The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 34

This morning we are in storage mode and intensive cleaning of the apartment. My parents and my sister are coming to celebrate Christmas in Monaco with Charles' family, so we have offered to host them. We are preparing the two guest rooms so that they have everything they need. Luckily his apartment is huge. I know it may seem early for our families to meet, after all we have only been together for 4 months but they wanted to come and see Monaco so that I could show them where I live and it seemed the simplest and coolest thing to do. They are all going to come and eat at the house, but it's Pascale, Charles's mother, who will be cooking with us. She has a traditional meal she wanted to make.

***

My parents and my sister arrived about an hour ago. We gave them a tour of the apartment and let them settle in their room. Tonight we plan to eat in a restaurant that we like with Charles. It's cold but we still decide to go on foot. My family wants to take a walk to the seaside. After all, it's true that in Switzerland we don't have the sea. We eat our little meal and go back to the apartment. It's a pretty quiet evening.

The next day we take them to see the tourist things of Monaco. Especially things related to Formula 1 because those are the only things that interest Élodie, my sister. This year she will come with me on the grand prix for sure. Maybe the one from Australia if I go there so she can support Daniel the way she should.

***

Today is the d day. It's December 24 and we're all going to eat together tonight. Today my family is going to do the rest of the visits and we stayed at the apartment to help Charles's mother to cook and prepare the table etc. Well, that's mostly me doing it while Monsieur is fooling around next to us. He enjoys making jokes, funny faces and tickling us.

The table is super beautiful. We put a red tablecloth with little golden decorations on it. We put the aperitif on the living room table and we prepare the glasses of champagne. We made smoked salmon, foie gras and vegetables.
Charles' brothers and my family arrive. Everyone introduce themselves and we sit down.

After the meal, during which our parents found it very funny to tell anecdotes about us as children, we decided to play UNO. There is no gift time since we said that no one should give themselves a gift. No one knew each other so it was easier. We sit around the table for the game and I notice that Arthur comes to stand next to Élodie.

The game starts. We play several games before becoming totally comfortable and doing dirty tricks to all of us.

Emma: Sorry my little Charlito but it will be a +4 for you and thank you for giving me red.
Charles: Olala you are cheating there.

Charles is clearly losing. He got at least 18 + 2.

Arthur: Sorry pretty lady but I have to give you a +2.
Élodie: Oh yeah like that like that.
Arthur: It's not personal, I only had this card that I could play. I would never have put a bad thing on a girl like you otherwise.
Charles: Hey oh the compulsive flirt we calm down there. She likes men who are more mature and successful in f1 in Ricciardo mode. Not f3 boys.

Obviously Arthur and Charles "fight" after the not very sweet words he threw at him.

The evening ends quietly and Charles' family return home. My family goes to bed, which we do too.

Charles: Baby before going to sleep, put yourself on the bed and close your eyes.

I still wonder what he's doing I just hope he's not playing a bad joke on me. I hear his footsteps moving away towards the bathroom and then back.

Charles: You can open your eyes.

He holds in his hands a large gift package.

Charles: I know that initially we said no gift but I wanted to give you one anyway.
Emma: Thank you my love I love you.
Charles: You didn't even open wait before saying thank you.
Emma: But I'm already glad you thought of me.

I open the package and see a velvet box and a letter. I open the box and find a beautiful diamond necklace inside. I then take the envelope and read:

My love for our first Christmas together I wanted to mark the occasion. On the one hand by a small gift but also by a trip just you and me for a week. We're going January 10-18, and all you need to worry about is packing.
I love you Charles

I jump into his arms to thank him for this incredible gift. Fortunately I had also planned a little something, but if it is far from being up to his gift. I take out the package and give it to him. It is a portable game console. It may seem like a stupid gift, but he always tells me that he's bored during the trips he has to make for f1, especially when I'm not there. At least that way he'll have something to do.

He thanks me really happy with his gift. We go to bed in order to be in good shape to take advantage of my parents for the few days they will be there.

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