~Be yourself, no matter what they say~
The Chrismas days in London were over soon and I was back home.
Christmas in London was very beautiful and it was also nice to celebrate with a part of my family that I have not met for so long. Of course, I saw them a couple of weeks ago but before I came to England, I had not seen them for years. My family did not travel a lot. We had not been on vaccination or we never went home to Hungary. My parents decided to leave their lives back in Hungary and start new in Germany. I was actually doing the same here in England. I have not realized that until now.
Today I was also working one day, between Christmas and New Year. I had a lot of work until March, booking everything for the team on the race tracks and planning the first interviews.
The news started talking again about this weird virus in China and I got a bit confused when I was on my way to organize everything around the race week in China. Is this virus really dangerous like everyone in the news say? I started to inform myself about the whole situation in China. But you could not find any information. I shocked my head. This was just little flu or something like this. That is not a movie, where people are going to die and a Will Smith or an Arnold Schwarzenegger needs to save the world.
I booked everything around China and left my thought about this weird virus behind me.
Someone knocked on my door and came in. It was Ava. "Hi Ava"
"Hi Elizabeth, how are you?", Ava asked and set down in front of me.
"Pretty good thank you. And you?"
"Next to the whole stress, pretty good", Ava answered. "We have so many interviews on our list. And a bit struggle. The reason why I am here."
I looked confused at her and pushed my stack of papers to the side to give Ava my full attention. "Why that? Is everything okay?", I asked a bit worried. Ava's face said everything. There was something. "Not really. Some people are talking about Claire stepping down as team leader."
My eyes widened at that. "Wait, why?" I asked, horrified.
"What for, I wonder. Williams is at the bottom and has been for years. We last became world champions in 1997. No wonder there's speculation," Ava said.
Of course, I was more inexperienced in these areas. Of course, I knew a lot about the business side of a company, but motorsport was not my speciality. Besides, I didn't see Claire as wanting to leave Williams any time soon.
"But Claire wouldn't do that, would she?", I asked, confused. "Williams has been under Frank Williams since 1969, so it's a big family business and Claire honestly didn't strike me as one who would never set foot in this building again."
Ava exhaled deeply. "I know what you mean, I'm 100% with you on that. I've worked for Williams for five years and Claire is not a woman who would just give it up out of nowhere. But we have to be careful. Williams is at the bottom and has been for years."
I nodded slowly. I was aware of Ava's concerns of course and understandable but what did I have to do with it?
"Well, you plan the interviews to some extent too. If anything comes up with 'Claire Williams is leaving the team': delete. Claire knows these rumours are going around but we won't make a statement until Claire talks to us," Ava demanded.
"Understood," I nodded and wrote it down. My mobile phone started vibrating on the desk. I briefly saw on the display that it was George, but I hung up and turned my phone around. This conversation was more important to me now, my thoughts could not be diverted to George during my working hours. No matter how mean it sounded, but work and private life had to be kept separate, I realised that already. That was one thing that worried me. My feelings for George were not optimal for my decision to separate job and private life.
"Okay, anything else?", I asked, turning my gaze to Ava.
"Yes, in the New Year we have two meetings in the first week, then you have to have the plan for test week ready," Ava answered. "What about Australia?"
"Almost done," I replied. "Have it ready by the second of January."
"Very good, you work fast," Ava praised me.
"And what about George?""Huh?" I asked, confused, looking at her. Yes, I was surprised that my work colleague asked me about it. She overheard how George was to me once and ever since then I've had the feeling that Ava seemed to pay attention. "Well you two have something going on don't you?"Was there? I wasn't even sure myself. I was really bad at assessing this. Sure, I thought George was really great, but I wasn't sure what he thought of me. The indications were that maybe he liked me too."I... I don't know," I replied, putting the stack of papers back in front of me. Ava looked at me studiously and nodded briefly. "All right, well, I'll see you around. Happy New Year, see you in January," Ava said goodbye and got ready to walk out of the office. "You too, thank you," I said goodbye.
Later, when I was home, I cooked spaghetti bolognese and made myself comfortable for my remaining days off. I loved my job at Williams, even though it was exhausting and not easy. It was all just beginning and I couldn't wait until it was February and we would fly to Barcelona for the test weeks. And then finally to Australia in March. I was looking forward to Australia more, of course, first because it was my first season that I would be part of Formula 1, then because this would be my first time seeing Formula 1 live and I was also looking forward to Australia. Down Under was one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to. Only I wasn't in Australia, I was in New Zealand because friends of mine lived there. I celebrated Christmas in New Zealand - in the summer. I always wanted to have that experience and I didn't regret it one bit because it was beautiful. And now Australia is going to be amazing.
And I was also looking forward to travelling. I loved to travel. My plan was to travel around the world before I start "going to real-life". But then the whole financial thing came into play: I had moved out at 18, had to pay for everything myself, plus a flat, and there was nothing left for that. Once I went to New Zealand, but I saved up for two years, and once I went on holiday to India with the twins and Vee, where all three of us saved up for almost three years and got a share financed by the twins' parents, as a gift.
I was thrown out of my thoughts when my mobile phone started vibrating next to me. It was George again, calling me on FaceTime. Briefly, I remembered this afternoon, how I just hung up on him and hoped he wouldn't be mad at me. I picked up his call and greeted him with a smile. "Hi.""Hi, Lilibeth. Do you hate me or was there some other reason you hung up on me today?" he asked confused adding a laugh. Somehow I had the feeling that he was a bit disappointed. "No, I don't hate you, don't worry," I reassured him. "I didn't take a lunch break among others today and I had an important conversation."I wasn't worried about Claire, but I knew this was going to be big if William's 2020 didn't get better. I would have loved to talk to George about it, but I wasn't allowed to and couldn't.
"All right.", he smiled and seemed relieved again. Did that mean anything?At least I didn't care, I was just happy to see his beautiful smile. This is what I had been missing for the last few days."And how was it in London?" he started the conversation. "Great, but I'm glad to be back home," I replied. "And how was it at your place?""As usual, Uncle George couldn't prove himself fast without a fast car," he pouted and I chuckled as I made myself comfortable on the couch. "And you're home alone for New Year's Eve?" asked George. I nodded. "Yeah, I don't really have anything big planned," I replied. He nodded. "Okay, so... Well, I have a question," he said, scratching the back of his head. I became curious."Yeah?""Well... yes. I have a little New Year's Eve party planned," he told me. "If you feel like it, you're welcome to come."A smile formed on my face. Actually, I wasn't a big party fan. I rarely went to parties when it was my best friends' birthday, for example, otherwise, I was never invited anyway. But this would also be the first time I was invited in England..."I'd love to," I accepted his invitation. "Ah really?" he asked, surprised. "Pleased to meet you. There will be a few, I hope you don't mind."I shook my head. "As long as there are not more than a hundred people.""I'm afraid there are 150. Okay joke," he joked. "I can't fit that many in my house either," we both laughed. "It's maybe 20, depends on who cancels and who doesn't.""Okay, and who will all be there?", I asked curiously. "Just some close friends," he replied. "A few friends from Formula 1 will be there too, so you'll get to know them already."
"Cool," I said. "Then I can at least give you my Christmas present, too."He made this one sweet face and oh my God, I thought I was melting, he looked so damn cute.
A/N: Imagine this face ajflsfkshfhfafh, He is so fucking cute omg *cries* 😭😭
"You don't seriously have a present for me?!"
"Of course, you'll love it."
"What is it?"
"Surprise. You do know the meaning behind gifts?"
"All right," he shrugged.
"Well, I'm glad to finally see you again," I said after a short silence. "I... I've missed you since our...date," I confessed in a trembling voice. Only then did I realise what I had just said. DID I JUST REALLY-?
George smiled wider than I had ever seen him. "Oh, darling. You're still cute when you blush," he said still smiling when he noticed the blush on my face. "Of course I missed you too, love. Can't wait to hug you again either. Sweaty, of course," he winked.
I snorted. "Oh not again," I laughed desperately. He laughed with me too.
"Alright, so I have to wear a dress or something?", I asked to change the subject.
He shook his head with raised eyebrows. "I'm not a five-star hotel in Monaco, darling."
"Fine, I'll come in sweatpants then," I joked, winking at him.
"You'd look just as beautiful in those as you would in a dress," he said, making my face blush right back. "You think so? But I won't do that to you. I'd rather make something of my vintage tastes again."
"It's great, darling," he complimented me the second time. "It makes you different, that's what I like about you. You're not like other people."
This made my heart beat faster. It was now clear that he liked exactly what others hated about me. That I was different. Actually, I thought that no one would ever see it that way. I always thought everyone hated the fact that I was different. But since I knew George, I knew it wasn't so.
A/N: Tbh, I don't like this chapter, only the last part, but I thought that I should bring something into the story, which is not only with Geoge's gentleman skills. But hey, it's still a George FF so I can do whatever I want.
Sendling love x
PS. Can't for the next chapter :)