NEVER NOT YOURS,
PROLOGUE

march 2022

HER CHARCOAL BLACK colored nails tapped in a rhythm on the marble of the bar top, her eyes gazing over bodies of people. The opening party of the season at its third hour and most of the people are already intoxicated, dancing in the middle of the dance floor while some drank shot after shot.

Her aim for the night was to get as much drinks as she can and to get press with Ray-Ban, the brand that sponsored her to attend a whole season of Formula 1. The black eyewear rested on top of her head, her hair in a ponytail to make sure the logo of both Ray-Ban and Scuderia Ferrari was seen.

And seen it was. Ever since she graced the event with her presence, all eyes were on her. She became the center of attention for quite some time, people approaching her while the others remained far, content with just looking at her and talking about her. She sparked curiosity from the attendees on who the never before seen face was. Truthfully, it was impossible not to notice her with the crimson red lipstick and little black dress she wore.

Specifically a green-eyed, brunette driver on the other side of the club whose eyes never left the woman. He took notice of the way her eyes would glimmer when hit with the light, how it would shift to where his friend danced with a woman then back to observing the others around her. He saw how she kept ordering a margarita, the bartender's eyes never leaving the lonesome woman.

With a little courage and a drink in his hand, he tapped her shoulder. "Another one?"

She flipped her hair and turned around to see the bartender with a sly smile that's been trying to get her attention since she sat on the barstool. "Yes, thank you," she nodded her head and accepted the drink, placing it on the bar top.

The expectations she set for herself for the night was low. She was here for business, not pleasure. Yet, as always, the universe had other plans for her.

Her eyes averted from the bartender to the scene in front of her, as she looked around, she stopped at the green-eyed man that didn't look away when she saw him. He held a glass of Moscow mule, raising it and nodding his head at her. She returned the gesture with a smirk, the man taking that as a sign to make his way to her.

As he walked towards her, he never let his eyes wander anywhere else. He was mesmerized with the way her legs were crossed, her fingers wrapped around the cocktail glass. He couldn't help but feel intimidated and fascinated with the girl before him.

Even under the dim light, she can see how green his eyes were, like the color of a forest under the sunlight. It was captivating. Jewelry littered on the man's fingers, hands and neck, a layer of silver necklaces, bracelets and rings shimmered every time the light hit him. She was a complete sucker for men in jewelry.

"Hello," he gave her a dimpled smile, placing himself on the seat beside her. "Do you come here often?"

That earned a chuckle out of her. Out of all the things he could've said, that's what he chose. "No, actually. My first time here. What about you?"

It was the question she returned that he took note of, knowing she did want to have a conversation with him. "Definitely not my first time. There's other places that are much better though."

Raising an eyebrow, she responded without hesitance. "Maybe you can show me around sometime," she leaned towards him, resting her chin on her hand, showing him that he had her full attention. Confidence oozed out of her and she wasn't even trying. He was enamored by her - an understatement when he's been staring at her the whole time, his attention solely on her as if she was the only person in the room.

The man called for the bartender and asked for another Moscow mule and margarita, telling him to keep it coming. "Can I ask what you're doing at a Formula One pre-season party?" he questioned.

"Work."

She wasn't a stranger to Formula One, she knew who he was, hence why she didn't bother throwing the question back at him. It left the man curious at the vague answer, making him want to know more about her. He didn't want to assume she knew who he was - he wasn't that conceited, but he did hope she knew who he was deep down.

"Intriguing," he commented on the vagueness. What type of work did she do? Did she work with one of the teams? Is she someone's plus one tonight?

They fell into silence, their eyes still on each other. Her eyes kept going to his hands, admiring the jewelry while his kept going to her lips, the crimson red lipstick accentuating her already plump lips.

"Like my lipstick?" The tone of her voice became sultry, her eyes meeting his green ones.

He looked around the packed club, everyone in a world of their own, giving him assurance that no one was paying attention to them.

"It's a pretty shade of red," he complimented, his thumb tracing her bottom lips, "but I think it'd look prettier with your lips wrapped around my fingers."

A chuckle she left out covered the nerves that flashed through her, "bold of you to assume I'd even let you do that." A lie. She knew well enough that she'd do anything he asked, he just didn't know that yet.

"Then we should start getting to know each other, shouldn't we?"

By two in the morning, his hand was on her knees and her hand on his chest. Drinks kept being brought to them throughout the night and the two continued to flirt and tease each other, no one daring to interrupt them.

The last and only time the two were seen was when they left together in a black car the man drove, speeding in hopes to get to their destination quicker.