บท 41: Chapter 41: The Grind to Car Reveal
The next week and a half passed in a blur of relentless effort. With the first race looming just weeks away, every day felt like a critical step toward readiness. The Lamborghini deal might have thrust me further into the spotlight, but my focus stayed on honing my skills, both on and off the track.
I woke up to the now-familiar ding of the system.
"Good morning, Rookie. Today's tasks are ready. Let's see how far you've come."
The tasks popped up in my mind like a holographic checklist:
• Run 5 miles (+3 Endurance).
• Perform 100 sit-ups (+3 Strength).
• Meditate for 15 minutes (+2 Focus).
"Morning to you, too," I muttered groggily, rubbing my eyes. The system didn't reply, but I could almost sense its smugness.
By 6:30 a.m., I was on the treadmill in my home gym, Marcus watching me like a hawk.
"Push the pace, Henry," Marcus said. "You've been improving, but now's the time to start shaving seconds wherever you can, whether it's in the gym or on the track."
I nodded, increasing the speed. My legs burned, but I pushed through, imagining myself overtaking Damon or Matteo in a race.
After the run, we dove into core exercises, and Marcus made sure I hit every sit-up with proper form.
"Every movement matters," he said. "You don't want to waste effort."
The system chimed in once I finished. "+3 Strength. Congratulations. At this rate, you might just beat me in a push-up contest."
"Funny," I thought.
Later that afternoon, Olivia arrived for our daily debrief. She was armed with her ever-present tablet and an energy that somehow never faltered.
"So, let's review," she began. "Your media obligations for the week include another interview with Racing Digest tomorrow and a team strategy session on Thursday. Oh, and don't forget the car reveal next week. The team will want you to be polished and ready to interact with fans."
I groaned. "I'm starting to think driving is only half the job."
She smirked. "Welcome to the world of motorsport. The car reveal is a big deal, Henry. It's your chance to connect with the fans and show them why they should root for you."
We went over the logistics of the reveal, which included photos, speeches, and a meet-and-greet with ART supporters.
"Also," she added, "Lamborghini sent over their video requirements for the Revuelto. We'll need to film that this weekend."
"Great," I said, running a hand through my hair. "No pressure."
By midweek, I was back at the ART facility with Laurent, fine-tuning the car setup. Every session brought us closer to perfection, but there was still work to be done.
"Let's focus on cornering today," Laurent said as I climbed into the simulator. "Your entry into Turn 6 could use some improvement. Try braking earlier and carrying more speed through the apex."
I nodded, gripping the steering wheel. As the virtual track unfolded in front of me, Laurent's calm voice guided me through every adjustment.
"Better," he said after a few laps. "But let's tweak the suspension. I think we can get a bit more stability on the rear."
By the end of the session, I felt more in sync with the car than ever before.
The system chimed in. "+2 Focus. Maybe Laurent should thank me for making you coachable."
"Maybe you should thank me for listening," I shot back mentally.
Over the weekend, Olivia coordinated the Lamborghini video shoot. The Revuelto arrived at my house in pristine condition, its glossy paint gleaming under the French sun.
"Wow," I said as I stepped outside to see it.
The shoot was straightforward but exhausting. I had to repeat lines and poses until the camera crew was satisfied, but the end result looked incredible.
The system stayed quiet during the shoot, but when it was over, it chimed in. "+1 Charisma. Not bad for your first time playing car model."
"Glad you approve," I thought dryly.
The closer we got to the car reveal, the more intense everything became. Marcus ramped up my gym sessions, pushing me harder with every workout.
"Let's add some resistance bands to your training," he said one morning. "You need explosive strength for overtaking and defending positions on the track."
I gritted my teeth as he added the bands to my squats. Every rep felt like a battle, but I powered through, determined to build every ounce of strength I could.
That afternoon, I met with Laurent again, this time to analyze data from my recent runs.
"You're improving steadily," Laurent said. "Your consistency is impressive. If we keep this up, you'll be a serious contender this season."
His praise meant a lot, but I knew I couldn't rest on it. There was still so much to learn and perfect.
The interview with Racing Digest was less formal than my previous media appearances. The journalist, a laid-back guy named Alex, asked a mix of technical and personal questions.
"So, Henry," Alex began, "you're the rookie on a team with some strong personalities. How's the dynamic?"
"It's competitive, for sure," I said. "But I think that pushes all of us to be better. I've learned a lot from my teammates, especially Luca."
Alex raised an eyebrow. "No tension with Matteo or Damon?"
I chuckled. "Let's just say we all have different approaches to racing. But at the end of the day, we're here to win."
The questions shifted to my Lamborghini sponsorship, and I could feel the weight of the deal in every word I said.
"Lamborghini believes in my potential," I said. "That's a huge honor, and it motivates me to prove them right."
The week ended with a marathon day at the ART facility. Laurent and I spent hours tweaking the car's aerodynamics, while Marcus pushed me through one of the toughest gym sessions yet.
"Almost there," Marcus said as I finished a grueling set of deadlifts. "The hard work is paying off, Henry. Don't let up now."
The system chimed in as I completed my final exercise task for the day. "+3 Endurance. You're becoming quite the machine, Rookie."
That night, Olivia and I reviewed the schedule for the car reveal one last time.
"Everything's set," she said. "Just show up and be your charming self."
"No pressure," I said, grinning.
As I lay in bed that night, I reflected on how far I'd come in just a few weeks. The grind was relentless, but I felt stronger, faster, and more prepared than ever. The car reveal was just around the corner, and I was ready to step into the spotlight.
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