Page 30 of Close Contact
“Eyes forward, Fraser,” she said under her breath, her lips twitching in a barely-there smirk.
“You’re a hard woman to ignore,” I shot back, keeping my tone light.
She didn’t respond, but the brief flicker of warmth in her expression was all I needed to confirm she was feeling the same way I was.
Just as the lift slid to a stop, the masks slipped into place, and we were nothing more than colleagues now. No matter how much I wished that wasn’t the case.
I started mapping out the day ahead—every practice lap, every pit stop, and every fleeting moment I could catch a glimpse of Aurélie. She might not see it yet, but in this sport, she was already my greatest challenge. And I wasn’t about to lose.
We stepped out of the lift at the same time. Kimi was parked and waiting for her, leaning against his red McLaren 570GT. Aurélie smiled at him, her gait purposeful, but the slight tilt of her head told me she wasn’t completely at ease.
I knew she was dreading going back to the paddock, especially after her frustrating DNF last week.
Kimi glanced at me over her shoulder, nodding once. I nodded back, as if to tell him she was okay for now. There was an understanding between us, and while I didn’t love handing her off to another man, I was grateful for their friendship beyond being teammates.
I heard him murmur, “You’ve got this. Let the track do the talking so you don’t have to.” Her response was a nod, and he took her bag and put it in the back seat.
She turned and gave me a shy smile, then cupped her hands over her mouth. “See you on the track, Fraser!” Her voice was layered with both confidence and a hint of the intimacy we’d shared. Her eyes lingered on me just a moment too long, betraying the emotions I knew she was trying to keep hidden.
I couldn’t stop the grin that split my face. “Don’t let me distract you,” I called after her as Kimi held the door open for her.
“I’d like to see you try.” Then she dropped into the passenger seat and Kimi shut the door.
He gave me a small wave before climbing into the car himself, the engine roaring to life.
It felt so… final. Like all the emotions shared between us yesterday would be locked away until further notice.
And as grateful as I was for Kimi, I was jealous that he was the one who got to parade around with her. He had the luxury of standing beside her without the weight of suspicion. Meanwhile, I was trapped behind a mask, forced to watch from the shadows.
The world of racing was one of control, of calculated risks and split-second decisions. But Aurélie… she wasn’t just a wildcard on the track. She was the one thing I couldn’t control. And in a world where control was everything, that made her my greatest risk—and my greatest reward.
And as I stood there, watching the taillights of Kimi’s car disappear, I knew that whatever game we were playing, the stakes had just risen exponentially.
This wasn’t just about racing anymore. It was about keeping her close without letting the world catch on—and knowing full well that in a game like this, every move could cost us everything.
Monaco’s morningair was thick with sea spray and sunlight, the paddock buzzing with electric anticipation. The city was a spectacle, its winding streets transformed into one of the hardest overtaking tracks on the currentF1calendar.
I moved quickly, head down, weaving through the paddock’s chaos. The crowds were still suffocating, every camera and microphone a potential threat. After this week, I had no room for missteps.Callum’stouch still echoed under my skin, but I shoved it aside. I couldn’t afford to linger and let any of them see my vulnerabilities.
So much had happened between us in the last week; some of it overwhelming, some of it terrifying in how much I felt. But for now, I had to set it aside. Not because it didn’t matter—it did. Too much. But because I couldn’t afford to lose focus right now, especially with my seat for next season still up in the air.
The real threat this weekend wasn’tCallum, though. It washim. My ex. Seeing him in the paddock again had been like swallowing glass—painful and impossible to ignore. Every glance, every faint smirk, was a reminder of the broken trust and lingering wounds I’d buried deep.
Today wasn’t about the past. It wasn’t about him. It wasn’t aboutCallum. It was aboutme.
The paddock was louder than usual, voices, shouts, and whoops echoing through the space. I felt the energy shift before I saw them—my family. My mom’s warm smile lit up the chaos, and my heart lifted at the sight of her. But then my gaze shifted, and there he was.Étienne.
Cameras swarmed him, flashes exploding as reporters jostled for space. It was his first public appearance since the crash, and they were ravenous for a glimpse of him.
He handled the frenzy with practiced ease, his charm shining through. My stomach knotted as I watched him bask in the attention. Once again, the spotlight was his. And once again, he would be portrayed as the favorite twin.
To the public, I was a whore who’d slept my way to the top. I didn’t deserve to be here. ToLuminis, I was a risk, a liability. A diversity hire that came with too much noise. To the team, I was an object they found attractive, not seen for my talent. And to my family? Well, in their eyes,Étienne’spopularity would likely bring more positive attention to my career.
This week’s public spectacle was probably the reason my family was here. Damage control. Something for them to salvage, because it was always about maintaining a certain image. God forbid theDuboisname be represented by the unwanted child.
I lingered at the edge of the scene, feeling invisible in his shadow, even though I was the one inF1. Not him. Not anymore. Not ever again.
It threatened to wipe away all the strengthCallumhad built in me.
