ma chérie | cl16

chapter nineteen

There was a huge queue in front of the Milky Way bar. Charles refused to wait any minute longer, and the security guard let him inside. He was actually his fan; that made getting inside much easier. Charles felt bad for the people waiting outside, but he just couldn't stand there and do nothing.

Adeline's words were echoing through his head on repeat. "No. You should leave. You should leave my head for good."

What did she mean by saying that? Sure, she was probably drunk as hell, and Lando didn't sound any less drunk over the phone. However, Charles couldn't stop thinking if it was true. If he really was in Adeline's head. He needed to find out. But first, he needed to find her.

The music was loud, and Charles decided to go upstairs. There was supposed to be a reserved table for the drivers, but Charles couldn't find any of his friends. He paused for a second on the stairs, looking around for long blonde hair—well, there were lots of girls with blonde hair, so that didn't help at all. However, he noticed his curly-haired friend who had called him. He had to know where Adeline was, right?

Charles was making his way toward Lando, who was sitting on a bar stool. He was talking to a female bartender in a tight white top, showing off almost everything. Maybe that's why Lando looked so happy when he was staring at her.

"Where's everyone? And where's Addy?" Charles asked without even greeting his drunk friend. Lando turned his head to the Ferrari driver, and a broad smile appeared on his lips.

"Charles, you're here!" The Brit started to laugh out loud as he slapped Charles on his back. He ignored both Charles' questions and started to order shots instead. "Give us the best vodka!"

"I drove here. I'm not drinking, Lando," Charles pinched the bridge of his nose. "Where the hell is everyone? And Addy?" He tried to ask again. Lando seemed completely out of control; he smelled like a distillery.

"Oh, they went to a club! And Addy? I ordered her shots, and now she's..." Lando looked around, searching for Adeline with his baby-blue eyes. However, his vision was blurred. "I don't know where she is," he shrugged his shoulders, almost acting like it wasn't a big deal.

However, it was a big deal, at least to Charles. He clenched his jaw, taking a deep breath to calm himself down. He didn't want to make a scene in a bar—that wouldn't be good for anyone. After all, there were people around recognizing them. "Are you telling me that you got her wasted, and then you lost her? Are you insane?"

"Hey mate, she wanted to drink!" Lando protested, shaking his finger at Charles. "And you were kinda the reason," he reached out for a large shot glass, eager to drink all the vodka inside of it.

Charles took the glass out of Lando's hands, putting it back on the bar counter. He was getting a little impatient now. "What do you mean?"

Lando chuckled as he shook his head. "You know what I mean."

Charles knew that it was foolish to think that he would get some answers out of his friend—it was pointless. He wanted to go away and search around the bar, but he heard a well-known female, deeper voice.

"Lando! There you are! I was looking for you!"

Both drivers turned around to see Adeline standing in front of them. She probably just stopped dancing—her pantsuit was missing a jacket, and her hair was messy. Still, Adeline looked beautiful in her black shirt with light blue pants. It was pretty obvious she felt uncomfortable wearing her silver high heels, though.

When Adeline realized that it was Charles standing next to the McLaren driver, panic appeared in her dark green eyes. She parted her lips as she looked into Charles' mesmerizing eyes.