𝐆𝐎𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐍 𝐒𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐁𝐄𝐑𝐒 | 𝐋𝐍𝟒

𝐕𝐈𝐈𝐈

«What's wrong with you, mate?» Max asked, confusion written all over his face as he walked beside Lando down the hallway to their shared hotel room.

«Nothing, just let it go» Lando grumbled, his tone short and annoyed, as he reached the door and pushed it open.

«That didn't look like nothing, mate. Why did you do that?» Max pressed, following him inside and closing the door behind them.

«I laughed, that's all. Is that a crime now?» Lando shot back, getting defensive as he tossed his bag onto the bed.

Max frowned, not backing down. «Clearly, it's more than just a laugh, and you know it. What's going on with you?»

Lando just shook his head, rolling his eyes in frustration. Without another word, he grabbed his headphones, plugged them into his phone, and put them on, ignoring Max completely as he sank onto the bed.

«Freaking child» Max muttered under his breath, shaking his head as he headed to the bathroom, the door closing with a frustrated slam behind him.

An hour later, the room was quiet. Max was getting ready for bed, while Lando kept his eyes glued to his phone, pretending to be busy, anything to avoid another confrontation with his best friend.

But Lando's mind wasn't really on his phone. He was thinking about Milaine, replaying the moment when he laughed at her words. He knew his reaction had hurt her—he saw it in the way she quickly shut down and left. She did the same thing back in Abu Dhabi when he mentioned her father—she just walked away, shutting him out as fast as she could. And now, she had done it again.

He was starting to understand her a little better, how she always ran away when things got too real. It was like she couldn't handle showing her true feelings to anyone, so she left before she could be seen.

Lando let out a long sigh, rubbing his temples as a headache began to form. His thoughts circled back to that night at the farm.

Was that why she disappeared on him then, too?

Maybe.

But it still didn't explain why she lied to him about her name, why she told him she'd come to Silverstone and then didn't show up. She just left, without a thought for how he might feel.

Just as he was lost in his own thoughts, Max finally broke the silence. «Look, mate, I don't know what's going on between you two, but whatever happened back there clearly bothered her, and you know it. She has a big day tomorrow, and the mind of tennis players should be clear of distractions » Max said, watching the way Lando's face fell, guilt flickering in his eyes.

Max softened his tone and added, «A good person would go and speak to her, clear things up. I know you're a good person, Lando.»

Lando took a deep breath, letting Max's words sink in. He knew his friend was right. Milaine had a match to play, and the last thing he wanted was to be the reason she wasn't at her best. Feeling determined, Lando put his phone down and stood up, ready to go and have a chat with her..

Lando walked out of the room, the door clicking softly behind him. He didn't hesitate as he headed straight for the lobby, his mind made up. He needed to fix this, to at least try to make things right with Milaine.

When he reached the front desk, the receptionist looked up with a polite smile. «Good evening, sir. How can I help you?»

Lando gave a small, nervous smile in return. «Hi, um, I was wondering if you could tell me which room Milaine VanBoven is staying in?»

The receptionist raised an eyebrow slightly, her professionalism unwavering. «I'm sorry, sir, but for privacy reasons, I can't disclose that information.»