The Race Director's Daughter (Sebastian Vettel)

6. First Impressions

Leah looked down at her phone screen, smiling as she saw a text from her favourite person in the world, her stepbrother, Joel.

J: hey, how's my favourite stepsister? Bahrain good? It's raining back here as you might have guessed. It's the U.K.  Going out for a curry with Simon and Jack. Miss you my little petal! Xx

She quickly tapped out a reply.

L:  I'm your only stepsister. Bahrain is ...hot. Seriously, it's good.  I've made some friends already.  Tamara and Jenna. I work with them and they've just introduced me to a couple of girls that work at Williams.  Went to the driver's briefing earlier.  I had to try so hard not to freak out!  Out having a drink at the moment with Tamara and Jenna. Enjoy your curry.  Text you tomorrow xx

As she put her phone down she heard someone sit down besides her.  She turned, expecting to see Jenna. She got the fright of her life as she saw the grinning face of Daniel Ricciardo staring back at her.  Her eyes widened and she felt her breathing quicken. 

"Hi, I'm Daniel.  What's your name?"

She froze.  For a second she forgot what her name actually was.

"Ummm," she garbled.

"That is an interesting name. Ummm.   Can't say I've ever known anyone called that before."

Leah felt her face turning red.  Why was Daniel freaking Ricciardo sat in front of her? Damn, he was even more gorgeous close up. 

"So Ummm, you're new right?"

"Hey Ricciardo, get your own seat," Jenna said, returning to the table.

"Excuse me?" he said, unused to being put in his place like that. 

"You heard.  That's my seat."

"I was just talking to Ummm here."

"Ummm?" Jenna said, confused. "Leah, what the hell is he going on about?"

"So your name's Leah? I kinda liked Ummm," he joked.  Leah snorted with laughter, despite the panic she was feeling inside.

"Ah, gotcha!" Daniel said, smiling.  He stood up. 

"Your seat Cruella."  Jenna glared at him. 

Daniel moved to the chair on the other side of Leah.  "I was about to ask you, before we were interrupted, can I buy you a drink?"

"Actually, I was just going," she mumbled. 

"That's a shame. Another time maybe?"

"I don't think so," she said, standing up, grabbing her phone and bag and walking briskly out of the room as if Lucifer himself was persuing her. 

"What did you say to her?" Jenna asked accusingly. 

"Me?  I only asked her what her name was and if I could buy her a drink!"

"She looked terrified."

"That was nothing to do with me.  Look at me, do I look terrifying?"

"I'm not going to answer that."

Daniel spluttered.  "I'd better see if she's ok."  Jenna grabbed her bag and took off after Leah.  

Daniel headed back to his own table unable to believe how that had turned out.  What was Leah so scared of? Was she really that shy?  And why had she turned down a drink with him?

Michael laughed as Daniel sat down.  "You crashed and burned Ricciardo," he taunted.  "What happened to that legendary Ricciardo charm?"

"Shut it," Daniel snarled, making Michael laugh even harder.