The One That Got Away Book 1 of 3 (Sebastian Vettel)

10. Reminiscing

"Where are you going Sebby?" Elena whined.  "I haven't seen you in over a month, and as soon as I get here you are going out!"

Seb rolled his eyes. He had his back to her so she didn't see the look on his face. 

"Elena, I have other commitments. I can't just drop everything because you chose to fly out here at the last minute without telling me."

"I thought you would be pleased to see me," she pouted.  Seb turned and looked at her, his expression softening.

"Darling, I am. I just have to go to this meeting. It's important. I won't be long. When I get back you will have my undivided attention."

"I'd better."

Seb headed out and down to the lobby. He'd been very surprised when Elena had turned up in Imola that evening.  He wasn't expecting to see her until Barcelona.

It wasn't that he wasn't pleased to see her. She just got a little bit too much sometimes, and he really wasn't in the mood to cope with her bitching about Mollie. That's what she seemed to end up doing in every conversation they had since Mollie had been confirmed for Formula W.

So he'd made an excuse up about having a meeting. Well, he wasn't really lying. He did, but the meeting was with his trainer,  Antti, and it was just dinner, nothing that couldn't have been rearranged. He could have quite easily put it off but he didn't want to.

Antti was waiting in the lobby for him. They exited the hotel and walked the two streets to the restaurant they had chosen.

Once seated they ordered drinks whilst perusing the menu.

"So what's bothering you?" Antti asked.

"Who said something's bothering me?" Seb said, taking a sip out of his iced water and turning the menu over.

"I'm not stupid you know. I know you and you look annoyed. You're tense. Want to talk about it?"

"Oh, it's nothing major. Elena turned up."

"Oh. Is she being extra again?"

"Not yet, but it's only a matter of time."

Antti tried to hide his expression. He couldn't stand the Russian woman. He thought she was bad for Seb and that he could do a lot better, but he didn't want to fall out with Seb over her. His boss obviously had strong feelings for her, otherwise why would he have been with her for five years?

"Antti, have I ever spoken to you about Mollie?"

"Mollie?"

"Mollie Rashford. One of the new drivers in Formula W. You know, the one Elena keeps spouting off about."

"Oh, that Mollie. No, you've never mentioned her.  Is there a reason why you would have?"

Seb sighed. The waiter returned and took their orders.  Seb started drumming his fingers on the tabletop, trying to decide whether to confide in Antti or not.

"OK, so what I'm telling you I've never told anyone. Please don't tell Elena."

"When do I ever have a meaningful conversation with Elena?" Seb snorted with laughter.

"That is true. OK, so here goes.  I've known Mollie Rashford since she was seventeen years old. She was a Red Bull junior. I don't know if you remember her. She had a big accident at Silverstone in 2013."

"Oh, I think I do. Wasn't Will Barnes involved in it?"

"Yes, and Alexandre DuBois. So anyway,  I'd met Mollie quite a few times. The Juniors were always at the factory and Mark and I helped them as much as we could. Luca Bonucci, Will and Mollie were a right trio. They messed about a lot but always seemed to take everything in. I knew they all had the potential to be more than just good drivers.