Twists and Turns in Monte Carlo: A Formula 1 Affair

{2.0}

The Saturday morning between the years was grey and it looked like rain. The Oscorps' house was a hive of activity, the traces of the previous evening had been wiped away.

After Joanne left her room at midday, there was a flurry of activity, which, slightly hungover, she had no desire to do. Her hair is still soaking wet from the shower, her body is adorned with a black top and black trousers with cosy socks.

Actually, she thought she could make herself comfortable in the library alone, with her laptop and a cup of coffee. But it wasn't long before she saw Eloise and her grandmother.

"Ah Joanne my dear, I've been looking for you," Jackie opened the conversation. again, far too well dressed for a normal Saturday. "Our weekend this time is packed with appointments with important guests. Today the men are doing business, but tomorrow we're having another brunch with everyone involved, plus the wives." 

Joanne clears her throat and looks demandingly at her grandmother. Jackie just rolled her eyes for a moment: "You and your gender language. The team leaders and their partners. better?" Joanne stood up, gave her a kiss on the cheek and said yes. then she went into the kitchen for a second cup of coffee.

She would only leave the house today if there was a fire, otherwise she would hopefully be left to rot alone in the library. She worked on a few emails, scrolled through social media for hours and took power naps in between. A perfect hangover Saturday for her.

Somehow she tried not to think about the day before at all costs, but the conversation with the very attractive them principal Toto, kept popping up in between. 

Joanne liked to flirt with people at such events, as it was a bit awkward for most of them. But Toto jumped in after a brief hesitation and she had the feeling that he kept taking control of who was in control.

Attractive man, has both feet firmly on the ground and, Joanne groaned, and he is twice her age.

Of course, she couldn't stop herself from searching the entire internet for him. She couldn't help it, it was in her nature as a twenty-five-year-old to stalk everyone on the internet.

During the course of the day, Joanne wanted to catch her grandmother twice, but she was too busy preparing for brunch tomorrow.

One of the reasons she came round was because she always baked biscuits with her grandmother around Christmas. The two of them started this tradition when Joanne was a little girl, and they haven't spent a year without it. 

This year, however, it looked as if things would be different. A little depressed, Joanne made her way towards the stables. Her grandparents collected sport horses almost like other people collect stamps, so each granddaughter had her own horse. 

Joanne trudged towards the stables in full riding gear. The rain had turned to snow overnight and the beautiful landscape of the Houdson Valley was covered in powdery snow.

"Hello Bear, long time no see." She ran her hand over the big German sport horse's beautiful face and fed him a few carrots. Joanne opened his box and stepped inside. The scent of hay and the comforting warmth of Bear's presence enveloped her. The rhythmic sound of horses shifting in their stalls echoed through the space. 

With a sigh, Joanne leaned against Bear's side, finding solace in the familiarity of the stable. The events of the previous night and the looming brunch preparations felt distant in this quiet corner of the estate. The bond between Joanne and Bear, built over the years, offered a sanctuary from the complexities of her socialite life. 

Bear was a present for her twenty first birthday by her grandparents. He is a former Olympic show jumper who, according to Mr Oscorpe, is just as stubborn as Joanne. So he was pretty close to the truth. Over the last four years, Bear has repeatedly caused minor incidents.

As she absentmindedly stroked Bear's mane, her thoughts drifted back to the encounter with Toto. Somehow the conversation with him burned itself into her brain. The subtle flirting, the little jibes. She sighed again and pressed her face into Bear's hair.

That was the last thing she needed at the moment. Some kind of stress in her love life was currently taking a back seat. Work was getting on top of her, but she just couldn't admit it to herself. 

Lost in contemplation, she barely noticed Eloise entering the stables, her vibrant personality cutting through the calm atmosphere. "Joanne, what on earth are you doing here in the stables?" Joanne turned to face Eloise, offering a wry smile. "I needed a break from the chaos. And Bear here is a much better conversationalist than most of the people I've met lately."

Eloise chuckled, her eyes dancing with mischief. "Well, I hope you and Bear have a thrilling conversation. Meanwhile, I'll try to survive the brunch preparations without you." "Or", Joanne started, "or you ride out with me?" "In this shitty weather?" Joanne grinned down at her cousin. "It's now or never, the offer won't last long."

Eloise suddenly became very excited. "I need ten minutes. Wait for me."

Together, the unlikely duo rode slowly, side by side through the beautiful landscape. "Come on Eloise, tell me what is going on in Texas. Everything still very republican?" Eloise sight. "Yes very. I think my parents are going to get a divorce, that's why they sent me over the holidays here. So they do not have to spent Christmas together, you know?", gushed the pretty brunette sixteen-year-old.

Joanne didn't know what to say at first. "Does anyone know about this yet?" Eloise replied in the negative: "And please don't tell anyone yet. But I finally have my first boyfriend. His name is Luke and his parents have a huge ranch."

"Uhhh, tell me more," Joanne teased her cousin. Eloise blushed. "For two months, but nobody knows that either." "My lips are sealed." Then it fell silent again and Joanne's thoughts wandered back to Toto Wolff.