Just Him ❤

9. The separation.

It was Thursday morning. Seb lay in bed, it was just gone 8am and he knew he should be up. Antti would be arriving at 8.30 for them to go for a run outdoors. It was only just getting light and was freezing cold outside. He really didn't want to go. Staying in and doing nothing felt like a really good idea. It was his first proper day without Britta, although he was keen to work with Chloe it felt weird knowing that his favourite bossy blonde wasn't going to be here. His mind drifted to Chloe. He hadn't expected to be attracted to her like he had. They'd barely spent more than a few days in each other's company and already she was brightening his days. He thought about the other night when she'd stayed in his bed. Waking up with her in his arms had felt perfect. Like she was always meant to be there. But he knew it was wrong really. She had barely started her contract and already he was letting his feelings take over. He wondered if she was as attracted to him as Antti had said she was. He let out a huff of air and threw the duvet off.

                                 ~*~

"Hi Chloe." Antti placed a bag down on the counter and began unpacking containers full of food.

"Hi Antti." Chloe sat with a coffee and the lap top in front of her. She was minutes away from emailing the statement to Ferrari's media office. The phone ready for any calls that might come. She looked at the containers, "Those are for Seb I take it?" She pointed to them.

"Yeah, prepped meals now he's properly back on his training programme. He'll hate me!" He laughed, "But hey it's what he pays me for."

"Are you off for a run?" She glanced at the time, three minutes until she had to hit the button.

"Yeah, when Seb decides to move his arse. Why? You want to come?"

"If I wasn't having to sit here attached to this I would. It's statement day today. Sending it out in a couple of minutes. I've got to be here to answer phone calls and emails from people who don't understand what no further comment means." Just then Seb appeared, dressed in outdoor running gear along with a beanie hat and gloves. He stopped beside Chloe and looked at the screen as she pressed the send button.

"Give it five minutes and you'll be busy." He said patting her shoulder.

"Morning to you too Seb." She rolled her eyes.

"Erm, I'll need you to stay at Antti's for a while later, Hannah is coming to pick her shit up and I don't think it's going to be pleasant. She'll only create if you're here. She always thought I was the one fucking around which is quite ironic really." He knew he was sounding a bit bitter. He hated having to ask Chloe to make herself scarce.

"Oh right. Of course." She felt a little surprised but understood, "What time?"

"Don't worry Chloe, I'll keep you entertained." Antti grinned.

"I'm sure you will." Seb gave Antti a look, "She'll be here at 2pm."

"That's fine, you can just text me when it's clear." Her mobile started to ring, "Here goes!"

Seb watched as a small team of removal men carried boxes out to a van. He could feel Hannah's icy stare.
"Screwed her yet?" She asked.

"What?!" He returned her glare. Had it really come to this?

"Your pretty new PA, bet you've been there already."

"You're the one who cheated on me and you think I've slept with Chloe?" He was going to say more but Mia and Leonie came running in just ahead of their nannie. They didn't deserve to see their parents fighting. Them being here just made all this harder to deal with. He took them through to the play room to spend time with them before Hannah took them away. A while later she appeared in the doorway of the playroom.

"Come on girls, we need to get moving." She stood there, holding their coats. Seb gave them both a long hug and kissed their cheeks. This felt awful, as though he'd never see them again. It felt worse than when he left for a long haul race weekend.

"I'll see you both very soon ok." He tried not to sound emotional as Hannah hurriedly put their coats on.

"I'll be in touch." Was all she said, leading them through a hallway to the front door. All Seb could do was to stand and watch as she got them in to the car.

"Daddy loves you both so much." Was the last thing he said to them before she shut the car door and got in the car herself. She drove off leaving him standing there, with tears falling down his cheeks. This had hurt so much more than he had expected. He got his phone from his pocket and phoned Chloe. Thankfully she answered quickly. "Hey, can you come home now?"

"Seb you sound upset, you Ok?" She immediately worried.

"Just come home.' He hung up and walked indoors.

"Antti, can you run me back to Seb's now? He doesn't sound at all right." Chloe quickly put her coat and boots on.

"Sure." He grabbed his car keys and they were soon on their way.

                                 ~*~

Ten minutes later they arrived at Seb's.
"Shall I come in with you?" Antti asked.

"No, I think I can handle this myself." She opened the car door and got out, "Thanks Antti." She shut the door and quickly entered the house. She found him in the lounge, sat on the sofa staring straight ahead. She could tell he'd been crying. "Seb, talk to me." She sat down next to him.

"That was so much harder than I ever expected." His voice was almost a whisper.

"She was that bad huh?"

"She had the nannie bring the girls over. It made it all so much harder. Seeing some of their stuff being packed away. I spent a bit of time with them in their playroom but she couldn't wait to get them away from me. I barely had time to say goodbye." He leaned in to her as she put her arms around him and hugged him.

"I know it's not my place to say but that's a low blow bringing them over when she's moving them out. She knew it'd upset you."

"It fucking hurt Chloe." He pulled away and looked at her, his eyes still a bit red.

"I know this will sound a bit daft but why don't I stick us a film on after I've made us some tea?" She just wanted to cheer him up.

"Actually that sounds good." He gave her a small smile, here she was again, brightening up his day. He was finding her presence very comforting.