Just Him ❤

30. A day of two halves.

Sebastian glanced back at the dark red Maserati Levante and pressed on the key to lock it. He took hold of Chloe's hand, linking his fingers with her's, as they walked towards the reception. Entering the building they were greeted by Martina. Chloe allowed herself a smug smile. Martina was certainly a lot less flirty today, word had obviously got round that Seb was very much spoken for. She followed Seb by swiping her pass and the door unlocked for them to enter the main building. Once she got to her office door, she stopped. He was tugging on her hand. "You're not going in there yet." He said.

"I've got a lot to do. I've got to go check that all the flight tickets have arrived for a start and you said you were going to use my office to Skype Mia and Leonie." She was not in the best of moods, Seb had been very energetic last night and she was feeling tired. Not good when you a had a day at work and then packing for Australia to do when you got home.

"I've got a surprise for you." He replied.

"Can't it wait until lunch?"

"No. You have to have it now." He seemed rather excited.

"Ok, then." She smiled, giving in to him. He pulled her along the long corridor and they were soon entering the factory zone. Once there, he opened a door. She knew this room. It was the simulator room. He led her inside.

"This is it." He closed the door behind them. There was a row of desks with lap tops on each one and a control panel at one end. She was greeted by a few of his team, his head strategist, a couple of engineers and a guy whose sole job was to keep the impressive bit of tech running smoothly.

"So, your surprise is to have me watch you in there?" She pointed to the replica cockpit she could see through a large window.

"No, it will be me watching you." His face broke out in to a massive grin.

"What?!" She squeaked. "No way!! You're seriously gonna let me loose in that?!" She pointed at the simulator in the adjoining room, her mouth hanging open.

"That's the plan." He nodded. He was nearly knocked off his feet by her throwing her arms around him.

"Oh my god! I get to have a go, I've always wanted to have a go in one of those!" She was practically bouncing now.

"Let's you get strapped in then." He led her to another door, opening it and they approached the simulator. He helped her into it. It was separated from the control room. She watched his face as he strapped her in, tightening the belts around her.

"Enjoying strapping me up in this are you?" She spoke quietly so only he could hear.

"More than you know." He winked at her.

"Mmm kinky. I love it." She smiled. He said nothing as he placed a head set on her and one on himself.

"From now on when you speak we all hear what each other says automatically through these. This is so I can communicate with the control room, a bit like speaking to the pit wall and garage at a race." He explained. "They will start the car for you and you will see the circuit on the screen in front of you."

"This is amazing." Her fingertips lightly skimmed over the steering wheel.

"It's exactly the same as what I have in the car."
He was loving her reaction the experience already.

"How the hell do you work all this?" She gestured to all the buttons and dials.

"Quickly." Seb gave a quiet chuckle.

"Ok Chloe are you ready?" Luca, who looked after this awesome bit of tech, spoke. His voice loud and clear through the head set.

"More than ready." She replied, grinning.

"Ok, we've left it set to Melbourne. I'm now starting everything up. Sebastian will guide you through the rest." At Luca's mention of Seb, her eyes flicked to him at her side. "Try not crash too much, there will be a lot of movement which could make you experience some motion sickness." Luca added.

"Thank you Luca, I'll try not crash too much. Hope you've got it set to beginner's mode!" She giggled.

"There is no beginner's mode." He replied. For the first time Seb saw her look a little anxious.
She heard the car start and the screen came to life showing the the view from the cockpit as Seb would see it from the car for real.

"Shit, have I got to get it out of the garage?" She hadn't expected that.

"Yes. See the letter N here." Seb's voice was now sounding in her ears.

"Yes." She nodded.

"That's neutral. You have to select first using the left paddle at the back." Seb pointed it out. It was kind of familiar, from when she drove the Berlinetta a few weeks ago. After a few attempts, and some coaching from Seb, she managed to leave the garage and get down the pitlane. Seb had explained the pit button on the steering wheel which she'd pressed, keeping the car at the pitlane speed limit. Once she'd exited the pitlane he encouraged her to accelerate. She spun a few times and hit the barriers but he remained patient with her and and continued to coach her. After an hour had passed he managed to get her to do a lap of the circuit, slowly, but without crashing. She'd been in the seat about an hour and a half in total. She was beaming when Seb undone the belts and helped her from the cockpit. She was shaking when she wrapped her arms around him, adrenalin was pumping through her. She kissed him, not caring that the people in the control room could see.

"That was just amazing." She felt as though she was buzzing, totally high on something. "Thank you! I loved it!" She followed him back into the control room.

"Well done Chloe." Francesco, Seb's head strategist, gave her a smile. "You did well for a first attempt."

"Thank you. I loved it. I can see why Seb loves it so much now." She was still beaming.

"I'll have to steal him away from you for a while now Chloe." He patted Seb on the shoulder. "We've got to do some final prep for next week."

"Of course, I'll leave you guys to get on." She pressed a kiss to Seb's cheek. "Come find me at lunch won't you."

"For sure." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Don't work too hard." He watched as she stepped away and left the room. She walked back to her office still buzzing from her experience, an experience that she knew people would pay good money for. She'd been incredibly lucky to get to do it for free. The perks of being a formula one driver's PA and girlfriend! What a fantastic start to her day this had been.