"When do we get a copy of the magazine?" George asked while driving you towards your office again.
"First edition, right before it hits the streets and the website," you replied. "Why? Want to warn some people?"
He chuckled. "Well I assumed we'd do some promo of the issue and because I want to read it too..."
"Oh me too, don't worry, I was even thinking of asking for some favours to get us a copy early."
"Yes please! I'm still quite nervous about that one..."
You patted his arm on the wheel of the car. "It went great George, I was there supervising everything and the questions went beautifully, nothing too extreme and all pure you."
He blushed. "Thank you, and thank you too for making me part of this job, I like it that you don't just hand me a paper with speeches."
You smiled at him. "You're very welcome, honestly my goal is to people to see George Russell and not some made up plastic champion who plays only by the rules."
"A bad boy!" He said and made you laugh.
"Will only say yes so you don't feel the need to prove it," you told him and grabbed your bag. "See you tonight? Will stop by my flat to pick up your groceries and other things and will be there by 7.
Is that okay?"
"Great," he said. "Sure you don't want me to pick you up again?"
"Nah, the doorman will start asking questions,"
You giggled and waved him goodbye.
—
A few hours later, you rushed home, showered and picked the stuff you needed before heading towards George's flat on Fontvieille.
Needless to say, it was an impressive building with a gorgeous view of the riviera. Worthy of champions.
You called the intercom and he let you in. He was waiting at the door with his sport clothes on and very sweaty.
"Don't tell me you're not ready for dinner and work, George," you deadpanned.
He chuckled. "Finished working out like an hour ago and realised that my terrace was fit to working out but not for proper dinner and papers so I had to move everything around, sorry!"
"It's fine, you go and spruce up, I can wait out here if you want," you told him.
He frowned. "Are you crazy? Come in, won't take long and we can start, already ordered dinner to be here around 8, is that good?"
You nodded and looked around his place. "Great taste, this is absolutely beautiful and quite clean... unlike you," you teased him and giggled.
"I see the Russell slander has started already! I better go then," he chuckled and went to shower.
You stayed and took a look outside, to the view of the sea and the yachts parked in line. The sunset from the balcony was breathtaking, giving just the right amount of sunlight left to admire the landscape. Inside, you could see a wall filled with trophies, from the ones in karting categories, passing through the two formula categories he became champion, until his first win in Brazil. The star shaped coloured trophy rested alongside his World Champion trophy, showing how important that first win was to him. For a few seconds, your eyes teared a little as if the George Russell fan that was jumping with joy that first time he scored points in his F1 career was still there and it wasn't his friend staying in front of his trophy cabinet in his house. You giggled softly and turned to go outside again, when you saw George standing behind you, waiting for you to finish.
"Am I being too much of a show off with the trophies showcased like that?" He said with a blush on his cheeks.
You went to him. "Don't be silly, you should be proud of all you accomplished, and you do good having them here to remind yourself everyday just how talented and worthy of all that you are."
He listened and let out a big grin. "Do you say that to everyone?"
"Only to those who deserve such words, and you my friend -can't believe I'm calling you that-, are the first one who deserves it," you told him and patted him on his arm.
"Well thank you, very much."
"You're welcome, very much too."
You both giggled and went outside to start working.
—
Less than an hour later, dinner arrived. The upside of living in Monaco is that you could ask for McDonald's or a plate of salmon with a side of sweet potatoes and peas and it would be the same service. You put aside the laptop and the papers to eat for a few minutes.
"So," George started with his glass of water in hand. "What's that I heard about you not believing we are friends?"
You choked on a piece of fish. "What?"
"You said it earlier, that you couldn't believe that you were calling me your friend."
You let out a giggle after a sip of water. "It's partially true, I was peeking at your trophies and remembering your career and the fan side of me tuned in and... well, yeah."
"And...?"
"And there was obviously a time where I didn't even think I would be now working with you, having salmon on your terrace! Least of all, picking up your groceries and having you drive me around on your Mercedes!" You giggled shyly and went all red.
"Ohhhh wait, so this is like a dream for you?" He smirked.
"Don't test it, Russell, it was a moment of fangirl weakness, I could still beat you," you told him. "We're friends now, I'm not shy anymore because you asked for this!"
He laughed. "Indeed I asked for it, and I'm glad because I can keep asking until you tell me if you had a crush on me during those days..."
"Absolutely not."
"Look me in the eyes and tell me you didn't have my photo as your phone wallpaper..."
You looked at him in the eye and tried your best to lie to him straight in the face. "I'm not going to dignify that question with an answer."
"Ha! That means it's a yes! I was your phone wallpaper?"
"One time, and it was you on the car, don't flatter yourself!"
He smiled widely. "Oh but I am! Never knew someone actually did that with my photos!"
You chuckled. "Oh really? George you're telling me you didn't know you even had fan fiction wrote about you?"
He gasped and lowered his tone. "Did you read those?"
You looked at him and smirked. "Maaaaaaaaybe one or two...?"
He shrieked. "I need them, now!"
"No sir, this is a work meeting not Raise Russell George's Ego Club!"
"Please just one, a short one!" He pouted.
"Nope."
"What if we compromise?" He asked.
"How?"
"I will gain a few minutes to read a fic but you can choose it."
"How's that a compromise, G?"
"Okay then, I will stop asking for it if you admit you had a shirtless photo of me as your wallpaper at some point..."
You snorted. "That I can vouch for, I never had it."
He took your phone from the table. "I don't think so..." he said as he raised your mobile in front of your face to unlock it, revealing a photo of George on a hike without a t-shirt on, as a wallpaper.
You gasped. "That's not my wallpaper! How did you do this?"
He laughed. "While you were admiring my cabinet, I saw your phone unlocked and decided to prank you, I just found it so useful right now!"
"You're good at being sneaky, Reorge Gussell, but I will get revenge!" You laughed and locked your phone again before placing it on the table again.
"I don't see you changing the wallpaper though..." he smirked.
"Maybe I want to admire it a little longer, since you left it there freely for me to watch..." you winked.
He stared at you and just let out a shy giggle.
"Now, let's work a bit more so we can read the fic after..." you said and pushed the laptop towards a silenced George.
—