part of the problem.
Working in F1 and securing this internship involved conducting extensive research on all the teams, team principals, and, most importantly, the drivers.
I had this picture of Luke Hastings in my mind, a picture that seems too perfect and not real, at least in terms of beauty.
On top of that, I get the impression that he is incredibly talented and hardworking, which are qualities I value in a person.
However, he is part of the job and therefore off-limits, and should also be out of reach.
I never thought I would find myself in a situation like this.
I don’t even know if I can call it a situation.
I came here to work and not be burning up by two small interactions with Luke.
I take a deep breath; I just have to woman up and get over myself. He will soon tire of me and move on to other things, and I’ll get back to just focusing on being the best reporter I can be, not being distracted by hazel eyes and smiles aimed my way.
In the meantime, I’ll do my best to push him and his touch out of my mind.
◆◆◆
We are watching the qualifying laps for the Baku Grand Prix. The drivers are speeding around the track, improving their lap times with each run. To earn points, drivers must finish among the top ten during the race. This all starts with the qualifying, which determines where they start on the grid.
Usually, there are a few top teams everyone expects to battle for pole position and race wins.
The midfield includes teams that compete for points but typically don’t contend for the top spots.
Then there are the teams that struggle the most, often ending without points.
Currently, the three teams that appear to be the strongest are fighting for the top spot.
First, we have the Bugatti team. A relatively new team on the grid, but with money-heavy sponsors backing them, they have advanced faster than the average team.
Then we have Audi, which has been a top team for the past decade and was last year’s winner in both the constructors’ and drivers’ championships.
Lastly, we have the BMW team, also known as the Luke Hastings team.
Just as I think about him, his name jumps to the top of the board, securing him the top spot with thirty seconds remaining in qualifying.
If no one else goes faster than him, he will be in pole position, meaning he will start the race from the best position on the grid.
The seconds tick down as more drivers cross the finish line, but no one can beat Luke’s time. When the checkered flag waves and he remains unbeatable, the screens fill with celebration scenes in the BMW garage and their pit wall, where the team principals and strategists sit.
“He is living up to his image quite well, don’t you think?” Steve asks me. Everyone refers to Luke as the golden boy, the one who is expected to win the championship this year.
“Yeah, I guess so.” I start writing the standings of the top ten drivers.
Part of my job is to prepare questions and analyses we can use during our interviews after qualifying. Even though I won’t be the one asking the questions, I still feel satisfied that my work will be part of Star News coverage.
We are setting up in the interview zone and getting ready to conduct our interviews. With Andrew as our main reporter, Star News often covers the top stories of an F1 weekend. He’s well respected in the paddock and among the teams and drivers.
I’m standing behind the camera as Luke approaches our interview spot.
A part of me wants to come up with an excuse to step away for a few minutes while Andrew conducts the interview.
The other part tells me to stop being a coward and do my job.
Working here will make me meet with Luke, just like any other driver, so I might as well deal with it.
Hopefully, that will make him move on with his antics and get bored with me.
I’m writing up the notes from Andrew’s last interview when he calls Luke over to our spot.
I feel my pulse pounding as he gets closer and takes the spot beside Andrew.
“The golden boy of not just this qualifying, but this whole season, if you keep this up, Luke Hastings! Tell us about your lap that secured you pole position for tomorrow.” I look up from my book and into his eyes, which are already trained on me.
He smiles and begins answering Andrew’s question, occasionally glancing at Andrew before fixing his eyes back on me.
Even though I hate to admit it, the tension between us is affecting me more than I’d like.
Andrew continues to ask Luke about his expectations for Sunday and whether he believes the forecast of heavy rain will make it more difficult to secure a win.
“I’m confident I can take the victory home, no matter the weather conditions. Hopefully, the rain won’t make me slip and knock someone over out on the track or in the paddock.” He winks at me, and Andrew wraps up the interview.
He makes me feel flustered all over again, and I focus on regaining control. I’m a grown woman, for Christ’s sake, get it together.
I turn around, searching for anyone I can ask an irrelevant question to get away, but before I can take two steps, I feel a touch on my elbow.
“Not so fast, princess. Can we talk?” Luke asks me. I hesitate, glancing around the paddock and all the people mingling nearby.
It’s only a matter of time before he’s called into another interview.
I can handle this, handle him.
“Yeah, of course. What do you want to talk about?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.
He looks at me with those intrigued eyes again, just like yesterday. He’s more relaxed than he was yesterday when he stormed in on us, and I have to admit, I like seeing him like this.
He seems much more approachable now.
“How about the way you were just trying to run off from here at the sight of me? Are you really that scared of me, princess?” Luke smiles, and I feel my pulse pounding faster again.
He quickly catches on to my actions, calling me out for trying to escape his presence. I really hoped he would get on with his life after I quite coldly turned him down during our last interaction, but apparently, no such luck.
“First of all, stop calling me princess. Secondly, I’m not scared of you. And third, I did not try to run off; I just happened to have someplace to be,” I say.
Luke doesn’t seem convinced, and he crosses his arms.
“Really? I would think that if the driver who just took pole position were hanging around the media station where you work, you would want to stay, maybe get a comment? Or is your job really boring you already?” He’s obviously teasing me, and the smug bastard makes a fair point about doing my job as well.
I take a deep breath, plastering on my biggest smile, my reporter smile.
“The almighty Luke Hastings, the golden boy of Formula 1, I’m so pleased that you’re taking the time out of your day to bless us, reporters, with your presence.
Now, please tell me all about how the weather conditions are an uncertain factor for Sunday’s race, but that you’re confident in your abilities behind the wheel.
But I must say, the porpoising seems rather unpleasant from my point of view.
But what do I know? I’m just a reporter hanging around, waiting for the big star to drop by and give me a minute of his time,” I finish, and Luke’s smile has dropped.
I make a point of repeating what he told Andrew in the interview, making it clear that I was following, as well as adding the element of porpoising, which was evident in the earlier practices.
Even though his presence stirs up a whirlwind of complicated feelings within me, an uneasy mix of attraction, irritation, and confusion, I wouldn’t say I’m a naive teenager with a crush who would easily swoon just because he pays me a little attention.
If Luke believes I am, he’s in for a surprise.
I can tell my remarks don’t sit well with him, but honestly, he only has himself to blame for wandering around here with an ego so inflated it rivals the size of the entire paddock.
The tension between us is escalating, thickening the air with unspoken words and lingering glances.
“Luke! Luke! Over here.” Before he has a chance to answer, another reporter calls him over.
“We’re not finished here. I’ll come find you, and what did you say, bless you with my time? Be ready at eight.” He walks away, and I stare dumbfounded at the spot he just left.
We’re not finished? Be ready at eight?
I shake my head, trying to wrap my mind around Luke Hastings and the complicated feelings he invokes in me.
◆◆◆
At seven, I’m freaking out, wondering if Luke will show up.
Should I be prepared just in case, and for what exactly?
Should I do my makeup again?
After the whole showdown in the interview zone, I went for a run to clear my head and took a shower to wash away the day.
Now I’m standing in my small room, trying to decide if I believe he will show up or not.
Part of me knows he will.
Luke doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to give empty promises.
On the other end, I don’t really know him or what kind of guy he is. Maybe he’s the type who leaves women high and dry.
And what even is this?
Are we just talking so he can set me straight, make sure I don’t talk back to him again? Or is it more like a date?
Even though we’ve spent most of our time arguing, I can’t deny the tension between us. He looks at me with fire in his eyes, and part of me thinks he likes the challenges I throw his way as well.
I call Sarah, hoping she can help me sort out this whole mess inside my head. She picks up immediately.
“Hey girl! How is everything in Europe? Or is it Asia?” She chuckles through the phone.
“Honestly, I don’t know for sure myself. Asia, I think?”
The first part of the season begins at the borders between Asia and Europe, starting in Baku. Then we’re heading to Bahrain next.
Sarah shares all the latest campus gossip.
Apparently, even Seth’s father couldn’t help his son get an opportunity in F1, and I’m glad I won’t be seeing him here. The journalism world can be tough, and even though I thrive on challenges, it’s reassuring to know that Seth can’t get every opportunity handed to him on a silver platter.
“Can’t say I’m going to miss having him around,” I tell her, and we both laugh.
Several people from our program were sent to work in the NHL, such as Sarah, but since everyone is assigned to different departments or teams, they won’t really see each other.
We catch up on our latest tasks before shifting to the topic of men.
“I honestly don’t know what I’m even going to tell you. If there’s anything to tell you, but I figured I must either way because I’m going crazy, or at least that’s how I’m feeling,” I say, and Sarah looks intrigued.
Having a best friend to confide in, even if they are far away, is comforting.
“Have you met someone? Omg, is it someone on your team? Please tell me he’s hot, and maybe that he’s got some hot friends as well?” I shake my head at my best friend, who always sees the opportunities.
We’ve always joked about ending up with anyone other than athletes. Maybe a ripped cowboy or a white-collar man. Athletes can be full of themselves, and so far, our experiences have been varied.
I tell her about the whole Luke situation and how we met. Him storming into us before I gave him a piece of my mind about his behaviour. Then the roses and my lame attempt to let him down.
Bringing me to today’s situation, where I again acted like a total bitch, very unlike my character, and he told me to be ready at eight because apparently, “we’re not done.” I drag my hand through my hair.
“I don’t even know why I acted that way today. He just irritated me, waltzing around with his million-dollar smile and carefree attitude, as if everything were a joke to him,” I say as I pace around the small space.
“While I try to make a name for myself and establish myself as a professional. Maybe I’m just being dramatic, but he makes me feel all sorts of things, and I just don’t know what I’m going to do.” I honestly thought that after our initial meeting, I’d never interact with him again.
Either because he would have me fired for insulting him, or because he would just stay away from the girl who told him to get lost. Sarah sighs and smiles into the phone.
“Well duh. Obviously, you’re going to get ready to meet a man who has set his sights on you.
Or at least that’s how it sounds, and for once, just enjoy yourself, Jessica.
Honestly, you’re always thinking so much about everyone else and what they’re thinking.
When was the last time you did something for yourself?
Not for a goal, but just because you wanted to enjoy something?
Or someone?” She wiggles her eyebrows, making us both laugh.
I think about what she just told me.
When was the last time I did something just for fun? I’m always focused on the next thing on my list. The next goal, the next achievement.
Maybe it’s time to do something simply for enjoyment.
“For all I know, Luke will come here only to get the last word in and then leave me behind,” I say, and Sarah rolls her eyes at me.
“Stop doubting yourself, Jess, and start getting ready for a fun night with a man who seems like he matches your wit and your fire. I would choose a sheer top with some tight jeans and your killer heels. He won’t stand a chance.”
We hang up, and I do my best, focusing on the advice from Sarah.
Trying to push my insecurities and worries out of my head.
I can enjoy the evening with a handsome man without the world coming to an end.
Putting on some music, I start getting ready for Luke Hastings.