โ ๐ด๐ค๐ฆ๐ฏ๐ฆ ๐ท. (๐ง๐ฐ๐ณ ๐ต๐ฉ๐ฆ ๐ฎ๐ฐ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐บ) ๐
โคท summary: austria. mclaren pr department can't read the room so shit officially hits the fan. at least y/n is getting paid for her troubles. lando thinks he can think his way out of this one ๐คฃ
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"You want us to what?" Y/n asked incredulously.
There is no way. No. Fucking. Way.
"I know this may seem out of the blue, or even slightly unorthodox, however-" Michael started. Thirty-nine years old, head of the McLaren PR Department, her boss, and he thought this was only 'slightly' unorthodox. Right.
"I think we're a little past slightly, don't you think?" Lando muttered from the chair next to her. He wasn't looking at her directly anymore.
She had successfully ignored 127 messages, 53 phone calls, 3 emails, and a handful of indirect messages from Oscar, and he still didn't seem to get the hint. She shot him down once again when he tried to approach her before their meeting, after she had purposefully shown up as soon to the start time as possible to avoid him. Maybe that had been the final straw and he had understood she had no intention of speaking to him.
Lando's eyes met hers and Y/n swallowed down the guilt at his kicked puppy dog look. He was very good at looking pathetic, and she was starting to become skilled at ignoring it.
"I'm well aware this is putting you both in a very precarious position, especially you Y/n considering your career," Michael continued, "but since you two have begun to interact on social media our numbers have nearly tripled. We've increased our social following across all platforms, we've increased engagement, Christ, we've even increased our merch sales. But if you two dated, a real, PR contract-based relationship, the results would be more than we could have hoped for at the start of the project."
"That was the point of hiring me," Y/n said sitting up. Yes, she was annoyed, but at this point who could blame her, "I knew my strategy of personalizing ourselves to the internet would work. I told you guys this would happen, and if we keep to it we could probably still reach these numbers you're looking for. What you're suggesting doesn't seem a bit far to you? A bit too risky?"
"Honestly, Y/n, the fact of the matter is this: we could increase what you've already started. If we go through with this project, we could see a skyrocket in our social media. This could do wonders for the team, especially given the results this season. No offense, Lando."
The Brit seemed to be dragged out of his thoughts at the comment and he simply shrugged and waved his hands impassively. Y/n intentionally ignored his disregard for the situation, because jumping across her seat and choking him would not solve any of her current problems- even if she really, really wanted to choke him.
"Do you understand what this can do to my career? This would look so unprofessional for me. The point of a PR relationship is that it doesn't really seem like a fake relationship. It would seriously decrease my options if or when I leave McLaren if it seems like I date my coworkers. You're basically condemning me to a life where I would never be hired again. I won't do it. I can't do this." Y/n said shakily, before standing up. It felt like she couldn't breathe, and it's not like she could turn to Lando for comfort in this because they weren't even friends. Not that he seemed all that bothered anyway. Lando seemed perfectly comfortable staring into space like the airhead he was.
Zak, who had been standing calmly in the corner of the room leaned toward her and squeezer her shoulder comfortingly. She had no doubt he knew how uncomfortable this situation must be for her. Unfortunately for her, he just didn't seem to care. Or at least not enough.
Michael sighed and stood up as well, walking around the desk he was sitting at so he was directly in front of her and Lando and sit on the desk itself.
"I hear your concerns Y/n, I really do, but you cannot truly expect that we wouldn't have some safety measures in place for your protection, can you? When I said this would be a contractual relationship, I meant it. There would be physical evidence that you were not violating any workplace policies, and were instead participating in a project that involved the relationship you would be a part of. We would provide any future employers with proof of this, given that they are willing to sign an NDA. You would not be left at risk in your future endeavors," Michael explained sympathetically. Y/n couldn't help but feel the insincerity of his words in comparison to his face.
They understood they were putting her in an uncomfortable position. They understood they were endangering her career no matter how many contracts she signed. And yet here they were, asking anyways.
"And if I just don't want to?" She asked and she heard Zak sigh from behind her. He took his hand off her shoulder.
"Then I'm afraid we've reached a standstill here, haven't we?" Michael said. She inhaled sharply and looked down.
Oh. They were going to fire her. Of course.
"Are you serious?" Y/n finally turned to look at Lando. At some point in between when she had last looked at him and since she had begun to have her job dangled in front of her face he had stood up. He looked angry, not that he hadn't looked some variation of hurt, angry, and sad since he arrived.
"You can't seriously be threatening to fire her, right in front of me, over a project that no one in their right mind would agree to without any incentive. You do realize you haven't really offered her anything that would make her agree don't you? Do you do this to all of your employees or just the ones who carry nearly an entire department on their back?" Lando spit out angrily. He wasn't yelling, but he had sure as hell left the station of speaking calmly a while ago.
"Lando," Zak started through grit teeth, but Michael held up a hand.
"You're right Lando, I'm sorry, let me-"
"Why are you apologizing to me? I'm not the one whose job you were just threatening."
"You're right," Michael cleared his throat and returned back to his chair, "I'm sorry Y/n. Truly. I don't think we've approached the topic correctly at all. Let me start over. There is, of course, some incentive for you."
Y/n sighed, and looked over at Lando. Like usual, he was already looking at her. He was letting her take the reigns of the situation, he was letting her be in charge.
Because he respects you, a small part of her brain whispered and she closed her eyes and breathed in. She wasn't thinking about that anymore. She couldn't think about him anymore.
She sat down and stared at Michael. He could continue, but that didn't mean she would agree. Lando sat down as well, glaring at Zak over his shoulder until the older man walked away from behind Y/n's chair and back to the inconspicuous corner he had been in when they started.
"We had some extra money allotted in the budget," Michael started uncomfortably, pushing his glasses up his nose. His voice was wavering and uncertain, making his British accent even thicker. Y/n seemed to have an affinity for upsetting British men this week. Call it American reparations or whatever, but she was finding the prospect quite enjoyable.
"There would be a salary increase for you, should you choose to participate in the project." Michael stated, as he shifted some papers around on the desk. He uncapped a pen and wrote down a number on a piece of company branded legal pad paper. He folded the paper and slid it across the desk. Y/n, who had begun rubbing her temples irritatedly, closed her eyes as she sighed through her nose before reaching a hand out to look. Lando's hand slid in front of hers and grasped the paper before she could.
Her eyes widened in surprise and she looked at him incredulously as he unfolded the paper Michael had passed.
"Lando," Michael began and Lando cut the man off with a scoff. He crumpled the paper and tossed it in the trash.
"You're asking the girl to put her career on the line and that's the amount that you offer?" Lando scoffed. Michael continued to try to speak but Lando held his hand up.
"Let's break this down properly before we make anymore stupid offers," Lando said, voice dripping the arrogance that typically bothered Y/n the most.
"You're asking her to stick out her neck for a PR project that may not work the way you're hoping, you'll be expecting her to keep performing her current work functions while also appearing at additional McLaren events as my partner. On top of all of that, you'll probably also want us to be making public appearances on days and times where she wouldn't be working at all anyway," Y/n thought briefly that this might be the most serious she had ever heard him sound.
"You also can't expect anyone to believe any of this if she doesn't also behave like we're dating in public, and expecting physical affection with someone she isn't actually dating is a lot to ask of someone who isn't a robot, if you weren't already aware," Lando stated patronizingly.
"And that's not even acknowledging the multiple hostile workplace environment policies you've broken in this meeting alone. I really hope you're not expecting her to sign a contract right now without a lawyer on top of that, considering that's illegal." Lando finished, staring at Michael with more anger she had ever seen him show.
"So maybe we should try a much bigger number," Lando said, leaning forward in his chair, "might I recommend doubling it?"
Why was he doing this. She hadn't even heard him out since their argument, ignoring any attempts at conversation, and now he was fighting tooth and nail in a room where no one else was defending her. Including the CEO of the company, who quite literally held his job in his hands.
Maybe that's just his charm. That he never thinks things through. That he doesn't think at all, whether it hurts someone else or himself in the process or not. It's just in his nature to fight first and ask questions later. She couldn't decide whether that was something she could handle or not.
Michael cleared his throat and wrote a number down quickly, handing it to Lando this time instead of her. Lando looked at the number and turned to look at her, nodding and handing the paper over.
Y/n fumbled with the paper slightly before opening it and exhaling sharply through her nose. Right in front of her eyes was a one, a five, and 5 whopping zeroes.
One and a half million dollars. Lando had just gotten her one and a half million dollars.
"This," Y/n started with a shaking voice, before clearing it with a harsh swallow. This was more money than she had ever seen before in her life.
"This is what you're offering me instead of my current salary?" She asked uncertainly. She was getting a headache from the tension of the furrow of her brows.
"No of course not," Lando started, never looking away from Michael.
"This is a bonus they're offering in addition to your current salary, right?" He narrowed his eyes at Michael. Michael nodded aggressively.
"Yes of course. This would be a bonus for participating in the project. You would be receiving your current salary as well for the work you were already participating in," Michael assured and his shoulders slumped in relief when Lando looked away to finally look at her.
"You don't have to make any decisions now," Lando began gently, eyes visibly softening, but Y/n could hardly hear him.
Half a million dollars would be more than enough to pay off her student loans. One and a half million dollars was more money than she even knew what to do with.
"I'll do it," She agreed.
One and a half million dollars, she reassured herself as Lando smiled at her softly. She smiled back. She was only doing this for the money; the one and a half million dollars.
Lando ignored the fluttering in his stomach as she smiled at him for the first time all day. He cheered internally. Who cared about money, this would be perfect. He would make sure to be perfect.
Lando would be the best fake boyfriend she could ever ask for, starting now.
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liked by mclaren, lilyzneimer, and 38,890 others
ynusername austria views hit different this time of year ๐ฅด
user1 you need a bark cause i can dog real loud
user2 so close op, but not quite!
user1 ... i'm too embarrassed to try again atp
user3 A SOFT LAUNCH?? ON THIS FINE TUESDAY EVENING??
user4 i HATE happy couples, they ruin my mood fr
user5 no deadass, like i hope y'all find out you're cousins
user4 she's dating a m*n i feel so sick
user5 the white men got her ๐งโโ๏ธ
user6 you know who else is in austria ๐
user7 i want to tell you to be fr... but lowkey that does look like lando
user8 BE SO FR YOU CAN'T EVEN SEE HIS FACE
user9 i can't believe i'm lany/n truthing in god's year of 2023, but i am
user10 maybe lany/n is the friends we made along the way
user9 don't patronize me bitch iT'S RIGHT THEREEEEE
landonorris what book are you reading ๐คจ
ynusername stop acting like you know how to read
landnorris i didn't want to know anyways ๐๐
user11 damn girl they pay you to do this ๐ซ i don't even get vacation days
ynusername hi i'm saul goodman. did you know that you have rights? the constitution says you do. and so do i โ๏ธ
user12 going on a date on a work trip, are we? ๐ซฃ
ynusername let's just call it an employee outing (;
user12 WAHT DOES THAT MEAN Y/N???
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liked by oscarpiastri, maxfewtrell, and 40,103 others
mclaren lando norris p4? more likely than you think (ignore oscar, an intern let him out of his cage again) ๐
user14 he looks so happy, no one speak to me ever again
user15 it's that y/n effect
oscarpiastri quick question! WHAT THE FUCK.
oscarpiastri i am NOT an animal ๐ก i don't need a cage
lilyzneimer DON'T YELL AT HER OSCAR ๐ซต I'LL HAVE THE INTERN PUT YOU BACK.
mclaren yeah oscar ๐คจ watch it
oscarpiastri this isn't a funny joke ๐ this isn't haha funny
user16 lando's best results after there are rumors they've started dating... hmmmm
user17 omg not y'all starting already
user16 what can i say the fanfics write themselves
user18 oscar fans can never catch a break, huh?
user19 i knew that last post was too good to be true
user20 @/oscarpiastri what happened to bribery??
oscarpiastri sorry guys, i pissed her off ๐
user21 ig since lando's off the shit list someone had to take his place
landonorris i got p4 for you admin ๐คญ
mclaren this is workplace harassment
mclaren ๐ป๐ค (it's the world's smallest violin playing the world's saddest song)
landonorris alright, fuck you ig
user23 lando flirting in the comments and then getting turned down in the most humiliating manner, what's new
landonorris ... it wasn't that humiliating
user24 i know y/n's boyfriend is reading these comments and weeping
user25 boy oh boy do i have news for you op
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liked by user26, landonorris, and 21,844 others
f1wags Various sources have reported seeing Y/n L/n, the current McLaren social media manager and McLaren F1 Driver Lando Norris together across Austria during the GP weekend, and celebrating after. Various kisses and intimate interactions were reported by our sources, including the ones pictured above. What do we think about this new workplace romance?
user26 IS THIS REAL???? IS THIS REALLLLLL??????
user27 THE PICTURES ARE THERE BUT I STILL DON'T BELIEVE
IT
user28 they're so cute, it almost makes me forget that this is the most insane thing i'll see all year
user29 bro beat the norizz allegations
user30 THE KISS?? THE BEACH PICTURES??? THE DINNER HUG??? OH THEY'RE IN LOVE IN LOVE
user31 they grow up so fast
user32 he's not hot enough for her, next question!
user33 be so serious ๐
user34 THIS IS WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY FOR YOURSELF????
user35 from the team account is diabolical
user36 and they say bullying isn't a love language
user37 she hated on him so hard he fell in love with her
landonorris damn right she did
user38 lando try not to be down bad challenge *impossible* *never seen before*
user39 oh i know the twitter users that have been getting hate for weeks for saying the truth are MADDDD
user40 they couldn't have been more obvious, we've been in denial
user41 the eyes chico, they never lie
user42 oh i know zak brown is throwing up over this pr nightmare
user43 right like i think people are forgetting she's an employee ๐
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liked by carlossainz55, maxverstappen1, and 77,954 others
landonorris post-p4 cooldown ๐งก
oscarpiastri what's all this then ๐งโโ๏ธ
oscarpiastri i really love how you're so good about telling me things ๐ฎโ๐จ
user44 someone free oscar from lany/n bro
user45 this was NOT on my 2024 bingo card
user46 i don't think anyone could have predicted lando having rizz
danielricciardo i wasn't familiar with your game lando
landonorris STOP HITTIG ON HER SHES MINE
danielricciardo damn lil bro no one is taking her from you
user47 "she's mine" down horrendous once again
user48 bro was born down horrendous i fear
carlossainz55 i can't believe you didn't tell me lando! congratulations
landonorris it was a secret you muppet ๐ but thank you
maxverstappen1 you too make a great couple! congrats mate ๐ค
ynusername this was the most max verstappen way you could have said this
maxverstappen1 still bullying me i see ๐
lilyzneimer CUTIE PATOOTIES <3 oh and hi lando
landonorris can't even be mad cause they are too damn cute ๐ซ
bsfuser1 congratulations i guess (she was mine first) ๐
landnorris thanks! (we can share)
bsfuser2 hurt her and i kill you!!! so cute together tho <3
landonorris you lot are fucking terrifying!! appreciate it (:
zbrownceo Congratulations you two! Can't imagine a better pair ๐งก๐ช
landonorris Thanks Zak!!!
ynusername you gave cali kisses so i guess you're alright <3
landonorris as many kisses as my girls want
user50 cat dad cat dad cat dad โผ๏ธ
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that's the end of act 1!!! part 2 coming shortly <3 i'm moving into college and starting classes so if updates slow down a bit just know i'm getting things out as quickly as i can ((: hope you enjoyed and feel free to leave your thoughts!!
๐ฉ๐๐ ๐ก๐๐จ๐ฉ
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