The trophies were tucked away. The suits dry-cleaned and stored. The last race confetti had been swept up, and now, the rhythm of Formula One gave way to a quieter beat: the offseason.
For the first time in what felt like forever, there were no flights, no pit wall strategy briefs, no calendar alarms for qualifying simulations.
Just... mornings.
Soft, ordinary, wonderful mornings.
Gen stood in the Red Bull HQ kitchenette, sleeves rolled up, hair twisted in a bun, waiting for the coffee machine to cooperate. She'd been back for barely two days, but everything felt different. Less clinical. Warmer. People smiled at her more, talked to her differently. They knew now.
"Back to world domination plans, Miss Horner?" one of the engineers had teased.
She just smirked. "Someone's gotta keep you all in line."
Back at the apartment, Max FaceTimed in with bedhead and a crooked grin.
"Why does your coffee look better than mine?"
"Because I don't burn the beans," she replied with a perfectly timed sip.
"Unfair. You're hot and you know chemistry."
She rolled her eyes. "You're insufferable."
"And you love me."
She didn't answer. She just winked.
The off-season was still full of noise—sponsorship calls, press appearances, data reviews—but it moved slower. Gentler. Gen sat curled on their couch in sweats and Max's hoodie, a spreadsheet open on one side of her screen, a recipe video on the other.
Max wandered in with two mugs and a sly look. "I remade the coffee. Try this one."
She took a sip. Blinked. "Okay, wait. This is actually good."
He puffed out his chest. "Champion on and off the track."
YOU ARE READING
Calculated Risk ┃MV1
FanfictionShe's the quiet analyst nobody notices. Except Max Verstappen sees her. She's always there - in the shadows, calculating his every move, but never speaking a word. Max doesn't trust silence, and something about her doesn't add up. The more he pushes...
