The morning air was crisp as Henry stood by the departure gate at the airport. His father, Luke Calder, stood before him, a bittersweet smile on his face. Despite the pride swelling in his chest, the impending goodbye weighed heavily on both of them.
"Dad, are you sure you'll be okay heading back without me?" Henry asked, his voice tinged with unease.
Luke nodded firmly. "Your mom and Emily need me back home, but you're starting your journey now, Henry. You've got everything it takes to make this work."
Beside them stood two individuals Luke had arranged for Henry to meet: his new personal assistant and personal trainer.
Luke gestured to the poised young woman standing next to him. "This is Olivia Grant. She's going to be your personal assistant. She's worked with some athletes before, and I think she's the perfect fit for what you need."
Olivia extended her hand with a warm smile. "Pleasure to meet you, Henry. I've already started organizing your schedule and reaching out to ART for coordination. We'll make sure everything runs smoothly."
Next, Luke turned to a tall, muscular man with a friendly grin. "And this is your personal trainer, Marcus Reed. He's worked with a few racing drivers before and knows exactly how to keep you in peak condition."
Marcus clapped Henry on the shoulder. "Ready to get to work, champ? I've already drafted a plan to boost your endurance and reaction times. You'll be unstoppable."
Henry shook their hands, gratitude filling him. "Thank you both. I'll do my best to make all this worth it."
Luke pulled Henry into a hug, his voice quiet but firm. "I'm proud of you, son. Don't ever forget that. And I'll always be a phone call away."
Henry swallowed the lump in his throat as his dad walked toward the departure gate. He watched until Luke disappeared from sight, then turned to Olivia and Marcus. "Let's get to France."
The ART Grand Prix private plane touched down smoothly at a sleek private airport in Lyon, France. As Henry stepped off the plane, he was greeted by a gleaming black SUV bearing the ART logo.
A driver approached, opening the door with a polite bow. "Welcome to Lyon, Mr. Calder. I'll be taking you to your press conference."
Henry exchanged glances with Olivia and Marcus, who both seemed equally impressed. They climbed into the car, and Henry couldn't help but marvel at the efficiency of it all.
"They really don't hold back, do they?" Henry mused aloud.
Marcus chuckled. "Get used to it. You're in the big leagues now."
The car pulled up to a modern, glass-fronted building, its entrance flanked by photographers and journalists. Inside, Henry was led to a stage set with microphones and a long table.
Sitting at the table were Camille, the team principal, and the president of ART Grand Prix, a distinguished man in his late fifties with silver hair and a sharp suit, who introduced himself as François Marceau.
As Henry took his seat between them, the room buzzed with anticipation.
François leaned over and whispered, "Relax, Henry. This is your moment. Own it."
Camille spoke first, her voice confident and proud. "Today, we are thrilled to officially welcome Henry Calder to ART Grand Prix. His talent, determination, and potential are exactly what we look for in a driver. Henry, would you do us the honor of signing your contract in front of everyone here?"
Henry nodded, his nerves giving way to excitement. He took the pen from François and signed his name on the dotted line, the cameras flashing in a frenzy.
The room erupted in applause as François shook his hand and presented him with an ART racing suit.
The journalists wasted no time firing questions.
"Henry, how does it feel to join ART Grand Prix?"
"It feels incredible," Henry said, his voice steady. "ART has such a rich history in motorsport, and I'm honored to be part of it. I'm ready to work hard and give my best."
"What are your goals for your first season?" another reporter asked.
Henry smiled. "I want to learn as much as I can and grow as a driver. If I can get some good results along the way, that's a bonus."
The questions kept coming, but Henry handled them all with poise, earning approving nods from Camille and François.
After the conference, the SUV whisked Henry, Olivia, and Marcus to his new home. When the gates opened, Henry's jaw dropped.
The house was a sleek, modern marvel, with glass walls, a sprawling lawn, and a view of the French countryside. Parked in the driveway was a Lamborghini Gallardo, painted in ART's signature colors.
"No way," Henry whispered as they stepped out of the car.
Marcus let out a low whistle. "Now this is living."
Olivia handed Henry the keys to the house. "Go on. Take a look inside."
Henry opened the door to find a spacious living room with minimalist furniture, a state-of-the-art kitchen, and a staircase leading to multiple bedrooms. The back patio featured a pool and a hot tub, with a small guesthouse nearby.
He pulled out his phone and FaceTimed his family.
"Mom, Em, you're not going to believe this," he said, flipping the camera to show the house.
Emily screamed in excitement. "That's your house? That's insane!"
His mom smiled through tears. "You deserve it, Henry. All of it."
Henry turned the camera to the Lamborghini. "And this is my car."
Emily's eyes went wide. "Are you kidding me?"
They spent the next few minutes exploring the house together through the screen, his family's pride shining through every word.
That evening, Henry sat on the patio with Olivia and Marcus, going over his schedule for the upcoming weeks.
"We've got testing sessions, media obligations, and training days," Olivia explained, scrolling through her tablet. "I'll keep everything streamlined for you."
Marcus added, "I'll have you on a fitness plan starting tomorrow. The competition is going to be fierce, and we need to make sure you're in top form."
Henry nodded, a determined glint in his eye. "Let's get to work."
As the sun set over the French countryside, Henry felt a renewed sense of purpose. The road ahead would be tough, but he was ready for it. This was the beginning of something extraordinary.