Apart from getting a girlfriend, what else had Luca accomplished in his personal life as the year drew to a close?
For one, he had secured an occupation, a stable means of living, earning a salary that was a thousand times more than he had ever dreamed of.
And this paycheck was only set to grow. One of the major clauses in the personal terms he had just agreed to with Nevada stated that his pay would increase from its current value to $2.5 million next year.
This was a massive financial leap, and Luca was fully prepared to embrace and manage it.
Even now, he could comfortably provide for himself and his family, ensuring they lacked nothing.
Mrs. Rennick could now easily access the medications and medical care she had struggled to afford for so long. He could support Sophia through school without worry, meeting every need and even funding any future academic pursuits she wished to chase.
And for the first time in his life, he had something substantial set aside, something he could call real savings for the future.
But beyond financial gains, Luca also reflected on how he had grown in his relationships with others.
This year, he had formed true friendships, new bonds far deeper than the shallow connections he once called friendships back in high school.
Of course, not all of his relationships had thrived. He had also lost a significant friend this year, a loss that still lingered in his mind.
But rather than dwell on the fallout, he chose to take the lessons from it, understanding what went wrong and what he could learn moving forward.
Luca had also put together his very own personal team.
He had simply began with two personnel—Mallow and Sara, and now, he was expanding the workforce to an authentic personal team expected of an official F1 driver.
Luca knew that assembling a well-rounded team would be crucial to maintaining peak performance both on and off the track. This was an essential investment, regardless of the cost.
Mallow would fully take on the role of his Manager, overseeing every aspect of his career in F1. Meanwhile, Sara would step down from her position as Personal Assistant and focus solely on managing his finances as his Financial Caretaker.
Other key positions would be filled by additional personnel, much like how Vance had now taken on the role of PR, Brand, and Media Manager.
His responsibilities would include handling some of Luca's interviews and press conferences, shaping his personal brand, and securing endorsements and sponsorships.
Luca specifically chose Vance for this role because he was a confident, outspoken man. Those were perfect attributes needed for facing the media, supporting Luca publicly, and shutting down any negative statements made against him.
As for his Performance and Training Coach, Amir would continue in the role, though Luca mentioned that he wanted to bring in a new addition to further enhance his training regimen.
Since Sara left the role of Personal Assistant, she helped fill in another by bringing in a candidate just like she brought in Amir.
Luca was delighted to receive Manuela, the young lady Sara brought in. She was highly organized and efficient, with a background in sports management and prior experience assisting a professional tennis player.
Her ability to multitask and anticipate needs made her a perfect fit for the role.
She was also warm and approachable, very funny even from her first encounter with Luca, and always carrying an optimistic and cheerful demeanor, no matter the situation.
Manuela was short, had wavy chestnut-brown hair and sharp hazel eyes that fit the office wear she wore.
Luca expected to like her the most out of all the new intakes. As his Personal Assistant, she would now be the closest to him, handling his schedules, travel, accommodations, and day-to-day logistics with precision.
For his personal medical consultant, Luca figured it made the most sense to select someone from Nevada's medical department. Once he arrived, he'd personally choose from the many doctors available.
He also appointed a security detail, and just like his Personal Assistant, he took an immediate liking to them. They would be the ones ensuring his safety in the unpredictable and often chaotic world of racing, especially in a passionate country like Italy.
With all the roles assigned, Luca leaned back and took a moment to assess everything. It was all coming together smoothly.
To set the tone for the year ahead, he decided to host a small gathering in the hotel's courtyard, allowing everyone to acknowledge each other and their responsibilities in an informal setting.
Luca walked toward the white table, his crisp white outfit reflecting brilliantly under the open sky. He grabbed a bottle from the ice bucket, the condensation cool against his fingertips as he poured himself a drink.
The leaves of the palm trees above rustled gently as the cold wind swayed, making the afternoon sky look like it was already evening.
Luca sat back in one of the seats, resting his feet on a stool as he watched Mallow take the stand, cracking jokes and telling stories. Everyone laughed—except Sara and Vance.
Sara wasn't even mentally present. She had her laptop open, tapping away, too absorbed to hear a single word from Mallow.
Vance, on the other hand, was fully attentive yet chose not to laugh. Luca found that amusing, smiling as he took a sip of his drink.
He wondered if he could actually grow to like Mr. Vance. The man was nothing but real to his nature, and Luca appreciated real people.
He had expected Vance to start acting all nice and friendly just to please him and everyone else, but instead, the man stuck to his foul demeanor.
Luca took a deep breath, realizing how great life had become. Life had become so much easier, so much happier. It was almost suspicious, considering he once believed calamity had permanently set its sights on him.
Maybe life would stay this sweet. Maybe not. No one knew what the next year held for them.
He'd be in F1 before Max Addams, Albert Derstappen, Sean Aaronson and all of them.