chapter twenty-six — quan estem separats
➝ distance is painful for elisabeth. however, worse than that is the uncertainty about the future.
➝ word count: 5,1k
➝ warnings: slightly smutty talk
➝ author notes: finally, a new chapter for you! I hope you are as excited as I am for the sequel to the story of toto and elisabeth. always remembering that my askbox is open for feedback and requests (btw, I apologize if you sent something and I didn't respond; it means it's on the list to be written).
JUNE, 2016
The gentle breeze made her hair flutter. Sitting on the porch floor, leaning against one of the white pillars, she watched the horizon, deep in thought. The sun was shining brightly, illuminating the lawn stretched across the backyard of the mansion and the trees that covered the hills in front of the white houses scattered along the coast, right up to where the sands dipped and bathed in the deep blue of the Mediterranean.
This was Ibiza. Most of the world knew it for electronic music festivals and parties during the summer. It was one of the most popular destinations in Europe, especially for young people looking for sun, drink, and fun on the lush beaches and nightclubs that dotted the island.
For Elisabeth, though, Ibiza was simply home.
Her affection for the island was her birthright. Her maternal grandmother, Elena, was a Spanish woman, and she loved it there. She often spent time in Ibiza with her husband, the Impressionist painter Robert Knaus. After the death of Elisabeth's grandfather in 1975, Elena decided to take up permanent residence in Ibiza with her two youngest children, Renate and Tilman, while her eldest daughter, Marlene, was building her modeling career on the mainland.
Shortly after the family moved to the island, Marlene went to visit her mother and siblings, to see how they were faring during those first few months without Robert. It was at that time that the family met Niki, who was a friend of Marlene’s — at least that’s what Marlene said. Of course, her mother did not believe a man who had traveled all the way from Vienna to Ibiza just to see her daughter was merely a friend, but she didn’t question it.
During those days under the Spanish sun, not only did Niki fall even more in love with Marlene, but he also fell in love with the island itself. Life in Ibiza moved at a different pace — everything was slower, more relaxed, warmer, tender. It was a harsh contrast to his normal schedule, driven by long bouts of travel, focusing on results, and the danger of his sport. It was as if Niki had been introduced to a whole new world, where he had found something new. It was normally something he avoided at all costs, for fear of it affecting his racing performance.
Happiness.
He and Marlene got married a few months later, in a registry office in Vienna, practically in the dead of night. A few months after that, they purchased a mansion on the island. It was built in the Balearic style and had a stunning view of the main city, with its white houses dotting the coast. Niki took refuge there after his accident at the Nürburgring. He had his children spend the first few years of each of their lives here as well, away from the spotlight and the media pressure that came with having a famous father.
Out of all of Niki’s children, Elisabeth had spent the least amount of time on the island, due to the fact that Lukas and Mathias were of school age at the time she was born, and their father insisted that they be educated in Vienna. However, this did not stop the youngest Lauda sibling from developing a special fondness for Ibiza, and making her own memories there.
Her childhood had been filled with walks on the beach, playing with Tasso and Luna on the front lawn, and riding lessons with Uncle Tilly on the pony he'd gifted her for her fifth birthday. There were escapades with her father, diving in the Mediterranean when they should’ve been at the market in Santa Eulària, running errands for Marlene. Elisabeth’s happiest memories all took place on that little piece of land, until a particular man stepped into her life and turned everything upside down.
Thinking of Toto gave Elisabeth a strange feeling in her chest, a feeling that she wasn’t used to any more after they’d been dating for nearly two years. It was the feeling of something she was lacking, like someone had stolen a piece of her.
After photos of him surfaced in Austrian tabloids with a “mystery woman”, the two of them agreed that they needed to lay low until the press lost interest in Toto, because he’d been targeted by the paparazzi more often these days. The only solution they could think of was to travel separately and to avoid appearing in public unless they were in the company of another person.
It would even have worked… But, then they were spotted walking into Toto’s penthouse late in the evening after arriving back in Vienna after the Canadian Grand Prix. It was dumb luck that Elisabeth’s face was obscured in the pictures, covered by the hood of the team jacket she’d stolen when the chill of the Viennese nighttime caught her by surprise. It was dumb luck that shit hadn’t hit the proverbial fan.
Bradley emailed them both the next morning, requesting they consider a response of some kind. They both agreed that the best thing to do would be for them to remain apart for a while, just until the press’ fervor died down. They could do anything they wanted once things calmed down. Since the season was underway, it was agreed that Toto would stay in Oxfordshire, close to the factory, and that Elisabeth would stay in her apartment in Vienna. She was glad she hadn’t sold it yet, like she was considering for a while.
She hadn’t expected their period of separation to be so difficult, though. The first few days were easy. Her flat hadn’t been inhabited in a while, and things needed to be organized. Work took up a lot of her time as well. But after a few days, she became keenly aware of Toto’s absence, and started feeling lonely… almost empty inside. Elisabeth realized, while she was away from him, how important he’d become to her. He was an essential part of her life now.
It wasn't like they didn't communicate via text and phone calls. Truthfully, they spent far too much time on the phone with each other, giving each other the most mundane updates about things that were going on. They even saw each other at the Azerbaijan GP in Baku, but they limited their contact to conversations in the garage, so other people would be around and nothing would look too suspicious. Being so close to him and so far away from him at the same time felt like torture to Elisabeth. Worst of all, there was no end to it in sight.
Niki seemed to notice Elisabeth's restlessness and suggested that his daughter come with him and Marlene to Ibiza for a chance to relax before July’s packed race schedule. It sounded wonderful, and Elisabeth would have jumped at the chance… If it weren't for the fact that her parents had invited her brothers as well.
The prospect of seeing Mathias again after everything that happened at Lenny’s birthday party gave Elisabeth pause. Since she and Toto had been kicked out of his apartment, she hadn't been in contact with her brother or sister-in-law. Even the news of the birth of her new nephew, Ellison, arrived through third parties, as Mathias did not make a point of even reading the WhatsApp messages she’d sent asking about the children. The idea of sharing a house with Mathias, even for a few days, seemed like it would be impossible.
After some jostling around a few dates and snide comments from her brother, it was agreed that Elisabeth would spend a few days on the island in June, and Mathias would come in July. That way, they could avoid any friction or fights, considering that their last argument had ended with her slapping her brother in the face.
Elisabeth’s first few days in Ibiza were filled with re-discovery. It had been almost two years since she had visited because of the frenetic routine of travel and meetings that her life had become. Visiting the places that were part of her childhood were special to her, and felt even more special when she imagined what it would be like to have Toto, Ben and Rosi there with her, exploring the island with her. It would be fun, she thought, to show them Ibiza through her eyes, telling them stories about spending time there during her youth.
The sound of something buzzing pulled her out of her thoughts. Elisabeth glanced to the table next to her and realized that her phone was ringing. She picked it up and looked at the screen, smiling when she realized who was calling her.
— Hi, honey — she said softly.
— Hola, guapa — Toto greeted, in slurred Spanish, which made Elisabeth laugh — Como estás?
— You know that they don’t really speak Spanish here in Ibiza, right?
— But isn't it part of Spain?
— Yes, but they speak Catalan here, dear, not Spanish.
— Then correct me, Professor Lauda.
— You should have said “Hola bonica, com estàs?”.
He repeated the phrase carefully, pulling out some vowels in an exaggerated way, making her laugh again.
— We’ll work on it, dear.
— What matters is that you understood my question, and I'm waiting for your answer.
— I'm fine, Toto — Elisabeth replied — I would be better if you were here, of course. What about you?
— I'm fine too, baby. Lots of meetings, trying to solve some problems that popped up here that would have been fixed in five minutes if you were here.
Elisabeth smiled.
— Are things that chaotic in my absence?
— You know, trouble seems to respect you, Liesl. It's actually very funny — Toto laughed.
— Sounds like I'm going to have to fly straight over there to help you, Toto.
— Nothing would make me happier than that, baby. I miss you here.
— At the factory?
— No — he replied, in a low voice — Well, yes, that too, but I miss you here with me. I miss you being close to me. I miss having you by my side at meetings, supporting me. I miss having you at home, laughing while sipping your coffee in the kitchen. I miss you in bed, lying on my chest, your fingertips caressing my skin.
— I miss you too, dear — Elisabeth murmured.
— I miss your kisses. I miss the way you like to nibble on my neck and ears. I miss the way you sigh and moan. I miss your body. I miss you the way you twitch all over while I make you come in every way possible — Toto continued, his voice gaining a mischievous edge to it. It caused Elisabeth to press her legs together involuntarily as a wave of heat rose through her body.
— Toto — she sighed, feeling her cheeks heat up.
— Do you miss that too, Liesl? Do you miss me making you come?
She pursed her lips the memory of the last time they'd had sex coming to the forefront of memories. The way he'd taken all the time in the world to bring her to orgasm more times than she could keep track of had etched itself in her mind, and she missed it so much.
— Yes, dear.
— What do you miss? Tell me baby. I want to hear you say it.
Elisabeth took a deep breath, trying to ignore the tingling feeling low in her belly — an impossible feat, considering that Toto Wolff was muttering obscenities on the other end of the line. She quickly looked around to make sure that nobody was nearby, and brought the phone closer to her face.
— I miss your eyes locked on me, watching me. I miss you telling me that I’m your pretty little girl. I miss your hands squeezing my breasts, your kisses between them as you move inside me. I miss you pinning my arms above my head to gain leverage. I miss the way you leave me completely at your mercy. I miss the weight of your body on top of mine after you come inside me, the way you breathe, and the way your sweat mixes with mine — Elisabeth said. She could feel her heart start to pound as the memories of those moments were making her more and more excited.
On the other end of the line, Toto sounded like he was out of breath.
— Did I go too far, dear?
— I'm seriously considering taking a flight to Ibiza right now.
— My father would say that you're crazy to show up for no reason.
— But… I have a good reason.
— You do?
— Yes. To hear you whisper in Spanish that you want me inside you.
She laughed, rolled her eyes.
— It's Catalan, honey.
— Could you tell me the difference? — he asked, his tone teasing and malicious.
— No puc esperar per sentir-te dins meu, amor meu — Elisabeth spoke, pronouncing the words carefully. However, before she even heard Toto's answer, the sound of someone clearing their throat made her whip her head around, her eyes going wide.
Leaning against the doorway behind her, arms crossed, Lukas was staring at his sister with a raised eyebrow. Considering the way his expression was now twisting into an impish, gleeful smile, he had definitely heard what Elisabeth had just said. “Fuck”, she thought, not realizing that Toto was muttering something on the other end of the line. It was probably some equally dirty phrase in one of the five languages he could speak.
— I'll have to hang up, I'll talk to you later — she said quickly, her tone cold and businesslike. She didn’t wait for a response before she pressed the “end call” button on her screen.
Lukas walked over to Elisabeth slowly, sitting down beside her on the porch. Then, after a few seconds of silence, he looked at his sister.
— I really didn't expect you to have such a foul mouth, Elschen.
Elisabeth felt her cheeks burn, her mind searching for some good excuse as to why she was saying those things that didn't require her to mention Toto's name.
— It's not what you're thinking, Lukas — she said softly. She was a little nervous. Mathias' reaction to her relationship had been bad enough that she had prevented anyone else from finding out at all costs.
Lukas chuckled.
— Do you read minds now, Elisabeth? — he asked, the corner of his lips curled into a mischievous smile.
— No, I just know you well enough to know that you must be thinking the worst of me right now.
— Not the worst, Elschen. I was just thinking about who could possibly be on the other end of the line.
Elisabeth took out her cell phone and looked at the screen, making sure the call had ended.
— It was nobody — she muttered — Nobody important, I mean.
— He seemed important to you, considering you told him you wanted him inside you.
She clenched her jaw, casting her eyes to the ground. Her brother sighed.
— I thought you trusted me — he muttered.
Something tightened inside Elisabeth's chest. Despite Lukas being seven years older than her, and having the same rebellious tendencies as their father and Mathias, it hadn’t prevented the two of them from cultivating a deep affection for each other. It was reflected in the fact that whenever somebody asked who their best friends were, they’d each give each other’s names without hesitation. They each had the same personality and the same blue eyes, and they shared a lot of life with each other. Whenever either of them had a problem, they would turn to the other for advice, to vent, or to get comfort or encouragement as needed. Lukas was the first person Elisabeth told about her first boyfriend, and Lukas sought out Elisabeth to ask about how best to surprise the girl he liked when he was in university. Even after 30 years, that bond was still strong, even if the conversations weren't as frequent as either of them would have liked because of their maddening routines, with Lukas helping Mathias in his racing career, and her helping father manage the family business and his interests at Mercedes. Elisabeth wanted to keep their relationship close, above all else, even if it meant not telling him how happy and fulfilled she was with the man of her dreams.
She didn't want to lose another brother.
— And I do, Lukas — Elisabeth murmured.
— It doesn't seem like it, Elschen.
— I know, but I trust you — she said, looking at him for the first time since he sat down next to her.
— So tell me, who's the guy?
Elisabeth raised an eyebrow.
— How do you know it's a guy?
— You've only told me about guys before now.
— I could be bisexual.
— I think you would have told me that, Elschen — he countered, giving her a wink.
Elisabeth smiled a little, looking at the horizon. As much as she tried, she could never hide her feelings from her brother. Lukas could read her like no one else.
— Is it Toto? — he asked, after a few seconds of silence.
— What makes you think it would be him?
— You didn’t answer my question.
— You didn’t answer mine.
— I asked first.
— But your answer is important to mine — Elisabeth said, looking at her brother. Lukas smiled wanly at her.
— Well, if you're so keen to know, I assumed it was him because I was with him and dad when you and Mathias were arguing in his office during Lenny’s party. As soon as we heard Mathias raise his voice, I noticed that Toto's posture changed completely. He looked worried and angry at the same time. As the two of you got louder and louder, he looked more and more irritated. His jaw got really tight, and he was gripping his glass of juice so tightly that I thought he was going to break it.
Elisabeth looked at her hands. She still didn’t say anything. She fiddled nervously with the ring Toto had given her after the Amira Air deal, the diamonds glittering in the Ibiza sun.
— Lenny started crying a few minutes later, because he got scared by the shouting. Claire asked mom to stay with him while she went to see what was going on. While all of that was happening, we heard something that sounded like a slap, and Toto dropped his glass on the table and marched straight into the office.
— I understand…
— But, I think the most obvious giveaway was when mom asked me to help her with Lenny. He was inconsolable. I tried talking to him a bit, trying to cheer him up, you know, so I took him over to the pile of his birthday presents and asked him which one he wanted to play with, and he asked for Onkel Toto’s red car book.
Elisabeth swallowed hard.
— I even asked him to repeat who the gift was from, because I didn’t think I heard him right. But, he said that Onkel Toto had given a book with a red car and that’s what he wanted.
— Did mom hear? — Elisabeth asked in a low voice.
— Did she… Hear Lenny?
— Yeah.
— No, she didn't.
She sighed, twirling the platinum circle on her right ring finger.
— So, Elschen, is it him?
— Yes.
Silence stretched for a few seconds between them as they looked at each other.
— If I said I was surprised, I'd be lying — Lukas muttered, causing Elisabeth to look at him, one eyebrow raised.
— What do you mean by that?
— When dad introduced me to Toto, during the New Year's party at his house, we talked for a while. I remember thinking that he seemed a lot like you, and that I would get along with him for that reason.
— Are we really that much alike?
— You both are focused, stubborn, and intelligent. You both have a similar sense of humor and a way of dominating an environment just by being in it — he replied, looking at the horizon — You make quite the striking pair.
— Thanks, I think — Elisabeth said, a shy smile on her lips.
— Is this a recent development?
— Not really.
— How long?
— Almost two years.
Lukas looked at his sister with wide eyes.
— Almost two years?
— Yes.
— And nobody knows?
— Very few people know.
— Who?
— His kids, his mother and sister, Bradley Lord at Mercedes… You. Mathias…
Lukas looked outraged at the mention of their brother.
— You told Mathias before you told me? I thought I was your best friend!
— I didn't tell him.
— But…
— He caught us in a… Compromising position in Toto's office last year in Spa.
Her brother was quiet for a few seconds.
— How compromising?
— Compromising enough that there was no hiding what we were actually doing.
His blue eyes widened. The impish smile returned to his face.
— Were you fucking in the motorhome?! — he asked. He was louder than Elisabeth would have liked to have been, so she slapped him on the arm.
— Lukas! — she exclaimed.
— What?
— Don't say that out loud — she scolded under her breath.
— Well, were you?
Elisabeth nodded, pressing her mouth into a thin line. Lukas laughed.
— I honestly didn't expect you to be that kind of girl, Elschen.
— Neither did Mathias, I guess — she muttered.
— Well… The thing about Mathias is that he’s completely oblivious to anything that’s not racing, Elisabeth. A few days ago he told me that Freddie Hunt asked him about you, and he didn’t understand why he would have.
— I guess you didn't tell him that Freddie and I…
— Nope.
— I’m glad. His reaction would be worse than it was when he caught me with Toto.
— What did he do when he walked in on you?
— Well, after practically dragging me by my hair to another room, he started lecturing me about how wrong it was, how I was crazy to have an affair with him, that I should be ashamed of myself for it. Oddly enough, it wasn't the worst thing he said that day.
— What else did he say?
— He threatened to tell dad about our relationship.
Lukas' jaw clenched.
— He did… What?
— Yes. He said that someone had to take dad’s side and that someone was him.
— And what did you do?
— I reminded him of when we helped him get back into karting and didn’t tell mom and dad, and that we gave him the money to do it. He couldn’t argue with that.
— So... Did he tell dad?
— I had to threaten him with his sponsors to keep him quiet.
Lukas chuckled.
— Oh, that makes sense…
— What makes sense?
— At the end of last season, he asked me to look for new sponsors and asked me to not tell you about it. I asked him why, and he said you were too busy with Mercedes things to handle it with the attention he thought it needed.
— That son of a bitch — Elisabeth muttered — Did you help him?
— I looked some things up, but you know, I don't understand finances like you do. I would have asked for your help whether he wanted me to or not.
She sighed. Things couldn’t go on like this - Elisabeth needed to find a solution to the situation she had gotten herself into with Toto.
— So, dad doesn't know? — Lukas asked after a few seconds of silence.
— No — she muttered.
— When are you going to tell him?
Elisabeth was about to respond when a female voice interrupted her.
— Tell what to whom?
Elisabeth turned her head and realized Marlene was standing behind them. Dressed in a crisp cotton summer dress, with her hair tied back in her iconic bun, she was standing in the doorway of the house, her face frozen in a serious expression. “Fuck”, Elisabeth thought.
— Nothing, mom — Lukas replied quickly when Elisabeth didn’t, realizing that his sister was completely frozen. However, the eldest son's words only served to make their mother even more suspicious.
— Nothing at all, Elisabeth? — Marlene looked at her. When her daughter didn’t answer she slowly approached where they were sitting — Lukas, could you give us a moment?
Elisabeth's brother looked at her with pity in his eyes, as if he knew that a difficult situation was about to get worse. Giving her shoulder an affectionate squeeze, as if to say “good luck”, Lukas got up and walked back into the house. Marlene sat down in the spot recently vacated by her son.
— Elschen, you know you can trust me, don't you?
— Yes, mom — she murmured.
— So are you going to tell me?
— Tell you what?
— What are you hiding from me.
Elisabeth sighed.
— I’m… Dating someone.
Marlene smiled.
— That’s nice, dear. Is it someone I know, by chance?
— Yes.
Her mother gazed thoughtfully at the horizon.
— Would this person be a coworker of your father's?
— Yes.
Marlene looked at her daughter seriously.
— It's Toto, isn't it?
Elisabeth's eyes met her mother's.
— Yes.
Elisabeth fixed her gaze on the distance.
— Look, mom, I know it's not right, but I tried to avoid it, I swear I tried to avoid it — Elisabeth started talking quickly, trying to justify herself — I wanted to keep him away as much as I wanted to be with him, but he said he wanted me and I couldn't resist...
— Elschen…
— I know he's friends with dad, I know he's older, I know he has two kids, I know all of that, but I couldn't help but fall in love with him...
— Dear…
— And I'm willing to fight for what I feel for him. I love him, I want to be with him. And I'll fight for it because I'm tired...
— Elisabeth…
— I'm tired of pretending I don't love Toto. I'm tired of not being able to hold his hand, not being able to walk with him on the street, not even being able to take a boat ride without being afraid of getting caught with him...
— Elisabeth Renate Lauda, would you be quiet and listen to me? — Marlene snapped, her voice sharp.
Elisabeth stopped mid-sentence, looking at her mother, her eyes filled with tears.
— A long time before you were born, I had come to Ibiza to help my mother and siblings settle here after your grandfather died. Then, one afternoon, I got a call from your father saying that he was leaving Vienna right then, and he was on his way here. I asked him why, and he said he would tell me when he got to the airport.
Elisabeth swallowed hard.
— He came in a Cessna 421 from Vienna to Ibiza. He got here at midnight. When he got off the plane, I walked over to greet him, and he kissed me — Marlene smiled — So I asked him why he'd come and he just said he missed me. My heart melted right away.
— I can imagine — Elisabeth muttered.
— I took him to your grandmother's house and introduced him as a friend I'd met at a party at Curd's house. She didn't question me, but I could tell that she was suspicious of both of us. The next day, I took him to see the island. After all, I grew up here. Of course, we didn't just walk around, we also hugged, kissed, even had sex once or twice on a deserted beach near Caló de s'Illa…
— Mother!
— What?
— I don't need details!
Marlene raised an eyebrow.
— You’re acting like you don't have sex, Elisabeth.
— That doesn't mean I need… Or want, for that matter, to know about your sex life with dad.
Her mother rolled her eyes.
— The point is, that night after dinner, your dad and I went out to sit on the porch, and we ended up kissing. Your grandma saw us. I will never forget the way she looked at me as she said that she knew the moment I arrived on the island that I was in love with someone.
Elisabeth immediately understood what she meant.
— Elschen, mothers know. They always know. I knew that Christmas Eve when you left the table to take a call. You, always disciplined, always toeing the line, breaking a rule? It needed to be someone very important. Someone you would drop everything for. Someone you love.
— Mom…
— Of course, I didn't immediately assume it was Toto. You know a lot of people, it could’ve been any one of them. But, you were very interested in going to the Prize Giving Gala in Qatar, and that made me realize who you were in love with. Hopelessly in love, judging by the photos I saw.
Elisabeth fixed her gaze on the trees, which were swaying slightly in the breeze.
— I will admit, I had reservations about him. I knew that he was a polite man who respected you deeply, but I wasn’t sure if he liked you as much as you liked him. But watching him run into that office after hearing you yell at your brother convinced me that he really does love you.
Elisabeth was silent, her throat tight.
— I just can't understand why you didn't say anything before, Elschen.
— I was afraid of your reaction. I was afraid you'd get mad.
— Why would I be mad, Elisabeth?
— Mathias did.
— And since when do you care about what your big-headed brother thinks?
— And there's the whole dad thing — Elisabeth replied, her fingers fiddling with the ring on her right hand — Toto is his friend, his only friend. And… I just fell in love with him. Falling in love with your dad’s only friend sort of feels off-limits.
— Do you remember how I met your father, Elschen?
— At Curd Jürgens' party — she said.
— I was Curd's girlfriend at the time. When I met your father, I fell in love with him, even though I shouldn't have. When I realized it, I was on the edge of the cliff, with him by my side. Attraction is the path to the precipice that is love. And the moment you jump with someone, it's because the two of you trust each other enough to know you're going to fly. Your dad and I jumped. And you and your brothers are the results of this leap we've taken.
Elisabeth looked at her mother with tears in her eyes.
— I would never be mad at you for following your heart, my love — Marlene said, putting an arm around her daughter’s shoulders — You are my daughter. My daughter, as well as your father’s. In the end, you are here because you father and I followed our hearts.
A tear rolled down her cheek as she leaned her head on her mother's shoulder. Elisabeth realized how exhausted she was from fighting the whole world to keep her relationship with Toto hidden. It was all too much — too much effort, too many lies, too many secrets, too much time. What they had was too beautiful to remain hidden within the walls of their Oxfordshire home.
— Mom — she sobbed.
— Yes, darling?
— Does dad know?
— If he does, he’s never said anything to me. I’ve never said anything to him, not least because I wasn't sure of anything, despite you two being very… Obvious, at least in my opinion.
— Do you think he'll be mad at me?
Marlene sighed.
— You won't know until you tell him, Elschen.
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