Alaric
The second the cameras stopped rolling, I stormed off the stage.
I could feel Nico's eyes lingering on my back, but I refused to give him the satisfaction of looking back.
As we reached the edge of the paddock, I caught up with Dami for a brief moment.
"Hey, man. Great lap today," I said, my voice still unsteady from the aftermath of qualifying.
"Thanks, mon ami. See you in the garage," Dami replied, giving me a supportive pat on the shoulder before heading toward the Ferrari hospitality building.
I ducked into the nearest driver's bathroom, relieved to finally escape the suffocating heat of the paddock and the blinding media lights.
I took a minute to splash cold water onto my face, staring into the mirror while trying to shake off the lingering irritation Nico had planted beneath my skin.
"Fucking crazy bastard."
But the moment I turned around to leave, I gasped.
Right there at the entrance stood my nemesis.
