Is this a love story?

Scuderia

Mia

"Right, we are ready to go out for Q1" Franny tells me from his seat next to me on the pit wall. I nod my head and they send out Carlos in a good space, avoiding the traffic here is crucial. Charles is out next and again the team found a good space for him. I watch anxiously as the cars go around on their out lap, this is the true test of whether we got the car right. I tap my feet on the bar they are resting on as my eyes glue to the screen. I see Max's dot cross the line to start on his flying lap, he has been on fire this weekend so far, topping the time sheets in all of the practise sessions. I see Carlos go over the line next and my eyes move to the lap times, so far he is setting green sectors which I expected but his final sector goes purple. I am feeling confident as both cars head into Q2 in the top 5. We never push hard in the first round as we know we will out qualify the slower teams but everything is already so much closer together this season. I turn to see the cars pull into the garage and I wait anxiously for Q2  to begin.

P1! Finally the hard work is paying off! I give Franny a hug and he cheers lightly in my ear! Carlos has got his first pole position of his career and our first pole since Charles crash pole in Monaco, where he couldn't even start the race. I couldn't hide the grin that was crossing my features, its working, the plan to take us back on the top step where we belong. I jump off of my chair and head back towards the garage congratulating team members on the way. I go straight over to Philip who looks just a relieved as I am that we have managed this "Well done!" I tell him as I approach and he grins "I'm glad we can finally give them both the cars that they deserve" His expression softens as he sees my expression "I'm sorry about Charles, his statement yesterday was harsh" I give him a small smile "its okay, we just need to stay professional from now on" He nods in agreement and I head to Ally who is waiting to take me to the media pen.

"Mia! Well done on Carlos's pole position today, you must feel really proud of your team?" Nat Pinkham asks me "Thanks! Yeah it feels good to start in the right direction this season, there has been so much hard work and dedication put in so that this team can begin to make its way back to the top where it belongs" She nods "I'm sorry but I have to ask about Charles" I cant hide the grimace "It's been a difficult weekend for me personally but we are going to be professional in the garage and work as a team to achieve the results that this car is capable of this season" I say giving the answer that Ally ran through with me earlier. "I totally understand, will you be making a statement?" I glance at Ally who nods "I will and it will be posted this afternoon, thank you" I walk away from Nat and head back towards the garage but a familiar Aussie accent calls my name "Hey Daniel!" I greet him and I receive one of his trademark grins "Congrats today!" I hug him quickly "Same for you! P3 is a fantastic effort!" He smiles "Yeah, made up for max as welll though, they weren't sure if they got the car right this season but P2 shows it's something they can work with" I agree "Yeah, surprised to see Mercedes struggling this much" I tell Daniel aware that I'm stil very much in the middle of all of the paddock hubbub "Yeah! Better for all of though, I also wanted to check how you were going after Charles' post last night" I shrug "I know what happened, I was there, he is just attempting to save face" He doesn't look convinced "Well Mia, I know you have Max but I'm here for ya if you need anything" I feel really grateful "Thanks Daniel, sorry to rush off but Ive got a few things to take care of before I can head back to the hotel" He holds his hands up "No worries, see you around"

I walk into my office with Ally, feeling somewhat happier for having that chat with Daniel, he really is a big bundle of energy and sunshine. I take a seat at my desk "We need to address his socials post now, I know you wanted to wait till after the qualifying session but if we don't say something soon people will start speculating" I let out a sigh "I know Ally, just all of this is moving too fast, I haven't had a chance to catch up" she gives my hand a squeeze "I know Mia but I once it is said then all of the media will have their answers" I know she is right, I load up Charles's statement so that I know what I need to say

@charles_leclerc I am taking my opportunity to let everyone know that me and Mia are no longer together. It breaks my heart that we are unable to figure things out especially after such a short marriage. There have been some mistakes made on my part but Mia is unwilling to fight for our marriage. I will continue to put the best interests of Scuderia Ferrari at the heart of everything I do and will do whatever it takes to keep the team on its upwards trajectory. I do request my privacy at this difficult time.

After reading it again I feel my anger, he is blaming all of this mess on me just because I refuse to take him back after he already chose to be with someone else. I start typing my statement

@mia-moretti-leclerc I was hoping to keep my private life just as it should be, private but after Charles' post I feel it's necessary to say my part. Me and Charles are going to be getting a divorce, make no mistake that typing those words is breaking my own heart but I cannot be with someone who is happily with someone else and has been since before we said our marriage vows. I wont be treated any less than I deserve and it is best for the both of us to separate legally. This is a really difficult time for me and a horrible decision to have to make especially at the start of an F1 season. The love of my life as left me heartbroken and I need time to repair. My sole focus is on the success of the team and it's needs going forwards. I will be making no further comments on the matter and request privacy through the next few difficult months.

I allow Ally to read over it before she confirms and I hit post, I had wanted to deal with all of this quietly without drawing too much attention from the media. I hate having my private life plastered over newspapers and social media but it is necessary to come clean that this is what is happening going forwards. I cant deny that I'm still in love with him but I cant look at him the way I used to for years before. He isn't my Charles anymore.

3 years ago

"It's stunning in here" I comment as Charles places his hand on my waist to guide me over to the bar "Nowhere near as beautiful as you" I scoff at his comment, never being one for cheesy lines. He looks down at me and I can feel the butterflies in my stomach. There is something about the way that he looks at me, like I'm the only person in the room. "Thank you for tonight" I tell him and he grins sending my butterflies into overdrive "Thank you for agreeing to go on a date with me, Andi wasn't sure if you would say yes" he jokes and I can imagine the conversation "My mama always said to go into new things it's your eyes wide open and that's what I'm trying to do" he takes my hand "I will make sure that giving me this chance was the best decision of your life" he assures me and deep own I can tell he means it.

Now

"Mia! What has happened?" Andi demands as he enters my office "It's all gone terribly wrong" I say and he come over giving me a huge hug "Why didn't you come talk to me princessa?" I pull out of his embrace "I've been avoiding Charles like my life depends on it" and it clicks in his head "Of course, what did he do, he wont tell me" I'm not surprised, he knows that me and Andi are close "He's been with Charlotte, since before the wedding,sneaking around behind my back" a look of fury covers his features "How dare he!" he storms out of my office and straight for Charles. I run after attempting to calm him down "Andi no please!" I shout but its no use "you little shit!" He shouts getting to Charles's face, he looks scared and I cant help but intervene "Andi, stop, that's enough" I say standing in front of Charles protectively "He hurt you Mia, he broke your heart" I nod "But this isn't helping, we are a team in this garage" he steps back and it's only then that I realise that I've taken hold of Charles's hand. I quickly pull away seeing the furious expression on his face change to one of hope when he also realises. I step away "Everyone back to work" I say pulling Andi with me out of the garage.

Charles

I watch as Mia heads out of the garage with Andi in tow, she stood up for me, she even held my hand. We can't let us go, we cant throw this away. I know I was an idiot for months and I don't even know why. I think back and I can't come up with a reason for my actions. I run out of the garage and see that Max has her wrapped in his arms "I still love him" I hear her says and my heart skips slightly "But I don't want to love him anymore" I feel all the hope I had drain from me. He is soothing her and I want that to be me, she needs me. I walk over "Mia, It doesn't need to be like this, we can both me happy again together" I say and I can feel Max staring dangers at me "We can't Charles, because you will always make me feel like I'm not enough" My gut twists at her words "I love you" I tell her and she winces "Yet that wasn't enough either" she tells me and gestures to Max that she wants to leave. I knew right then that there was no use fighting, too much damage had already been done.