The encounter of a lifetime - Charles Lerclerc

Chapter 36

It's finally December 31!!! I can't wait to meet all the other drivers tonight. There will be Pierre with Katerina, Carlos with Isabella, Lando with his girlfriend Luisa who I have never met before, George and Carmen, Alex and Lily and Daniel.

I decided to take out my most beautiful outfit for tonight, a long black sequined dress with a pair of heels. Charles put on a suit. Yes, evenings with the pilots are well dressed. Before leaving I ask Charles to take my picture for my Instagram account. He groans a little but ends up agreeing. He takes me some pictures and I find a beautiful one. I decide that I will post it later or even tomorrow.

We leave by car, the villa is about 20 minutes away by car. Obviously it was planned so that we could sleep there and therefore not have to drive back.

The villa is superb. It is huge and really beautiful, in a slightly retro style that I really like. We enter and greet everyone.

***

The evening is going really well. I speak with all the girls who are really super nice. I talked a lot with Luisa who is adorable. We are closer in age than the others so we understand each other a little better. Although I also adore Katerina and Isabella. Carmen and Lily are a little more reserved but they are also super friendly. We are really a good team. I can't wait because in a week we're all going skiing together and I feel it's going to be memorable. Especially since I have some doubts about the ski level of some people...

I decide to post a photo on my instagram story. She's really too funny, it reads that we drank a little but at the same time it's New Year's, it's normal.

I think that by tomorrow we will see that picture on lots of formula one fan accounts, as in addition to the girls there are Pierre and Charles.

We decide to have a beer pong while waiting for midnight. We form two teams: the girls against the boys. They all think they're stars so it's time we put them back in place. At first they manage to take a few cups away from us, but we go back up very quickly. We are really all strong enough and we quickly manage to put the ball in all the glasses. They have to drink all their glass and also finish ours. But above all it is shame for them. They are really bad. Even when they are more than us, as Daniel does not have a girlfriend, they lose.

I feel hands coming to pull my waist.

Charles: I'm sure you cheated it's not possible otherwise.
Emma: We're just super strong and you just suck. You have to know how to accept defeat, the little champions there.

He carries me over his shoulder like a potato sack and threatens to throw me into the pool.

Emma (shouting): Stop Charles it's not funny it's going to ruin my dress and my make-up.
Charles: Oh my poor little princess who can't get wet.
Emma: Stop rest me please.
Charles: Roh okay.

He ends up putting me on the ground. He's very nice, but my dress, which cost me €150, doesn't fit in the pool.

We go inside and it's finally time to count down to midnight. Everyone sits in the large living room to count together. Charles comes up behind me and hugs me from behind and lays his head on mine. Ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I turn around and kiss Charles languidly. It's supposed to bring good luck to kiss your lover at midnight sharp on a new year. I hope that will be the case. Everyone then jumps into their arms and wishes each other a happy new year.

I then decide to move away a bit to call my parents, among other things, to celebrate a little with them. I unlock my phone and see that I have a lot of messages. Chloé, my parents, Léa, childhood friends etc. I notice another notification that confuses me a bit.

@julien.dlt: Happy new year bella 🥳😘

Julien is my ex. We stayed together for about 8 months before breaking up because everything with him was always complicated and that pissed me off. He was indecisive and immature.

I'm not sure what to do with this message. I decide to respond back hoping he doesn't continue the conversation.

@emma.carlier16: Happy New Year 🥳
@julien.dlt: I was told that now you live in Monaco, it's so cool.
@emma.carlier16: Yes I am doing an exchange year with my uni.
@julien.dlt: Seriously cool, I'd really like to be like you.

I just like his text. It's okay, I don't want to talk to him for 4 hours either. His message clearly troubled me. We haven't been together for over a year and a half, so I don't understand why he's coming back into my life. Especially since it's impossible for him not to know that I'm with Charles.

I decide to go have a drink to try to forget this event. I decide to go out for some fresh air on the balcony-terrace. Outside I see Daniel with friends of his that I don't know. They are smoking so I decide to go and ask the group for a cigarette. A girl kindly gives me one and lights it for me. I then move away to sit on the edge of the terrace admiring the view. I know it's not good to smoke, but as soon as I'm stressed this bad habit comes back. When I was younger I smoked for about a year. It was a period when I was not doing very well and smoking allowed me to calm down.

"Male voice": So like that Madame smokes. Charles is not going to like all that.

I turn around and see that it is Pierre who is coming. He sits next to me, he sees very well that things are not going well.

Pierre: Alright, tell me what's bothering you?
Emma: Nothing don't worry. I just needed to come get some fresh air and take a break from it all.
Pierre: Did Charles say a few mean things to you? If need be, I'll explain to him that he doesn't have to talk badly to a girl.
Emma: Not at all Charles is super nice to me don't worry.
Pierre: In any case, know that if ever there's a problem with him, you can tell me.
Emma: Why do you think there would be a problem?
Pierre: Because after the death of Jules, his father and Antoine it did a lot for him and sometimes when he got angry he no longer controlled himself and became violent. He's never been violent with his friends or girls or anything but I just don't want anything to happen to you. I feel like you've done him a lot of good and calmed him down, but I just don't want those old demons coming out. And in the evening, especially with alcohol, I tell myself that he could quickly get angry. I don't think he can be violent with you, just that he can say hurtful things to you.
Emma: It's really nice anyway to offer me your "help". But everything is fine. He's just really jealous sometimes, especially when it was Max trying to hit on me.
Pierre: Yes he told me his stories. At the same time, it's not great what Max did.
Emma: It's clear, but now he got the message.
Peter: Yes finally. Okay, is there anything else you want to talk to me about? I know I'm basically Charles' friend but I like you and I want you to know that if you need to tell me anything even if it's criticism or whatever about Charles you can.
Emma (laughing): Thank you, no I don't think so.
Pierre: Alright, I'm going to leave you a little alone then as you wanted. If you ever know where to find me.
Emma: Thanks Pierre.

He walks away which leaves me alone with my thoughts. I withdraw on my cigarette which was almost extinguished the time of this conversation. A few tears run down my face. I'm not sad, just I have too much information and emotions. In a few times my life has changed a lot and it's just that it's going very quickly. Many incredible things have happened to me. I met Charles and incredible people like Pierre or the girls, but it changes from my quiet little life in Switzerland where I was a stranger.

I finish my cigarette and take a deep breath before going inside again. I search the living room for Charles and go give him a hug.

Charles: Are you okay mon coeur ?
Emma: Yes, but I just needed a hug.
Charles: You smell smoke.
Emma: Yes I smoked outside. I know it's not good but I don't know I needed it.
Charles: Well, I don't really like it, especially since it stinks, but it's your life. I'd preferred if you didn't  smoke every day, but if you smoke in parties, well, it's your choice.

I lean against his chest and give him a hug. I really needed it. We go back to the others and we play a few drinking games. Around 5 o'clock in the morning we still decide to go up to our room, anyway everyone goes to sleep.

*****