Chapter 50

Isabella’s POV

"I can't just give up. No! No! No!" I exclaimed silently to myself.

After a moment of silence to gather my thoughts, I began drafting a statement to address the concerns while reaffirming Ferrari's commitment to resolving the technical issues.

"I can't allow anyone to suspect we have a traitor; it could ruin our investors' confidence in the team altogether. That's not an option right now."

How do I approach this? I must maintain professionalism, and coherence, and be as strategic as Levi taught me.

Mark approached my desk after observing me type away on my computer for a while, his expression sympathetic. "Isabella, we'll weather this storm. Focus on the positive feedback and the team's efforts to resolve the issues."

I nodded gratefully. "You're right, Mark. Care to join me while I review what I've written?"

"Sure, yes," Mark replied, pulling up a chair and sitting across from me.

Together, we worked late into the night, refining our team's response and coordinating with the technical team to provide updates on the investigation into Kevin’s car troubles.

"It's done," I said quietly, closing my laptop once more. "Let's hope this makes a difference," I added, feeling utterly drained after the long day.

Mark nodded a faint smile on his lips. "It will. We'll get through this, Isabella."

With that, we parted ways for the night. This time, I was just as exhausted as Mark seemed to be.

As I exited the conference room, an eerie feeling washed over me. Was someone watching?

Could it be the traitor?

Am I safe?

I rushed into my hotel room and locked the door.

****

The day of qualifying dawned with a troubled sky, the paddock enveloped in a mix of rain and tension.

Kevin and Seth, faces set with determination, navigated the treacherous track as weather conditions shifted unpredictably. Some drivers managed to set blistering lap times early on before the rain intensified, casting doubt over the later sessions.

By the end of qualifying, Kevin secured 8th place, with Seth trailing in 15th—a far cry from the team's hopes.

"It feels like everything's getting worse. We're going backward. It hurts," I muttered to myself.

That night, a deep chill settled over the Ferrari paddock. Silence reigned; no one spoke, not even a cough.

We all avoided the media, including Kevin and Seth, who left early under the team's guidance.

Mark appeared the most exhausted among us. He approached me quietly, his grip urgent as he spoke. "Isabella, please help me. I can't handle the interviews tonight. Can you assist Levi with the questions? I'm feeling really unwell."

I glanced at Mark, as I sensed there was more behind his request than just illness. That’s if he was actually sick. I doubt it.

He didn't seem himself, but none of us were ourselves at that moment.

I knew the team's spirits were fragile after the disappointing qualifying results. Levi had been intensely focused on analyzing every aspect of the race from the monitoring room with the engineers.

Levi hasn't uttered a single word to any of us since the sprint competition began. He could be berating himself, losing his composure, or perhaps contemplating letting go of all of us.

"Of course, Mark," I replied softly, trying to infuse my voice with empathy. "I'll do my best to support Levi in preparing his interview template.”

Mark nodded gratefully, his expression a mix of relief and apprehension. "Thank you, Isabella. Just... be prepared. It's not easy right now, given his... well, his mood."

"It's okay," I reassured him with a smile that masked my own fear. "You should see a doctor about how you're feeling."

"I'll sleep it off," Mark insisted. "Please go now. We need him prepared for tonight's media session.”

My heart raced. I was scared, too. I knew he wasn't physically unwell; he was just frightened. But I was just an intern—I couldn't refuse. Even though Levi trusted me with many responsibilities, I was still just an intern.

"Alright. I'll leave now."

Mark offered a faint smile before exiting the conference room.

***

A few minutes later, I found myself standing outside the monitoring room door.

Summoning my resolve, I took a deep breath and knocked gently on the door.

"Come in," Levi's voice called out from inside.

I pushed open the door and entered quietly. Levi hadn't noticed my arrival; he was still wearing his red headphones, deeply immersed in reviewing footage of Kevin and Seth's race displayed on the screen.

Inside, the atmosphere was heavy with tension. Levi exchanged quiet words with the team engineer, whose abrupt departure exposed the gravity of their discoveries.

What had they seen?

I stood silently against the wall, trying to steady my racing heart. Avoiding the screen, I focused on the details of my black heels, as if they held some profound interest.

After what felt like an eternity, Levi finally turned his head, seeming mildly surprised to see me there. He removed his headphones with a deliberate motion. "I didn't ask you to come in," he remarked, his tone neutral but carrying an unspoken reproach at my intrusion.

Without missing a beat, I explained nervously, "Mark asked me to review the interview draft for tonight's media session. I assumed he had informed you. I apologize for barging in."

I began to retreat towards the door, but Levi interjected quietly, "Please wait a moment."

I halted just inside the doorway, my heart still pounding with uncertainty over Levi's reaction. He picked up his mobile phone and tapped on the screen for a moment before finally looking up at me.

"Sorry, I didn't see the message just now," Levi said, his voice calm but his expression unreadable.

I nodded reflexively, trying to appear composed despite my heart pounding hard in my chest. "It's okay," I managed to reply softly.

Then, unexpectedly, Levi spoke again, his tone measured yet carrying an edge I couldn't quite place. "I didn't ask Mark to do this."

His words hung in the air, leaving me momentarily stunned. What did he mean by that?