Maeve's point of view

'I'm on time, and I've got wine', Daniel opens the door.

'Vettel you are amazing', He hugs me.

'Yeah, well I know of course', my voice is trembling.

'Maeve? Is something wrong?', he asks.

'Just Max being a pain in my ass, it's fine really'.

'Look Max is just really insecure about his dad and all, don't get too angry about it. Please', Daniel says.

I nod. 'You're right, where do I put my coat?', I walk in.

'Give it to me please, Esteban is already seated, go take a seat', he accepts my coat and I walk into the living room.

'Hello everyone!', a lot of people are already seated.

'Maeve! Come sit next to me!', Ocon says.

I walk over to him, I'm sitting across from Lando.

'Maeve, how are you doing?', he asks.

'I'm great, how are you two?'.

We have a great talk for what feels like hours but is only 15 minutes.

'Hello everyone', I recognize that Dutch accent anywhere.

Max Verstappen.

I look at him and then look back at Ocon.

'So, I was thinking... maybe we could get together before the next race. How about... Tuesday?', I ask him.

'Yes, works for me', I smile while taking a sip of my wine.

'Maeve, have you talked to Horner yet about tomorrow's strategy?', Max asks me.

'Please Max, don't talk to me. First of all, we're not friends... second of all... we're off from work, and I'm not talking about work on a free day'.

He sighs and starts a conversation with Lewis Hamilton, across from him.

We are all eating, Daniel's girlfriend is an amazing cook.

'So, Norris. Tell us about your girlfriend', Daniel asks, I nearly choke on my wine.

'G-girlfriend?', Lando says.

I look over at Carlos, who is very invested in this story.

'I am not going to pretend we all don't know about the mystery girl you fucked like two weeks ago'.

Lando looks at me, then back at Daniel.

'I don't know what you're talking about', he says.

'Cut the bullshit', Charles laughs.

'I came in the room, she was on her knees and you were... well... you know', he laughs even harder.

Lando's face is turning red.

'You can't lie to us Lando, now tell us', Daniel says.

'I uhm... okay so yeah it was a girl but I'm not seeing her anymore', Lando says.

Dumbest thing to say every... now they wanna know-

'Who was it?', Carlos asks. 'Is she a good... you know?', he starts making these weird faces.

Oh god no.

'Because if she is, you are allowed to give her my number', he says.

'Carlos please don't say that', I laugh awkwardly.

'No she was uhm... yeah she was good I mean but I'd like to keep her you know?', Lando says.

'That good huh?', Esteban says.

'Yeah wow Lando, you got a real one', Charles says.

'You're marrying her?', Daniel laughs.

I look at them... confused.

'Wait I feel like I'm not a part of this conversation anymore', I say.

'Okay Maeve, I really don't want this to come out rude but you won't understand really', Lewis says.

'Explain please'.

'Okay so, we F1 drivers... male F1 drivers we are being... objected. Kinda like females in the normal world, get what I mean?', I doubtfully nod. 'We are famous because of our driving skills... but also because we're... good looking', Lewis continues.

'So?'.

'If we announce that we have girlfriends, two things may happen, we lose fame, or we earn even more fame', Carlos says.

'If an F1 driver chooses to keep one of his... flings... around... then that would mean that...', Charles tries to explain.

'That you'd risk losing your fame for her?', I try to understand.

'Yes, exactly', Lewis says. 'It's selfish really, do we choose our career or love?'.

'I think I understand', I say.

'So, Pierre he chose to risk his fame for Kika... George he chose to risk his fame for Carmen and well... if I am allowed to say, your dad chose to risk his fame for...', Lewis says.

'For my mom', I say.

'Yeah, basically', Daniel says.

'Oh god, you guys are monsters. So the single ones of you choose to simply not love?', I say.

'Not quite, we just keep it low-key or casual', Charles says.

'Wow, I wasn't expecting this to be our topic of the evening', I laugh.

'So basically, Lando... you're ready to choose love over fame?', I ask him, knowing damn well who the girl is.

'If everything and... everyone in this world would allow it, then yes... I would choose love over fame', he says.

'Congratulations man', Carlos says. 'You've found a real one, keep her happy okay?'.

Lando laughs. 'Believe me, I'll try. But sometimes she's so stubborn and..' I kick Lando's feet under the table.

Does he not realize he's talking about his sister?

'But yeah it's fine', Lando says when he realizes.

The food is off the table, we're going to play 30 seconds.

'Okay, so let's just do the teams since we're all here', Daniel says.

I sigh and turn to Max.

'Guess we're doing this', he says.

'Believe me, I hate it more than you do'.

'Okay, since Red Bull is so dominant already this year, you can start', Ricciardo says.

The game is F1 related, it's very funny.

I got a card, the 5 words are

- Ferrari

- Sebastian Vettel

- Money

- Daniil Kyvat

- Frederic Vasseur

Jezus Christ, could this be any more easy?

'30 seconds are going... now', Daniel says.

'Okay so, big three, my dad raced for them', I say.

'Ferrari', Max says.

'Okay, raced for Ferrari, very great driver', I point to myself.

'Your dad, Vettel', Max says.

'Okay we all have a lot of it and I believe that you have the most', I say.

'Money'.

'You stole his seat, drove for Alpha Tauri and Red Bull', I say.

'Daniil?', Max says doubtfully.

'Yeah, okay my best friend', I say.

'Sienna Sainz', Max says.

'No, the other one', I say fastly.

We have to goddamn win.

'Luciana?', Max says.

'Yes, her dad'.

'Frederic Vasseur', Max yells.

'YES!!!', I yell.

'WE HAVE 5!! WE GOT THEM ALL!!', I shout.

Everyone laughs.

'You're even more competitive outside of the tracks', Charles says.

I laugh. 'Sorry, not sorry'.

Even Max smiles a little.

But I don't care

After all, he's my enemy.

Or something like that.