He's Max Verstappen, F1 WDC, and you're Chiara Pirelli. You've known Max since before he was an F1 driver and you were always meant to be - but you were faced with an impossible decision. Do you pick his future or your relationship?
It's been another month since I've spoken to Max. I really do miss him. I need to talk to him and clear the air.
He was an asshole the last time we met, but I get why he was doing that. He was trying to push me away - classic Max.
I'm not going to let him push me away. I need him to know everything that happened - why I left him. I need him to know I didn't want to leave him, but I had to.
MAX
"MAX VERSTAPPEN YOU WON THE IMOLA GP! LETS GOOO!!!!" my race engineer GP says.
"LETS GO BOYS! THE TIFOSI MUST BE FUMING! Thank you to the team. I'm back to win" I say.
Winning always feels good and it feels a little better in Italy - Ferrari's home Grand Prix.
I go to the cool down room with Lando and Checo. I'm proud of Lando. He's a really good driver but he's tied back by Mclaren. He should join Red Bull. I've tried telling him that so many times and he's sat with Christian a few times as well but he's stubborn.
Lando passes me the 1st place hat, branded with the PIRELLI logo. She's really following me everywhere isn't she.
We go onto the podium. I really do love this top step and I shower Checo and Lando with Champagne and they do the same with me. But then, I see her.
I see her looking at me with those eyes again. Fuuuuck.
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CHIARA
I find Max once again. This has really become a habit, hasn't it?
"You look good with my name on you, Emi. Congrats winner! Had to win my home race didn't you?" I say to him.
He turns around and looks at me. He doesn't know what to say to me.
"Chi, I'm really tired right now and I want to celebrate. I don't want to get into this right now. Whatever this is."
"Calm down, Emi. I come in peace. I'm really happy for you and I knew you could do this. I do need to talk to you and you can take your time and we can do it on your terms. Just let me know when you're ready. But for old time's sake, will you please come over to my villa like you used to. Just let me know when."
"Chiara..."
"Max, please. Just think about it."
MAX
God, how can she have this effect on me? She looks at me with her beautiful brown puppy eyes and I melt. I'd do anything she'd want me to.
"Okay, I'll think about it." I say
I'm going to regret this, aren't I?
"By the way, the code's still the same" she says to me while walking away.
The code being the same means that she never changed it - after all these years - it's still my birthday.
I change out of my race suit and celebrate with my team before driving to her house.
She has a beautiful Italian villa an hour away from the circuit. Perks of being a Pirelli, I guess.
I park right outside her house. It looks exactly the same. I don't know if I should enter but I really want to. I love being around her. She makes me feel like I'm the only one in the world. She sees me for who I truly am.
Chiara comes out in her little pajama shorts and my old Red Bull t-shirt. She really does look so effortlessly beautiful, especially in my t-shirt with my name.
"Max, is that you?" she asks
Time to go, I guess.
"Hi Chi! You look good with my name on you, too."
She smiles and leads the way into her living room. I look warily, I don't know if she's alone at home or not.
Almost as if she read my mind she says "Don't worry Emi, it's just us."
"So, Chiara, what's all of this about?"
CHIARA
This is the moment I've been dreading for the past three years.
"Max, there's a lot we need to talk about. But I'd just like to start off by apologising for everything that's happened. And I really do love you."
"Chiara..."
"No, Max please you need to hear this and please just listen for a bit before saying anything"
I take a deep breath and begin to tell him everything.
"We've been together since we were 17 but I've loved you for so much longer. I knew you were my soulmate when I saw you for the first time. I don't think you even noticed me the first few races. You were the best Karter, no surprise there. You've always been the best."
"Chi, I've always noticed you - it's hard to ignore you. Especially considering you were also one of the best Karters competing against me." he says in a soft tone.
I kiss his cheek and continue,
"You were my first everything and I'm pretty sure one way or the other you're going to be my last as well." tears start streaming down my face,
"Why did you leave me then? Why did you leave us?" he asks
I take a deep breath and say "Max, I was pregnant."
His whole body just freezes. He has no expression on his face. He moves away from me.
