Chapter Text
From: backupmax <[email protected]>
To: George Russell <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 02:04 AM
Subject: some thoughts
The first thing I thought before writing this was that if we had some kind of divorce stipulation I probably wouldn’t be allowed to contact you at all. But we didn’t get a divorce. So, I suppose I’m allowed to. Anyways, if we did get a divorce, you’d be the type to say, oh, let’s stay friends, and lie, and I would probably say yes. Wasn’t that what you said, anyways. You said, let’s take a break, Max, and then you moved your stuff out. You said, I just need to sort some things out in my mind, and I woke up to find that you’ve disconnected your bank account. No more shared account, your savings are yours, mine are mine. What do you even have against Santander anyways? I bet you moved your money to Barclays, or Lloyds. Always liked something more local, huh?
Did you actually say you wanted to break-up? Oh yes, when I called you the first night, and you hung up on me. And then you called me back the third time, and you said, let’s break up, Max. So nice of you to explain it.
The second thing I thought was that if you still used your backup account. No, is what I think, so bit of a fun thing for you to open your emails to in the morning.
I’m sitting in a twenty-four hour cafe right now. The wifi is absolutely shit. This whole thing was to get over you, and now I’m just thinking about how much you would be complaining about the wifi. Too slow to check your emails. LOL. So maybe this would be a good place for us to eat.
Do you remember the first time we met? I don’t actually remember if I told you this, but I said out loud, I need to get into his pants. It took me a while, but I did. Hoorah to me! We were dumbasses, though, I think. The student union’s wall was so sticky, and of course it was dark and dusty and disgusting, and I asked you, what would you think about kissing up against the wall? And you said, ew, that’s so unhygienic. Stamped on poor little Max’s heart. Didn’t even friendzone him, health-zoned him. And then poor little Max never met poor little George ever again, and lived on happily ever after. Oh wait.
Not much to say, actually. The sunrise will be soon, which will be pretty.
Don’t worry about me. I’ve got it under control. Will you worry about me? I actually don’t know. I’ve got more in savings than I’ve realised, but you knew that. You did our finances.
I wanted to say something like, oh, I’ve sold the flat, just to fuck with you, but I don’t think I could’ve done that. I think in the past week if you came over, stabbed me, and took me back, I would’ve said yes. I probably would still say yes now.
Anyways. I should go, lots to do, lots to see! I’ll get Alex to feed the cats. He’s your friend first, but if we got a divorce I think I’d get to keep Alex more than you. I’ll just say that if he’s not on my side he wouldn’t be able to see the cats again and he’d love me for a lifetime.
Bye. You know who I am.
From: Max Verstappen <[email protected]>
To: Alex Albon <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 02:10 AM
Subject: A favour
Alex,
Sorry I would’ve texted but my phone’s dead. I’ll be out of the country for a while, about a month, maybe a little more, I don’t know. Do you mind feeding Jimmy and Sassy for the time being and changing out the litter box? The cat stuff’s all under the sink, and there should be enough for at least four months. You know where the bowls and scoops and everything are. Help yourself to everything in the fridge by the way, and if you don’t like it, do you mind binning it for me? The place should be clean but sorry in advance if you stumble into some kind of a mess.
The door's password is 790312
Thanks a bunch.
Max Verstappen
Software Engineer
NKT MEDIA
[email protected]
+44 7785 260827
7:38
lando
where the fuck are you????
werent we getting breakfast together???
your car isnt outside your place
lando
didnt wait, went in first and youre not in office
at least means you didnt pull an all night
lando
george is calling me should i pick up??
hello???
i’m picking up
From: Max Verstappen <[email protected]>
To: Laurent Mekies <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 8:42 AM
Subject: Remote Work
Laurent,
This is a bit sudden but I can’t come in for the next month. I can still get everything done remotely, and I’ve got all the software and the Git on my laptop anyways. If you don’t mind me doing the meetings from Zoom, there should be no problem. I’ll be back at least on March 20 at the latest. I know this is extremely sudden, and I’m sorry. If you aren’t satisfied, I can take the month off. I should have enough holidays.
Best,
Max V.
Software Engineer
NKT MEDIA
[email protected]
+44 7785 260827
8:51
lando
george got some weird ass email from you??
did you block him you aren’t picking up apparently and
hes got
a meeting
and needs it to be quick
fucks sake call him back max
From: Laurent Mekies <[email protected]>
To: Max Verstappen <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 9:37 AM
Subject: Re: Remote Work
Max,
Don’t worry, I’m fine with you remote working. I trust you. Can you check in every morning with the others though to make sure everything’s on track.
Is everything alright? This is very unlike you
Laurent M.
Digital Production Manager
NKT MEDIA
[email protected]
+44 7021 761512
Sent from my iPhone
10:44
G
Max, this isn’t funny.
Where are you? Are you okay? Your phone isn’t showing up with your location anywhere.
G
Fuck, I’ve got to go.
Don’t do something stupid.
From: Alex Albon <[email protected]>
To: Max Verstappen <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 11:35 AM
Subject: Re: A favour
yeah that’s no problem. is george not around? are the two of you going somewhere?
actually, do you want me to just take the cats to mine? they’ll have more people around and other cats too.
hope you’re good!
Sent from my iPhone
From: backupgeorge <[email protected]>
To: backupmax <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 18, 2026 02:16 PM
Subject: ???
I’ll presume your phone’s dead. What in the world, Max? Where the fuck are you? Alex just texted me that you’re out of the country for an entire month and asked where I was and I had to explain everything.
You can’t just run off and do something rash. Actions have consequences.
18:29
alex
if you want a listening ear, i’m here
me and lando are grabbing dinner with george in half an hour, we’ll chew him out for you
22:34
max
thanks
alex
oh!
you’re back online
max
yep found somewhere to stay and charge my phone
alex
where are you right now?
if you don’t mine me asking
max
france
alex
cool!
text if you need anything, genuinely.
max
i will
thank you
and for taking in the cats
alex
np!
[Image ID: A small brown cat curled up on Alex’s lap, asleep]
max
👍
22:36
max
i’m alive
dw
lando
wasnt
jk
wtf?? fucker??
lando
wait come back
i’ll be nice
lando
sorry abut george btw
lando
verstaPPEN!
you’re gone again :(
max
tell george i already miss him
or don’t
if he even cares
lando
text him yourself
dumbass
From: backupmax <[email protected]>
To: backupgeorge <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 19, 2026 00:17 AM
Subject: I can, actually
If you didn’t want it to be awkward, you shouldn’t have broken up with me, huh?
1802202601.jpg [Image ID: A sign that says Welcome to Calais. In the background, the sky is dark. The picture is taken from behind the wheel of a UK car. A Red Bull can is visible somewhere on the dash, though barely.]
Needed to get away.
From: backupgeorge <[email protected]>
To: backupmax <[email protected]>
Sent: Feb 19, 2026 00:19 AM
Subject: Re: I can, actually
Fucking hell, Max.