Isabella announced to her fellow members that she was leaving early for the day. They all understood and muttered words of acknowledgment as she threw her coat over herself and followed Luca out of the room.
Leaving the building, the cold wind rushed past them as they found a taxi, their destination being the Schafer home.
Luca had suggested they continue their discussion in a café or something, but Isabella said she had something at their house she wanted to show him. Luca wondered what that might be.
During the cab ride, Luca helped Isabella weigh her options in the dilemma she faced between Nevada and Jackson.
She had a strong reason to consider Nevada because her father had once been the Team Principal for their F1 team, and growing up surrounded by Nevada logos and colors had instilled a sense of loyalty in her.
On the other hand, Jackson Racing had the advantage of wealth, which meant better benefits for her and her group.
Additionally, Jackson Racing, in their proposal, they also made it clear that they had full rights to the HiCE draft, as the Ferrari Tipo series had been transferred to them in a contractual agreement seven years ago, stripping it from Nevada's arsenal.
However, since both teams were Ferrari-powered, Nevada HanSama could still find a way around that issue.
Before they arrived at Isabella's home, Luca convinced her to choose Jackson Racing over Nevada HanSama.
Wanting the best for her, he made her understand that letting go of childhood loyalty was sometimes necessary for growth. Sentimentality had its place, but opportunities and long-term benefits mattered more.
Jackson Racing's financial strength and resources would provide the best support for her and her group, ensuring stability and progress.
He also added that Jackson Racing were literally at their peak, and joining them at this time would be a big merit.
In the end, Isabella agreed. Practicality outweighed nostalgia, and she chose the path that would secure her future.
They arrived in Harborne, a well-regarded neighborhood in Birmingham with a village-like atmosphere. The cab stopped in front of a simple duplex where Isabella had directed the driver.
After paying, Luca stepped out and took a moment to take in the sight.
It was a modest duplex with a brick facade and large windows. There was no gate, no fence, no real security protection, just the front door, led by the driveway and the porch.
"This used to be my dad's second house, and we used to live in Edgbaston," Isabella said as they walked up to the porch. "But ever since all this started in May, he sold the other, and we moved here permanently."
When they entered, Isabella offered Luca some snacks and a drink, but he declined, asking only for water. After taking a few sips, she invited him to the garage.
As they moved through the house, Luca couldn't help but take everything in. The place wasn't really in a bad shape. It was clean, well-ornamented, but it lacked warmth.
Some unpacked boxes were still stacked in the corners, as if they had never truly settled in. There were no family photos on the walls, no personal touches, just furniture arranged in a way that felt temporary and permanent at the same time.
Luca joined Isabella in the garage, and he was surprised how the whole place had been transitioned into Isabella's own personal mechanic workshop.
There was a blue Nissan right at the center, completely dismantled, as if Isabella had been performing surgery on it for thirty years.
Some car and engine components were neatly arranged on workbenches, and diagnostic equipment was scattered around.
Luca wondered at what age Isabella had become a car fanatic. It must have been as early as three to five years old because this place almost felt like her sanctuary of some sort.
To the hidden side, beneath some cupboards and beside shelves overfilled with tools and spare parts, a detached car seat rested against the wall.
A pizza box. Am empty milkshake. An open bag of crisps. A chocolate bar wrapper.
That was definitely where she relaxed and ate after a long day. All left as it was. Undisposed.
Isabella had no idea Luca had noticed that particular mess within the general clutter. She was too busy searching for what she wanted to show him, sweating slightly as she rummaged through her own territory.
Luca remained quiet, watching her move back and forth, bending low and looking up, until she finally made a sound of satisfaction.
"I'm sure I'm not the only one who finds your last name suspicious," she said, lifting what looked like a large framed portrait to show Luca. "And I feel so dumb for overlooking it all this while."
Luca remained silent, his eyes not on what she was holding as if it weighed a ton, but on her.
When she rested the portrait on a desk and spun it around to face him, his gaze finally shifted downward.
"Is this your father?"
Luca's eyes widened, his pupils locking onto the photo as his brain registered the sight.
Mr. Aldo Rennick was portrayed in the framed portrait, from his reddish-brown receded hair to his chest.
Luca's face tightened in confusion, and he choked on his words. "What's that doing here...?" he asked slowly. What was a portrait of his father doing in Isabella's sanctuary?
Isabella nodded. Luca's reaction had just confirmed what she suspected that the late F1 racer Aldo Rennick was his father.
"Your father drove for Nevada HanSama, and my dad was his Team Principal at the time," Isabella said, dusting off the portrait. "I've had this since I was a kid. I thought I could make a collection of portraits of old racers."
Luca closed his dry mouth and swallowed before stepping forward, taking the portrait into his hands. His brown eyes stared into another set of brown.
"You can have it if you want," Isabella offered, but Luca refused. His chuckle startled her as he handed the portrait back.
"No, it's yours. Trust me, I have plenty of his pictures," he said, exhaling and tucking his hands into his pockets.
Isabella carefully set down the portrait as a brief silence settled between them.
After a moment, she spoke. "I'm really sorry for what happened," she said. "This sport of ours can be truly... ruthless."
Isabella had only been learning her ABCs when Luca's father lost his life at a certain Austrian Grand Prix. She hadn't understood much at the time, but she could still recall the somber mood that lingered in their home for weeks.
Her father's heavy silence, the hushed voices of guests, and the steady stream of people visiting day after day had been imprinted in her childhood memories.
"It can also be a fateful sport," Luca said with a smile. "So, both our dads knew each other, then?"
Great! This was a green light go for Luca! If Mr. Schafer realized this, he might just let him have unrestricted access to Isabella.
But a sudden thought hit him.
Of all people, Mr. Schafer should be the one most suspicious of his last name and even his appearance, let alone the other things he might have noticed.
Luca wondered if Mr. Schafer knew he was the son of one of his drivers from the last generation.
Regardless, Luca wasn't going to miss out on this opportunity. So, right there and then, he asked Isabella out on a date.
There would be rooftop dining in a glass dome at a certain hotel on Christmas night, so Luca invited Isabella to spend the night on top of the city with him during the festive period.
To his relief, she accepted without hesitation.