Falling into Temptation
**Enrico**
The last race had been a real disaster, and I didn't even manage to finish in the top ten, which was terrible for my overall score. This became even more problematic because Lorenzo had reached the first position, opening a significant lead in the overall standings.
"It's the first time you haven't scored any points, Enrico," Bruno tried to console me. "It's not the end of the championship, and you still have good chances to surpass Lorenzo and claim the first place in the competition."
We had just picked up our luggage and were heading towards the Heathrow Airport parking lot. We planned to use the Heathrow Express to quickly reach the center of London, a journey that would take about fifteen minutes to Paddington.
"I feel like my dream of becoming a four-time Formula One world champion is getting further away, Bruno," I confided.
"You shouldn't think like that," Bruno scolded me. "You know your potential, Enrico. Besides, it's understandable that you're not performing well with the situation so tense at home."
Bruno was right, and I needed not only to acknowledge the truth in his words but also to do something to resolve the issues at home. Since I brought my father along with Rachel and Lindsay to my house in London, I hadn't had a single peaceful night. The mere presence of that woman, so close and accessible, was tormenting me in a harmful and worrying way.
I also knew that Rachel and Joseph were not getting along, putting me in a delicate situation as I didn't want to take sides at all, knowing well the difficult temperaments of both. Fortunately, we had Lindsay with her lightness, sensibility, and ability to maintain peace in my home by mediating the relationship between these two complicated personalities.
Despite Bruno's words of encouragement, he couldn't make me feel better, especially when he pointed out the obvious solution to the impasse in my home, which was to send Rachel away and find someone else. I couldn't bring myself to do that.
"How about having dinner at my house tomorrow night?" I suggested to my teammate. "Maybe I can talk to Joseph because he continues to refuse to speak to me."
"Let's look at the bright side," Bruno pointed out. "He's eating normally, isn't he?"
Bruno was right, and that was exactly what motivated me to convince my father to come with me to London. The situation was still not ideal because with each passing year, and the more successful I became in Formula One, the more challenging it became to live with Joseph. However, I was trying to make the situation less tense, and the presence of Lindsay and Rachel was contributing positively, I acknowledged internally.
*****
When I arrived home, I noticed that it was strangely silent, considering several people were working there now that my father also lived in the house. I decided to go upstairs and head straight to my room, located at the end of the corridor.
As Joseph had accessibility issues, I accommodated him on the first floor of the house, in a specially adapted room for him. It conveniently was close to all essential rooms, such as the living room, dining room, and kitchen, where he preferred to have his meals.
I walked silently down the long corridor, savoring the idea that no one was expecting me that night. I always arrived the day after races, so I thought I'd observe how things were at my house when no one knew I was there.
However, upon opening the door to my room, I was met with a rather peculiar scene that made my heart race in my chest, even though I had no idea how it had happened. Rachel was sitting on the floor, her torso leaning against my bed, using her arms as a pillow for her head. Her hair covered her entire face, leaving me unsure if she was asleep, as I deduced from the scene, or just resting.
"Rachel," I called softly, but with no response.
In the absence of a response, I became convinced that Rachel was indeed asleep and immediately worried. If I left her in that position for too long, she would certainly have a sore body. At the same time, I hesitated to wake her up because she seemed to be sleeping deeply.
I looked at the watch on my wrist and realized it was already past nine at night. It was only then that I realized how late it was, explaining the silence that permeated the entire house, especially on a Sunday when most staff members were off duty.
Rachel's presence at home that night indicated that it was Lindsay's night off, as they took turns caring for Joseph. However, after dinner, Joseph always asked the girls to leave him alone, using his own words. This meant that Rachel was free to do whatever she wanted as long as she was in the house.
However, it didn't explain why she was in my room and, even stranger, why she was sleeping on the floor. I needed to decide what to do. While I pondered, I tossed my suitcase into a corner of the closet, deciding to tidy up later, and returned to the room.
Against all reason, I remained standing by the bathroom door, contemplating her. Minutes later, still immobile in the same spot, I concluded that I needed to wake Rachel up and demand an explanation for why she had invaded my privacy by entering my room while I wasn't home, something completely out of line.
Between deciding and taking action, I realized there was a significant lapse in time. Instead of immediately calling Rachel, I decided to enter the bathroom and take a shower, promising myself that I would deal with the situation when I finished. However, while in the bathroom, with a towel wrapped around my body, I realized I had made a mistake by not bringing clothes to wear, as I usually picked them up from the closet. However, today it wasn't appropriate with Rachel in my room.
I sighed resignedly. I had no other option. I adjusted the towel around my waist and silently returned to the room, heading to the closet. After choosing a pair of shorts and a shirt, I breathed a sigh of relief. Now all that was left was to put them on and go to the room to wake Rachel up once and for all.
However, the noise of something breaking and a small feminine scream made me run back to the room, concerned about what might have happened. My suspicion was confirmed when I saw something broken. More specifically, a highly valuable art statue that stood on a console near the room's exit. Now, only pieces remained on the floor, and a frightened-looking Rachel with tears in her eyes.
"Sorry, Enrico!" she apologized, seeming to be in shock. "It wasn't my intention to break your statue."
"Rachel..." I began to say, walking towards where she was.
"I shouldn't have been in your room either, I know," she interrupted me. "But I can explain!"
"Rachel," I tried again, being once again interrupted.
"I know I'm wrong to be here," I continued approaching her. "I know! But this won't happen again, I promise!"
By now, I was standing next to her as she kept talking, not allowing me to complete even a single sentence.
"But don't deduct the value of the statue from my salary, please!"
I understood that it would be necessary to silence Rachel somehow, and that's exactly what I did. I kissed her with all the longing and desire that had been stored inside me for months.
I kissed her with love, even though I would never tell her that.
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