Your phone buzzed at 6:12 a.m.

Kimi: Need help.

You immediately sat up in bed.

You: What's wrong?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Kimi: I can't find my lucky cap.

You stared at the message.

The same cap he'd nearly caused a team-wide search party for last month.

You: Check your suitcase.

Kimi: Did that.

You: Your backpack?

Kimi: Did that too.

Five minutes later, you arrived at the Mercedes motorhome.

The 19-year-old driver was standing in the middle of his room looking completely defeated despite being one of Formula One's brightest young talents and a Mercedes driver. ([Formula 1® - The Official F1® Website][1])

"Kimi."

"It's gone."

You pointed at his head.

The cap was sitting there.

Silence.

His hand slowly reached up.

"Oh."

You sighed.

He grinned.

"Good thing I hired you."

"You didn't hire me. Mercedes did."

"Same thing."

---

By noon you'd fixed three scheduling conflicts, reminded him about a media session, and rescued his laptop charger from the hotel restaurant.

Again.

As qualifying approached, Kimi walked into the garage.

"Did you eat?"

"Maybe."

"Kimi."

"...No."

You handed him the sandwich you'd already bought because you knew exactly how this conversation would go.

"You know me too well."

"Someone has to."

---

After qualifying, he dropped into the chair beside your desk.

"That was stressful."

"You got pole."

"Exactly. Stressful."

You laughed.

Most drivers celebrated.

Kimi looked like he'd just finished a university exam he forgot to study for.

"Do you ever relax?"

"No."

"Fair."

---

Later that evening, as the paddock quieted down, you were packing away paperwork when a shadow appeared beside your chair.

You looked up.

Kimi was holding two coffees.

"One of these is yours."

"Thanks."

He sat down across from you.

For a moment neither of you spoke.

Then—

"You know," he said, stirring his drink, "I probably would've missed half my meetings this year without you."

"Only half?"

"Okay, maybe all of them."

You nodded.

"That's more accurate."

He smiled.

"Seriously, though. Thanks."

The sincerity caught you off guard.

For someone constantly surrounded by engineers, journalists, and team personnel, Kimi didn't say things like that often.

"You don't have to thank me. It's my job."

"Maybe."

He leaned back in his chair.

"But you're still my favorite person in the paddock."

Your heart skipped.

And judging by the way he suddenly became fascinated with his coffee cup, he'd realized exactly what he'd just said.

---

"Tomorrow's race starts at three," you said casually.

"Right."

"You need sleep."

"Right."

Neither of you moved.

"You're still sitting here."

"So are you."

You rolled your eyes.

He laughed.

And somehow, despite working for one of the busiest young drivers in Formula One, that ended up being your favorite part of the day.

---

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