Pole position // Charles Leclerc

3

Mias POV:
'Just the boys I was after. Carlos, Charles, This is Mia.' Lewis introduced me, almost sounding bored of repeating himself a million times.

'Hey, it's really nice to meet you both.' I smiled, allowing Carlos to leave a small kiss on the tips of my fingers.

Charles stood still for a moment, not saying a word, until elbowed by his teammate to do so.

'Nice to meet you, bella, I'm Charles, Charles Leclerc.' He said, pushing whatever thought he had in his head away for a mere second.

'I couldn't quite place it, but now it makes sense.' I responded.

'Your brother is a racer and you couldn't place me?' He chuckled, not offended, more humoured.

'When my brothers in the race, I'm not watching anyone else.' I admitted.

Lando appeared behind me, his arm slung over my shoulder.

'That's a little of a lie. I remember you crying when i made my first podium.' He interrupted.

'Okay, Lando, it was an emotional day.' I laughed, trying to hide my embarrassment.

'Getting gifts already, are we?' Lando asked, looking at the unopened box in my hand.

'Max and George are so kind, I made sure they knew that they didn't have to.' I added.

'Hey, uh, Mia, do you mind if I steal you for a second?' He asked, making me freeze momentarily whilst my brain put a voice to a name.

Pierre was asking to talk to me, infront of my brother and Lando. He was brave. Or stupid. Lando's grip tightened, but I moved him away, looking back towards the boys in-front of me.

'It was really lovely to meet you, I can't wait to work with you both.' I said, politely, allowing Charles to kiss my hand the way his teammate had done before.

He was gorgeous, I don't think I'd ever seen a man look so effortlessly good in my life and it was haunting my mind. I needed to stop because the second I turned around I knew I'd be faced with my ex.

'Pierre.' Charles nodded, looking over my shoulder.

'Good to see you, Charles.' Pierre responded, monotone this time.

I took a deep breath, turning around, my eyes finally locking with his. He looked well. We'd not spoken in person in years, but we were both grown now, and knew that what we had was over, I just hoped he felt the same way and nothing awkward would become of this situation.

'I don't know about you but I'm really hungry.' I said, awkwardly, heading towards the buffet style area, reaching for a plate.

He stopped me, taking my hand in his and giving it a soft squeeze. I sucked in a sharp breath of air. I wasn't sure how I was meant to react to his touch, or how he wanted me to, but I felt nothing.

'I'm so fucking sorry.' He said, lowly, so that nobody else would hear us.

'Please? Not here.' I mumbled, pulling my hand away and grabbing a plate, beginning to fill it with food before he could stop me again.

'You look good.' He responded, grabbing a plate and doing the same, not taking his eyes off of me the entire time.

'So do you, Pierre, really.'

'I'm sorry I didn't reach out and check that you were okay. I know it was a lot for you, and I'm sorry I wasn't more faithful.' He began, as if he'd been holding in his words for years and they were suddenly spilling from his mouth.

'I'm not going to dig into what you've just said because it sounds like you admitted to cheating on me.' I said, my heart shattering once more.

I wasn't sad because I still liked him. I was sad because my security net of believing that everything was just a rumour was gone. And when you believe something for so long it's so hard for that to all change.

'Mia look.' He sighed.

'Really. Do not talk to me for the rest of the night, I mean it, I won't let you ruin my happiness again.' I said, warningly.

His face dropped and I knew that hit him in the gut. Good, that's where I was aiming. I never wished for any bad blood between us, until I realised he'd ignored his unfaithfulness for years instead of just admitting it to me.

'I got you a present.' He said, almost desperately begging for me to hear him out, pulling a box similar to the size of my other from his pocket.

'I don't want it.'

'Just take it, Mia.' He sighed.

I did, silently, before heading back to the table. I felt rude and part of me wanted to go back and tell him thank you, but the eyes on me told me that my conversation with him was absolutely done for the day.

I squeezed in besides my brother and Lewis, Charles sitting directly opposite me. His eyes wandered my face, and then the box in my hand.

'What'd he get you?' He asked, drawing my brothers eyes to the box, too. 

'Yeah, Mia, what did he get you?' Daniel asked, extremely hostile.

'I've not opened it.' I said, sheepishly.

'You should.' Daniel pushed.

I took a deep breath, before slowly opening the box, making sure not to make eye contact with Pierre who was watching me from the other end of the table.

I pulled out a necklace, the outline of a rose attached to the silver chain. I allowed a small smile, before reigning myself back in.

He doesn't know me like that anymore.

'That's. Nice.' Daniel said, his voice clipped, looking over at Pierre protectively.

Charles looked between us both, confusion and suspicion on his face. It wouldn't take a genius to figure what was going on, but if he had, I was glad he didn't say it out loud.

'We're opening presents! Open ours!' Max exclaimed, putting his knife and fork down.

I put the necklace back into the box, a glint of sadness flashing in Pierre's eyes when I didn't put it straight on. I reached for the second box, taking a second before opening it up.

They'd gotten me the formula 1 x redbull special edition watch.

It's worth near enough 2 million pounds.

'Guys, I can't accept this.' I stuttered, the wind knocked out of me knowing they'd spent so much money on me.

'Honestly, you deserve it, now put it on!' George cheered, everyone joining in with him.

My brother took it from my hand, clasping it onto my wrist for me. I began to tear up at the thought of the amount of money I was wearing on my wrist but held it back.

'Thank you so much, I really can't thank you enough.' I smiled, getting up from my seat to give them both a hug.

'Now you'll never be late to work.' Max teased.

'Who told you?' I asked, a smile slipping onto my face.

'Lando told us you've got a tendency to be late.' Charles responded, looking over at my friend.

'I don't always wake up to my alarms.' I laughed.

'Hey, was giving her a redbull watch a move to drag her to the dark side?' Lando asked.

'I'd say no, considering it was 50/50 from me and George, but I'd be lying.' Max laughed.

I took my seat again, trying hard to ignore the sharp eye contact from the man sitting infront of me. It was intense, and so I forced myself to look away, turning my attention to Lando.

God. Why were f1 men so irresistible.