Ultimatum

Part 5

MAX

"What? You lost our baby? Oh mijn liefje (my love in dutch) you know it wasn't your fault, right? My love, why didn't you tell me? I'm so sorry that happened to you. I'm so sorry. "

I bring her close to me and cuddle with her to try to comfort her. I press a soft kiss on her lips and we just stay still while I grieve over my unborn child that I never knew of.

"Max, I'm so so sorry." she looks at me while there's a river of tears streaming down her face.

"Chi please stop apologising. Please stop crying, my love."

"I was so afraid and no one even knew I was pregnant. My dad got so mad. I had never seen him like that. All he asked me was if it was yours and I nodded. I honestly think in that moment, he wanted to kill you. I told him you didn't know but that's when he gave me the ultimatum.

"Ultimatum?" I asked her

"He told me that either I agree to leave you or otherwise he was going to ensure that you'll never be in Formula One again. He's Rocco Pirelli, he actually has the power to do that. I wanted to be selfish Max but I couldn't. This was your dream and it was only the beginning. I know my dad didn't have bad intentions but he thought he was going to lose me when he saw me covered in blood."

She left me so that I could carry on with my dreams? But she was my dream too. She was my biggest prize. She was everything and more I could've wanted.

And that's when I broke down.

CHIARA

I had only seen Max in tears once before, when Jos was screaming at him when he lost a race to me when we were 15. He tried to stick up for me but all Jos could say is "You lost to a girl. You're a disgrace; you're not my son."

"Mi amore, please you're going to make me cry. Come here" I say to him while holding his head. I keep on kissing his cheek and hugging him.

"Chi....I would've picked you over F1. Why didn't you tell me Chiara? I could've raced somewhere else. I could've gone to Indycar or Nascar or Le Mans or anywhere else. You're my everything Chiara. You were my biggest dream; my greatest accomplishment. You made me whole Chiara."

"Emilian, you wouldn't be happy if F1 wasn't in your life. I know you. You would've resented me, even though you wouldn't want to. I didn't want to be the one who took you away from your dreams." I tell him.

We sit in silence for a while, trying to comfort each other.

"I still love you, Chiara Alessia Pirelli and I don't think I'll ever stop."

"I love you too, Maximus Emilian Verstappen and I forever will." I say smiling. I know his first name isn't Maximus but I like the name Maximus - it's cute.

"That's not my name Chi. Say it right. I've been waiting for this for the past three years." he pleads.

"I love you, Max Emilian Verstappen. I'll love you forever and always. You're my better half. You make me whole." 

And he kisses me like he's never kissed before. 

"Chiara, you don't know how long I've been waiting for this."

"Emi, you feel so good. Please never stop."

I fall asleep on him. It feels good. It feels normal.

NEXT MORNING

MAX

I wake up to see Chiara sleeping like an angel on my chest. I don't exactly know what's happening between the both of us and we have a lot more to discuss but I just want to cherish this moment, right now. 

I check the time - it's 9 am. Shit, no one really knows where I am. I should go back to Monaco, but I do have a two week break before Miami.

"Hey, Chi. Wake up. Do you want to go to Monaco with me?"

She mumbles something incoherently. She looks so cute like this. 

But I really do have to go. 

"CHIARA DO YOU WANT TO GO TO MONACO WITH ME?"

She wakes up and she's so confused. I kiss her gently and whisper "We're going to Monaco, pack your bags."