Chasing Daisy

monkeys. We saw a few in the two days I was there, but they kept their distance.
    ‘Yep. Little fucker,’ she mutters.
    ‘What did you do? Provoke it?’
    ‘I just wanted a wee photo . . .’ Her voice trails off wistfully before she snaps back into action. ‘Come on.’ She grabs my hand and pulls me towards the kitchen. ‘What’s been going on with you? Tell me everything!’
    ‘Honestly, it’s been sooooo dull without you. Until the last couple of nights I haven’t known what to do with myself.’
    ‘Last couple of nights? Explain.’
    ‘Last night I watched a film with Will in his room . . .’
    ‘No way!’
    I fill her in on the details.
    ‘And the night before that I just got pissed with Luis.’
    ‘With Luis ?’ she exclaims. ‘I thought you couldn’t stand him!’
    ‘Will was there, too. Briefly.’
    ‘Will doesn’t drink, does he?’
    ‘No.’
    ‘But you got pissed?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘With Luis?’
    ‘Yes.’
    ‘The guy you hate?’
    ‘He’s not that bad.’
    ‘AHA!’ She points at me. ‘I told you!’
    ‘Yeah, yeah.’
    It’s thirty-two degrees today and there’s a dust haze covering the track. Bahrain’s Sakhir circuit is situated in the desert, unlike our hotel, which is right by the sea. The facilities here are nice and new: the raised-up purpose-built hospitality buildings are glass-fronted and modern, with balconies out the front and outside stairs leading down to ground level. Several guests are currently sitting at tables in the sunshine. It’s quite a contrast to the weather they’re experiencing in England at the moment. In fact, if it keeps up this weekend, we’ll be flying back to a snow-covered country on Monday. I hope our flight isn’t delayed.
    ‘Daisy!’ Frederick calls. ‘Can you come here, please?’
    ‘Sure.’ I give Holly a look and head out of the kitchen to see my boss.
    ‘I want you to sit in on my meeting with Tarquin and João.’
    ‘Okay,’ I say, pleasantly surprised that I’m being involved in the discussion about the drivers’ nutrition.
    For the rest of the weekend, I liaise with the two nutritionists about Will’s and Luis’s diets and it’s up to me to ensure they’re served the right things at the right times. Luis messes with me a little bit, opting for falafel instead of lean chicken and vegetables, but on the whole behaves himself and sticks to the menu designed for him. Will is as good as gold, as expected.
    On Sunday, just before the race, I go to check on Will and Luis in their private rooms.
    Yesterday’s qualifying session was interesting. Luis only managed to swipe fifth position, whereas Will came a more respectable third. This time it was the Brazilian who made himself scarce afterwards while Will chilled out on the balcony in the sun, chatting to sponsors.
    ‘Luis, are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you?’ I ask, after knocking tentatively on his door.
    ‘Wow, bun tart, that’s so nice of you. I drive much better after sex.’
    I narrow my eyes at him and close the door on his laughter before knocking on Will’s door.
    ‘Are you alright?’ I ask when he calls for me to enter.
    ‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ He’s sitting on a chair in his room, resting his elbows on his knees. ‘Somebody’s cheered up.’ He gives me a wry look and nods towards Luis’s room. ‘What’s he laughing about?’
    I roll my eyes. ‘Just making another lewd joke about me.’
    ‘Want me to break his legs for you?’
    I laugh. ‘That would probably suit both of us quite nicely . . .’
    He grins and stands up. ‘Nah, I’ll be able to knock him off the top of the championship without resorting to that.’ He’s already kitted out in his racing overalls, minus his helmet, which is resting on the low table. I pick it up and hand it to him.
    ‘Cheers.’ He goes to the door and opens it for me to go through. ‘You coming to watch the race?’
    ‘If Frederick will let me, definitely,’ I tell him over my shoulder as he follows me back into the hospitality area.
    ‘See you later, then,’ he says, tailing off in the direction of the pits.
    ‘Bye! Good luck!’
    I’m in charge of the catering in the garages, but Holly joins me in time to watch the race. Yesterday’s dust haze has cleared, so the driving conditions are much safer, although we’re still not expecting big things for the team today.
    All that changes when both Will and Luis manage to climb a place each during the start. Luis takes another position