Is this a love story?

Thursday

Mia
After my evening with Daniel I had to swap to full focus on the race weekend ahead. We need to pull off a good weekend, our current lead in the championship is only 20 points ahead of Mercedes and 40 ahead of Red Bull so it could all change if we have a bad weekend. I walk into the paddock early, it's currently 6am, I want to help the engineers with the set up of the cars and it also stops me from being caught by interviewers.

I wander into the garage and immediately spot Francesco and Filipe working on Carlos' car. Some of our air freight arrived later than we wanted, usually the car would be fully built by now "Buongiorno" I say getting their attention "Ciao Mia!" Franny says gesturing for me to come and join them "how's it going?" I ask my eyes running over the pretty much built car "nearly there, just some final stuff around the seat" he gestures and I notice a few jobs that need doing "can I help?" He grins "absolutely, seatbelts?" He asks and I get to work attaching the safety equipment into the monocoque. I have missed this, working on the cars.

After an hour helping the boys I wander over to Charles car seeing Andrea and Mateo "Ciao! How's things?" I ask gesturing to the number 16 car "almost there boss! Just need to get some screws sorted in the wheel arches" he tells me and I know this job needs a pair of small hands "I can do that" I situate myself under the car and get started. Once I've popped the last screw in I wheel myself back out "all good" I tell Mateo and he gives me a thumbs up "Grazie Mille Mia" he says and I give him a grin "sabotaging my car?" Charles asks as he walks over "haha funny Leclerc, just helping out" he frowns "mind if we talk real quick?" I nod and start walking towards my office.

"How can I help you today Charles?" I ask him desperate to get this over with. My heart can't help but ache when he is around and this is making it all the worse. "I need you to lift the ban of Charlotte being with me at race weekends" I scoff "I haven't banned her from being with you, I have banned her from our garage" he shrugs "same difference, I still can't have her support" for the first time in a while I feel slightly sympathetic "I get that, as your team principle I want you to feel supported in this setting, however I will not have her in my garage. She is welcome to watch the race in the hospitality suite and you can see her once you are out of the garage?" I ask him as a compromise "really? Okay" he tells me seemingly confused at my statement "okay, has Arthur told you he will be here this weekend?" Charles frowns "he hasn't, I'm sorry if he invited himself" he quickly says "actually I invited him, we bumped into each other in Monaco" his eyebrows raise in a typical Leclerc fashion "oh, thanks, I guess" I manage a smile "anything else?" I ask hinting that this conversation is over and he shakes his head "no that was all, I will let you get on" he stands and goes to leave my office before pausing at the door "you are doing a great job with the team, I just wanted you to know that" he tells me and I'm surprised that he has been nice "thanks Charles" he nods before closing the door.

Charles

It actually felt really nice having a pretty normal conversation. I forgot what it was like for a while, we haven't been on the best of terms since our divorce and as we have to work together that hasn't been helpful. I was dreading asking her about Charlotte but she was much more reasonable than I expected. She met me halfway and that's all I can ask for really. I knew things would be awkward within our working relationship but she hasn't been making things difficult at all! I walk out of the garage and see Pierre in the paddock "oi mate" I shout and it grabs his attention. "Hey man! You good?" He ask and I nod "Mia has agreed to let Charlotte attend the race weekends" Pierre frowns "you really asked her for that?" I nod slowly confused as to why he seems annoyed "she has been through enough she doesn't need to see the woman you chose over her at every weekend when she is having to concentrate on running your team" I hadn't really thought about it like this "she was the one who wanted the divorce" he lets out a cold laugh "because you pushed her into it, come on man! You are better than this! You are one of the best guys I know, where did the Charles I grew up with go? He wouldn't have lost Mia" it hits me that he is right.

Mia

I walk out of the garage, towards the press conference room, they decided to put me, Toto and Horner together today, it will probably make for some interesting TV! Ally is walking slightly ahead of me chatting with Leonora, Toto's PR. It's odd that he isn't here yet "Hello Miss Moretti" speak of the devil "afternoon Toto!" He gives me a huge grin "how have you been?" I smile "good! Spent my week off in Monaco! You?" He laughs lightly "exactly the same! Next time we should meet for coffee!" He tells me and I actually think that would be a really lovely idea "that's not a bad idea!" He gives my shoulder a squeeze "just let me know when and where and I will be there" he assures me as Christian approaches "afternoon" he greets us both, noting how close we are standing "hello Christian" I say attempting to keep my tone friendly but he has been making my life very difficult behind the scenes lately! "Mia! How's life with the ex?" Of course he would ask that "manageable, how's life with Helmut" I remark back and Toto laughs "we have him to thank for you having a great driver in Sainz! He came through our programme remember" I nod "and he also left your programme" Toto claps lightly "okay claws away! Let's head in!" Ally gives me a look that means behave and I know I need to be diplomatic in this press conference.

We all sit down and the interviewer greets us "welcome to Canada! We are joined by 3 team principles this afternoon Toto Wolff, Mia Moretti and Christian Horner" the small crowd is waiting eagerly for anything they can publish "let's start off with Toto, you are on the back foot in comparison with Ferrari this season, do you think you can keep the title fight close as we make our way through the calendar?" Toto is PR trained to perfection "well I'm sure we all want a close title fight like we had last year between Max and Lewis, we came out on top then so hopefully we can hold on till the last race" he smiles at me and I can't help but admire this man "Christian, you have been struggling this season so far, do you think you will be able to keep Max Verstappen if you don't have a championship winning car" this I'm interested to know the answer too "well it's early days, these new regulations were always supposed to change things in the order of the teams, it seems like we aren't quite there yet but never say never. Max is part of the family here at Red Bull, I can't see him finding a fit anywhere else" I fight the urge to roll my eyes. The interviewer turns his attention to me "how are you finding leading Ferrari at the top of the championship?" It's an easier question than I expected "well we are back where the Scuderia belongs and that was the goal coming into this season, we just need to keep the momentum. I was part of the team when we were struggling so it is nice to be back at the top" he smiles at my answer.

We walk out of the press conference, which was pretty tame. I know they will get spicer as the season progresses.