The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 12

Yesterday we took the opportunity to stroll around Monaco and do some shopping before leaving for my first Grand Prix with him! I can't wait, especially since he told me that he would introduce me to the other pilots. And he knows that there are many other pilots that I want to see.

We go to Nice by Uber before taking a private jet. We are welcomed as if we were kings, petit fours, unlimited drinks, and a small hot towel to clean our hands. For me who is used to EasyJet, it changes a lot. Charles explains to me that his team has a partnership with a private jet company and that he therefore does all his flights with them. He is really used to this way of life.

I spend my entire flight walking around the jet analyzing it. I am fascinated by this new world that is opening to me, and eager to discover everything else. Our flight is not very long and therefore passes very quickly. Before leaving I thank each employee about 15 times for their kindness. You can notice that I'm not used to this kind of life because it really bothers me that people do things for me. I feel like I'm disrespecting them, even though I know they're paid to do these things and it's just their job. Charles tells me that's one of the things that makes me attractive. I am full of kindness and almost naive at times. I can't stand injustice and disrespecting people.

Arrived at the airport we get into a taxi which takes us directly to our hotel. The people at the reception welcome Charles like a king. They know very well who he is and were patiently waiting for him. When we arrive in the suite in his name, there is a bottle of champagne with two glasses which are placed on the table in front of the entrance as well as a small letter in which is inscribed "Welcome Mr. and Mrs. Leclerc". I grab the paper and show it to him, laughing.

Emma: Seems like I'm your wife for this weekend.
Charles: They just didn't know what to write calm down.

He tries to stay serious when he tells me his little joke but bursts out laughing after a few seconds. I pat him on the shoulder because it wasn't very funny. He comes closer to me and wraps his arms around me.

Charles: But I hope that one day you will become Mrs. Leclerc. If you want it too.

I kiss him and whisper a small "yes". Charles has appointments with his team today. He asks me if I want to stay at the hotel or come with him. I told him that I didn't want to stay here and he therefore suggested that I come and see what the paddock looks like and told me that I could visit the Ferrari premises while waiting for his meetings. He tells me that maybe I'll be bored because it can take several hours, but he doesn't know that I've waited all my life to be able to walk in his paddocks and that I could spend whole days there.

We head towards the track led by a man from the hotel. Charles hands me my badge for the next few days. It says "VIP" on it and there's a picture of me. I look at him with tears in my eyes and he asks me in a panic what's up and why I'm crying.

Emma: It's just that I dreamed about this moment every night before I fell asleep and I'm just so happy to experience it.

He laughs and hugs me. He places a kiss on my forehead and lets me lean against his shoulder for the rest of the ride. When we arrive there are a lot of security checks. First to park, then turnstiles with facial recognition, bag checks and searches. But after all that the dream can finally begin. The entrance to the Ferrari building is impressive, and the bright red colors of the building make it stand out. We enter and find ourselves face to face with Mattia Binotto, the team boss. He greets Charles in Italian and does the same for me. Charles tells him in French that I am Swiss and that I speak French. A big smile appears on his face at this announcement.

Mattia: Ah but did you know that I lived all my childhood in Lausanne (city in Switzerland)? I even went to EPFL (Federal Polytechnic School of Lausanne).

Obviously, I knew it, but I pretended not to know. I explained to him that I lived near Lausanne, he then asked me where exactly and told me that he loved this city and that he found it very beautiful. Charles was listening to our conversation but had no idea what cities we were talking about. He knew some Swiss cities but not this one. I will show them to him one day.

Before going up for the meeting Mattia insisted on giving me a tour of the premises. Passing from the pilots' rooms to the rest room and even his own office. He is really very nice and gentle with me. The two men then leave me because their meeting has arrived. I go to see Charles' room and analyze all the elements I can find there. There are his racing suits, collections of t-shirts and caps that I paid a fortune for, but that's okay it was money well spent.

I decide to go out for a walk. I put on my headphones and decide to pass all the stables. I meet lots of people I know via TV or social networks. Pilots, journalists, employees etc. Especially since with the series "Drive to survive" on Netflix I feel like I know everyone who works here. I head near the circuit and take the time to look at each element. The garages still closed, the starting locations and the pits all empty. I go up to sit in one of the stands and decide to FaceTime Chloe to show her all of this. She is amazed and is a little jealous. She makes me promise to get Lando Norris' autograph for her and even asks me to ask him his number, which I'm not going to do especially not the first time I see him.

After an hour I go back to Ferrari and join Charles. We decide to go back to the hotel and go enjoy the spa a bit before he has no more time for that. We spend the end of our afternoon getting a massage and relaxing in the jacuzzi. When we leave the spa and go up in the elevator to go back to our suite, he takes my head in his hands and says "I'm really happy to be able to share all this with you. I really wanted to have a little woman by my side who is there to support me. And I am sure that this role will suit you perfectly". We kiss and enter the room. Charles is going to take a shower, and I join him. There follows a moment of love just between the two of us.