"Admit it, we look great. And I think you look cuter when you're next to me."

~•~

The races in Imola were in full swing, and the tension in the air was almost palpable. Haydée stood in the paddock, surrounded by the roaring crowd, engines at full throttle, and the vibrations from the race cars transferred through the asphalt. She was used to the race atmosphere, despite how much she disliked fast cars, but today she felt unusually uneasy. Her father, Olivier Panis, had stayed home due to health issues, and so she was here as the representative of the Panis name. She was representing the family, but also the entire Panis Racing Team. The pressure was significant, and even though she didn't want to show her nerves, she could still feel them a little.

When a reporter with a microphone and a wide smile approached, her hands began to tremble. "Haydée, could you share a few words about today's race and what it feels like to be here representing your father?" he asked, handing her the microphone.

"Of course," she smiled slightly, but her voice was noticeably uncertain. She hated giving interviews, which is why she had never tried to use her name to become famous. She studied history with the intention of one day working in a museum; she certainly didn't want to be in front of cameras, speaking to dozens of strangers. Ever since she was a child, she had known that the spotlight wasn't for her, and she always tried to avoid attention—luckily, her father understood this and never forced her to attend races with him. But the older she got, the more it seemed like her father forgot about this, especially in recent days when he was under the media spotlight.

"I'm here to support the team and my father. It's a great responsibility... and an honor," she replied, trying not to appear too nervous. She spoke almost like a robot because she had memorized these exact words. On the way to the race, her father's assistant had drilled them into her, and the assistant was here today, helping her with everything. No matter how much she tried to look calm, her heart raced faster as she realized how many people were watching her—the interview was being broadcast on large screens across the track so that people in other areas, not just in the paddock or at home, could see it.

The reporter kept aiming the microphone at her, his questions coming one after another. "How did you feel when you found out you had to replace your father at the next big race?" he asked without waiting for an answer. "Could you tell us about Panis Racing's plans for next year? What would you like to say to your fans and your father's fans?"

At that moment, Haydée felt immense pressure, like an animal cornered. Her mind began to shut down. She tried to answer as best as she could, but every word was hard to get out. Instead of feeling strong, she felt her strength slipping away. She hated being the center of attention, especially surrounded by this loud and fast environment. The sounds of cameras, flashes, and voices swirled in her head, creating chaos from which there was no escape.

"Um... I..." she started, but the words got stuck in her throat. All eyes were on her, everyone waiting for the next sentence, and suddenly, she didn't know what to say. Her heart pounded as if it might stop at any moment. "I don't know," she exhaled when the reporter asked about Panis Racing's future plans. She had no idea what to say. The reporter knew exactly who he was talking to; otherwise, he would never have asked such a question. He knew very well that he was speaking to someone who didn't want to be there and was there under pressure. He knew Haydée knew absolutely nothing about her father's team, and he wanted to use that to embarrass her in front of all the fans—that's why he asked the question.

She was exhausted and lost, yet everyone expected her to have all the answers.

"Are you tired? Or just nervous?" the reporter pressed, his voice suddenly sharper.

Haydée looked at him helplessly. "No, I just..." She began to back away, but the crowd of journalists pressed closer, and the air around her seemed to thicken. She felt her palms sweating, and her eyes started to glisten with sudden anxiety. She was on the verge of breaking down. She had to get out. Now.

Suddenly, she felt someone's hand on her shoulder. It was a gentle, calming gesture that brought her a bit of stability. She turned and saw Arthur. He looked calm, as if nothing in the world could disturb his composure. His presence surprised her for a moment, but at the same time, it brought her unexpected relief.

"Excuse me," Arthur said to the reporter with a slight smile, as if he was totally in control. His voice was soft but authoritative. "May I borrow her for a moment?" He didn't wait for a response. He gently led Haydée aside, away from the crowd, away from the camera flashes and probing questions.

Once they were far enough from the chaos, Haydée stopped and took a deep breath. "Thank you," she finally sighed as she felt her heart slow down. "I... I couldn't stand it there for another second."

"Are you okay?" he asked once they were far enough from the reporter and the crowd. She definitely didn't expect such a question from someone like Arthur Leclerc. And she certainly didn't expect him to be so concerned about her that he'd help her escape from that reporter's grasp.

"I don't know," she replied quietly, lowering her head and trying to take deep breaths. "I'm just really nervous today. Everything is so... loud and fast. I can't stop thinking about how close those cars are."

Arthur looked at her, his eyes full of understanding. "This environment isn't for everyone," he said, standing next to her, his presence calm and grounding. "But don't let it get to you. And hey!" He smiled and nodded toward their outfits. "Our outfits match perfectly!"

Haydée looked at him, confused, before realizing that they were both dressed in team colors—she in a dark blue shirt with the Panis Racing Team logo, and Arthur in a similar suit. "Really?" she asked, amused. It was a coincidence that they were dressed alike since they both represented the same team. Haydée always dressed in a way that didn't match Arthur, but today she had no choice, as she had to wear the team shirt so people could see which team she represented.

At that moment, she didn't realize that Arthur was talking about it to distract her. To take her mind off the interview and help her forget about the fast cars around them.

"Of course," Arthur continued with a smile. "Admit it, we look great. And I think you look cuter when you're next to me."

Haydée tried to smile, even though she didn't quite feel like it. Arthur had a strange ability to lift her mood, even when she was nervous. "Cuter?"

"Definitely," Arthur confirmed, leaning casually against the railing. "You're absolutely adorable when you're by my side." Haydée realized what he was doing, but even so, she couldn't stop herself from blushing. Not many people complimented her, and she certainly didn't expect that one of those few would be the youngest of the Leclerc brothers.

"You're just saying that to distract me," Haydée replied, though there was a hint of relief in her voice. She was glad he was doing it, because she had completely forgotten everything else, and her mind was now focused solely on the brunette with blue eyes standing in front of her.

"Maybe," he admitted with a wink, "but it seems to be working."

She began to feel a bit calmer, but she still couldn't shake that nervous feeling as she watched the race cars speeding around the track. Something about the speed, the constant roar of the engines, and the danger involved made her constantly think about how risky it all was.

"Why are you even here?" she suddenly asked, turning to Arthur. "You have your own race. Shouldn't you be with your team?"

Arthur shrugged. "I still have time. The race doesn't start right away. And I saw you with that reporter—you looked like you wanted to disappear. So, I thought I'd come to your rescue." His smile was wide and playful, but it was clear he genuinely cared.

"Rescue? That sounds dramatic," Haydée replied, though inside, she felt grateful. Arthur was often the one who drove her crazy, but today, he was the one helping her keep calm.

"Sometimes a little drama is necessary," Arthur said, his eyes still full of mischief. "But seriously, don't think about the cars around you. Try focusing on something else. Like me," he added with a cheeky grin.

Haydée rolled her eyes. "You? That's really your advice?"

"Hey, it's working, right?" he raised an eyebrow at her.

She hesitated for a moment, but then she had to laugh. Arthur was right—she was already feeling better. "Okay, fine. I'm thinking about you. Now what?"

"Now?" Arthur thought for a moment, then pointed toward the stands. "How about we grab something to eat? Or check out some of the other teams? I can show you some cool behind-the-scenes stuff if you're interested."

Haydée smiled at him. "I think food sounds good." She quickly dismissed the idea of garages and more cars—she didn't need to see those fast monsters up close. Watching them on a screen was enough for her.

Arthur nodded. "Great idea. Sometimes the best thing to do is take a break and enjoy the day. And I promise I won't make you watch cars going at light speed if you don't want to."

"That would be nice," Haydée said as they headed toward the stands where a food stall was set up.

As they walked through the paddock, cars and mechanics buzzed around them, but Arthur kept the conversation light and fun. With every step, Haydée felt a little more at ease. Arthur's presence helped her forget the pressure she was under and all the worries that had been swirling in her mind.

When they stopped at one of the stalls, Arthur ordered two drinks and some sandwiches. They sat on a nearby bench and continued chatting about everything, from racing to their shared memories from the past.

"You know," Haydée began after a while, "I never would have expected you to be someone who helps me like this." Just a few days ago, they had had a huge argument on the way to Charles' yacht over something trivial, and now they were able to chat in complete peace, with neither of them thinking about provoking the other. They were so engrossed in their conversation that it never occurred to them to start a fight out of boredom.

Arthur looked at her with unexpected seriousness. "Why not?"

"Because we were always arguing," Haydée admitted. "I thought of you as someone who would never take me seriously."

"Well," Arthur smiled, "maybe I underestimated you. And you underestimated me too." Then he tugged at the jacket he was wearing and added, "But admit it—we look pretty great when we match like this."

Haydée laughed, and as if her laughter washed away the remaining tension she'd been holding onto all day. "Maybe you're right," she conceded, glancing at their coordinated outfits. "Except I look good in anything, while you need team colors to stand out."

Arthur sighed playfully and nodded. "Alright, alright, I admit that without this suit, I'm not quite as charming. But I'd say it's a little easier for me when I'm next to you."

Haydée gently nudged him with her elbow, enjoying the casual banter. "You're terrible," she said, laughing.

"But it works," Arthur replied with a raised eyebrow, winking at her.

For a moment, they both fell silent, just watching the activity around them. The race cars still roared on the track, but now Haydée didn't notice them as much. Arthur's way of distracting her and steering her thoughts elsewhere worked better than she'd like to admit.

"You know, I used to think we'd never be able to have a normal conversation," she confessed quietly.

Arthur looked at her with a curious expression. "And what do you think now?"

"I think," Haydée began, taking a deep breath, "that maybe I'm not the only one who underestimated you."

Arthur smiled, but this time without his usual teasing. "Well, it's a nice change. So... are you ready to head back to the track?" Haydée clearly noticed the change in topic that Arthur made at the end of his sentence, but she decided not to comment on it. She'd rather not know what was on his mind first or what sentence he had just altered. Sometimes, it's better not to ask questions you don't want the answers to.

Haydée nodded, feeling her calm return. "Yeah, I think I am."

~•~