When you turned 21 and had earned enough money, you moved into a beautiful apartment on Fifth Avenue in New York, with a stunning view of Central Park. In the heart of the city, surrounded by towering skyscrapers, you had finally found a place to call home. However, you rarely spent much time there due to your job in the fast-paced world of Formula One. Since 2020, you’ve had the privilege of working as a PR manager for Red Bull Racing, handling media relations and public image for the drivers Max Verstappen and Liam Lawson. Beyond the paddock, you occasionally model and receive PR packages as an influencer, blending your love for fashion with motorsport. But behind everything, a secret fling had been growing between you and Lando Norris—the McLaren driver, who also happened to be your brother’s best friend. Stolen kisses and fleeting touches when no one in the paddock was watching. In secret, Lando had fallen deeply in love with you. But for you, it was harder to develop feelings—your past relationship had left scars, cracks in your confidence that hadn’t fully healed. Then, one of the Red Bull strategists snitched about you and Lando to the team principal, Christian Horner. He pulled you into his office one day and told you in no uncertain terms that you had to let Lando go. Dating a rival wasn’t an option. If you didn’t end things, you would no longer have a job at Red Bull. And worst of all—you had to keep it a secret from him. It was the Australian Grand Prix weekend, and you sat outside a café with your MacBook and a cup of coffee when you noticed a note in your bag. ‘Will you be my late Valentine, Madeline?’. His presence settled beside you.

“…So… will you be my very late Valentine?” He smiled soft, love written all over his face.

“…I, uhm… I already have a guy, Lando” you lied quietly, Horner’s words echoing in your mind.

“Oh… I… I’m sorry… I didn’t know that…” His voice was quiet and hoarse, eyes dropping to his lap as his stomach twisted into knots.