chapter twenty-one

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Antonia W.

The sun was out as I stepped out of the car on this Saturday morning. The last days had been pretty busy back at the factory and it was only my first day here in Silverstone. The free practices had been good and I was optimistic for the race tomorrow.

 "I wanna see the cars!" Luca shouted happily as he walked on my fathers hand next to me to the entrance.

It was the first race this season that my father was here and it made me kind of nervous. But it was nothing compared to the nervousness I felt when thinking of Carlos and our interaction in Austria.

"Don't feel watched by me or anything like that." my father said and patted my shoulder, "This is a family trip and not a work one, so do your work and I will let Luca show me around the garage and paddock."

I just nodded and looked around as we entered the garage. Markus greeted me and I quickly made him familiar with my dad, before he and Luca went over to the cars. As I needed some moments to fully arrive and calm down I walked over to my office.

"Antonia, hey." Carlos said surprised as we bumped into each other around the corner.

Immediately he wanted to place his hands on my waist, but I stepped back.

"Stop, we can't." I said and swallowed, before I continued, "What happened in Austria was mistake, I was drunk and it shouldn't have happened, I am your boss and I am so sorry that I have thrown myself at you like that."

Quickly I walked past him and he shouted my name after me, but before he could continue, some engineer asked for him. As soon as I reached my office I shut the door and some tears were dropping on my shirt.

Shit. I couldn't even look him into the eyes while telling him that, but it was the truth, I was his boss and that should have never happened. I was together with Sebastian and my dad was so happy for us and so optimistic that we could be a family again, I didn't want to disappoint him.

"Toni, are you in here? Can we go through the qualifying plans?" Ricky asked and knocked.

Quickly I brushed the tears aside and then opened the door to let him in.

A couple hours later it was about time and the twenty cars drove out for their fastest laps. It really went well and we managed to bring both cars into Q3. Unfortunately Carlos made too many mistakes and ended up P8 while Checo was doing a good job, placing himself on P3.

Whilst some mechanics shouted at the Mexican and congratulated him right there at the spot, I stayed in the garage and looked over some data from him. He had a good chance for tomorrows race.

"Carlo!" I heard Luca's voice a little later and as I looked up I saw Carlos walking into the garage.

His head was down and his hair were sweaty, he seemed stressed but as soon as he saw Luca on my fathers arm, a smile build up on his face.

"Hello buddy, not a great result but we fight for it tomorrow." he said and brushed casually through Luca's hair.

But as soon as he saw the serious look of my father he shrugged back and stretched his hand out.

"Carlos Sainz, Sir."

"I know, Albert Winter, the CEO of Audi." he said with such an intimidating voice that even I had a cold shiver running down my back.

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