Chapter 2: Bonding Necklace
1135 Words
"As we said it before, here's a day for you. Logan Vance is the winner of the 2025 Canadian Grand Prix!"
Team Fenrir cheered Logan's victory. Their hopes for Logan and the team to become champions were rising.
"He did it!"
Logan had proven his point that he was more concerned with the race than the sprint because he was the fastest of all the drivers to finish today's race. And seeing that made Elena breathe a sigh of relief.
The team celebrated with a hug. Meanwhile, Elena stayed in the corner looking at the door and the monitor screen while she waited for him.
Someone tapped her on the shoulder.
"You look like you're waiting for your boyfriend to come pick you up at home for dinner."
Elena rolled her eyes and elbowed Skoll, the performance engineer, in the stomach.
"Oh yeah what did you talk to him about last time? He kept smiling all day and was more relaxed on the track than usual. I've honestly never seen him like that. So I almost thought you guys might have another relationship beyond coworkers."
"We were just talking about the race. You better keep your mouth shut because if there's any gossip spreading about me and him, then I'm going to gouge your eyes out."
"Don't please. I need to put these eyes to good use to monitor our favorite driver."
Elena removed her shoe to throw it at Skoll but it landed on the face of Logan who had just arrived.
There was a few seconds of silence before Logan picked up the shoe and walked over to Elena.
"You're not a child, Ms. Ruiz. Taking off your shoes in this area will get you a warning."
Elena was about to grab her shoes but Logan held them up high.
"Mr. Vance, you must realize that you are very tall. Give me back my shoes because I have important business to attend to and must leave immediately."
"You're not going to join the team for dinner?"
"Why?"
"You have to come. You need to mingle with the rest of the team outside of the races because you need to socialize too, Ms. Ruiz."
"Unfortunately that's none of your business." Finally Elena jumped up to get her shoes on and she did.
As Logan joined the team and was greeted with compliments, Elena watched from afar.
"He reminds me of him. And I won't let them have the same fate."
*****
In the end, Elena still came to the team dinner because she was forced to by Skoll and because she also wanted to monitor Logan.
"You don't drink?"
"I don't want to get drunk tonight."
"Just a little."
Elena finally took one of the glasses in front of her but did not drink it on the spot, instead she went out of the room for a while to get some fresh air.
She enjoyed the cool air on the balcony of the Michelin star restaurant while raising her glass into the air. The moonlight reflecting off the glass made the drink appear transparent and created a beautiful glow that made her smile.
"Maybe if you hadn't left, you could be here with them."
"It turns out you can smile too besides being angry all the time, Ms. Ruiz."
Elena instantly lowered her glass and emptied the fill in one gulp until she hiccupped.
"My name is Elena."
"Ruiz is also your name, last name."
"But I prefer to be called by my first name."
"Okay Elena."
Logan leaned back against the metal railing of the balcony.
"Were you always alone at your previous team dinners?"
"I don't need to answer your question because it's personal."
"Well, there's no need to answer it."
Elena raised one eyebrow.
"What are you doing here? Why not join the party inside? You're the main star."
"My answer is the same as yours."
Her peace disturbed, she went to leave but Logan grabbed the edge of her shirt.
"I can keep you company here if you're not comfortable inside."
"I don't need company, Mr. Vance." Then she looked at him from head to toe. "'For your information, you're acting very strangely right now. You seem to be pushing yourself to get along with me. You're not interested in me, are you?"
Logan's laughter broke out but it wasn't long before he put on a cold face.
"I pity you because you're always alone. Your body's here but your soul seems to be floating away."
Elena quickly turned her face to the side. "Don't read my eyes."
"Then accompany me here, I need a friend."
"You can get drunk with the others inside."
"I don't drink alcohol because I don't want to ruin my performance during the races." Suddenly Logan pulled something out of his jacket pocket. "For you."
It was a necklace made especially for Elena with a stunning ruby pendulum. Of course it was very expensive.
"Why give me a gift? I know you're rich but does everyone get one? If yes, then I'll accept it."
"I'm just giving it to you. As a small thanks because you defended me during the sprint qualifying earlier. I wasn't trying to beat Dimitri, it's because I couldn't make it to number one."
This topic immediately aroused Elena's enthusiasm.
"That's right! I already knew that the tyres were going to be a problem when they decided to change it at the last second. I just can't get enough of them."
Logan placed the necklace in Elena's hand.
"It will protect you. You should put it on."
"But it's still too expensive. I can't accept it."
Logan shoved his hand into his jacket pocket before Elena could return it.
"It was a gift from my family but I don't want to wear it."
"What?" Elena looked at the necklace once more. "Why give this precious necklace to me? Your family will be very disappointed if you don't keep it."
"They said I could give it to anyone I wanted. I mean, I can give it to whoever I choose."
"You're not going to charge me again in the future and ask me to replace it, are you?"
"No."
"But still-"
"I've got my appetite so I'm going in again."
Elena immediately grasped the necklace tightly for fear of it falling off.
"Do I look so pathetic that he took pity on me and gave me this necklace to resell but out of prestige he gave it as a gift?"
Suddenly Logan's head reappeared from behind the door which made Elena jump in surprise.
"Don't sell it. It's a gift from me. It will be a charm that protects you. Just remember my words if you want to throw it away or sell it."
Logan smiled secretly as he turned around.
"Mine."
- Writer
