The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 10

I walk along the beach and decide to sit down a bit. I messaged Chloe to let her know that I had already left the club but that she had to stay and have fun.  It was too much information for me all at once. I don't even know what to think anymore. How can I believe Charles and trust him with all the doubts I have? He has a lifestyle that doesn't match mine at all. It can't work. We veil our faces. But I've never had a crush on someone like that before.

While I am lost in my thoughts a man comes to accost me. He smells very strongly of alcohol and must therefore be totally stuffed. He doesn't seem aware of what he's doing.

Man: Miss what are you doing here all alone?
Emma: I needed to think but I think I'll go home.

I pick up my shoes and my bag and get up to show the man that I don't want to talk to him.

Man: But don't leave, we're here. *he turns around and shouts* And guys come on there's a pretty girl who needs some company.

A group of at least four men advance in my direction. I feel my heart racing and my stress rising. I feel in danger and don't know how to leave. The men come around me. I feel trapped. They start telling me that I'm very beautiful and that I shouldn't be alone or sad. I try to make them understand that I want to go home, but they don't let go. They offer me to come to their hotel for a drink in their room which I obviously refuse. One of them takes me by the arm and says "come on, don't be a saint". I start to panic and think about the worst thing that could happen to me. At this very moment I hear a man shout "You let go of her now". I turn around and see that Charles is coming. He is alone yet he comes intervene in the middle of the group. The man holding my arm doesn't let me go and tells Charles to calm down that everything is fine. Charles' eyes go black, and he punches him. The other four men all jump on Charles the next second to beat him up. Charles yells at me to run and go back to my hotel, but I refuse to leave him like that. I take my phone and call Leo to tell him to come as soon as possible, and then jump on one of the men. I cling to his back and hit him with my bag. He knocks me off his back and kicks me in the stomach. It hurts me a lot, but I take it upon myself and get up to kick him in the balls. He suddenly falls to the ground so I move on to the next one. He holds me down with his arms and pushes me to the ground. My back hits the ground hard and I can't get up. Luckily Leo and the others arrive at this moment and make the last men leave. Charles runs up to me to ask how I'm doing. I'm a little stunned but that's okay. He, on the other hand, has his face and fists in blood.

Emma: You have to stop saving me like I'm a damsel in distress.
Charles: I will protect you until my last breath, and fight against thousands of men if necessary. I don't want anything to happen to you.

I'm kidding, but deep down I know that if Charles hadn't arrived I would have been in a really bad situation. If it had been a man I might have been able to do it alone, but I was no match for 5 of them. Even Charles needed help from Leo and the others.

We get up and walk towards my hotel.

Emma: How come you were there when thoss men came?
Charles: When you ran out of the club I followed you. I didn't want anything to happen to you. And I did well to follow you. I arrived when one of them was already holding you by the arm because I went to warn the others that I was leaving before following you. I also didn't want you to notice me as I knew you needed space.
Emma: In any case thank you for once again getting me out of a bad situation.
Charles: You're welcome ma princesse.

We arrive in front of my hotel and Charles gives me a kiss on the forehead. He asks if we can meet for breakfast on the beach as I'm leaving tomorrow night. I accept, knowing that we will have to talk about what happened tonight. But for now I need to go to sleep.

***

I had a bad night. I only thought back to everything that had happened the day before. But I have to get up because I have to pack my suitcase before joining Charles. Our plane doesn't leave until 9 p.m. from Nice, but I prefer to have all my things ready and to be able to make the most of my last day. I opted for a basic outfit today. Ripped jeans and a white t-shirt with a pair of white sneakers. I take my bag and my sunglasses and leave. Charles is waiting for me at the bottom of the hotel with his car.

After a few minutes by car, we park in front of a restaurant. Charles, as usual, comes to open the car door for me and help me out. We enter the restaurant and order before starting this discussion.

I begin to explain to him the thoughts I had seeing him with this girl. He tells me that he understands me and that he is sorry that it hurt me. It wasn't his intention, in fact he didn't even know what this girl wanted from him when she arrived. He wanted to be polite and to talk. He made it clear to her after I left the club that he was not interested in her and that she had to stop. She got upset and left. He then went upstairs to find me and panicked when he didn't see me. That's when Leo came to tell him that I was crying outside and he ran. Even if this event remains a bit in my throat, I can't blame him for life for a kiss that was stolen from him. So I decide to forgive him and trust him again, but I will not let this kind of incident happen again. He then explains to me how attached he was to me during his 10 days and how much he will miss me.

Charles: I thought of several little things by the way.
Emma: Tell me.
Charles: Firstly on August 28 there is a race in Belgium, at Spa and I would very much like you to come and see it from my garage. Does that tell you?
Emma: Yes of course I would love to do that!
Charles: And then, as you told me if I understood correctly that you are going to come and do a uni year in Monaco and well, I was wondering if you would like to come and live with me during this year. It could save you rent in Monaco and it would allow me to spend all my free time with you.
Emma: Wow Charles it's not insignificant what you're offering me there you know.
Charles: Yes I know, but I really like you and I want to see you as much as I can. I know it's fast, but between you and me it's "love at first sight".
Emma: I'm going to talk about it with my parents, but yes I would really like to live with you.

He gets up and comes to place a kiss on my lips. The dream will continue.

*****