✓ WORKING FOR THE KNIFE ━ lando norris. ¹

[ 055 ] And I'll Stay

   

   

   

( ACT III. ── Fearless )
chapter fifty-five / And I'll Stay

  

  

   

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Throughout the whole process of leaving, this was the part that Annika figured might hurt the most ─ and she was right. As the days passed, she found it harder and harder to speak, harder and harder to fathom the question.

Lyndon had been with Mercedes for over a decade; head engineer for names like Bottas, Rosberg, Schumacher ─ and then her. What was she, a mere blip in the timeline of this legendary team, in comparison to him?

Something important, maybe.

Maybe just important enough.

But she didn't dare to think so highly of herself yet.

After she qualified on the second row in Mexico, the team was feeling good, and the happy chatter that followed the team debrief was a testament to that. Mechanics and strategists filed out one by one for dinner, but Annika caught up with Lyndon before he left the motorhome.

"Can we talk for a moment?" she asked.

Lyndon was removing his glasses. "Certainly." His sleeves were rolled up, showing all his tattoos that were likely older than Annika herself, and with his long gray hair loosed from its usual uniform man-bun, he hardly looked like Lyndon. Maybe a bit younger. Not by much. Actually, he sort of just looked like his old self. He had been paler since his heart attack in Silverstone, more frail. Older.

"I have a request. Or─ or a question." Annika was stuttering all over herself, shame stacking up inside.

He looked concerned. "Here, sit down. What's going on?"

Annika sat with him at a small circular table, shadowed by the hulking Mercedes base. She fumbled with her hands. Why was she so nervous?

"I signed a contract on Thursday," she said quietly.

"Oh, Annika, that's amazing! Congratulations." He was beaming. He folded up his glasses and hooked them over the edge of his breastpocket. "Can you disclose who yet, or?"

"No, not yet."

"That's all right. As long as you're happy with your choice, I'm very happy for you."

She smiled faintly. "Thank you. I am happy with it."

"Fantastic." Lyndon patted her folded hands.

"But, um..." It's not that hard, Räikkönen, just spit it out. The worst thing he can do is say no. "Okay, so one of the terms of my contract is that I can bring with me a top member of my engineering team if I want, and um... also if... that person would also want to... you know..." her voice had dropped to a nervous whisper by now, "come with me."