Pole position // Charles Leclerc

28

Mia's POV:
'Im pretending to date her so that she leaves your fucking cars alone.'

Fuck, now I had to wear Pierre's necklace, after he fixed the chain that Charles had broken.

'That's just ridiculous. You're a grown man.' I laughed.

He reached for my hand and I pulled back, watching as he instead stressfully reached for his hair.

'She's insane. Her dad is the CEO of the FIA and nothing bad will happen to her, no matter what she does or who's car she ruins.' He mumbled.

'So how did she even get the job?' I frowned.

'Zak thought it would give him a few perks if he hired the CEO's daughter, it's backfired but he doesn't currently have the proof to fire her.' He responded.

'So my brothers car bursting into flames wasn't entirely your fault?'

'Mia. If I'd have made the same contact with a Red Bull car, the most it would've done is spun out. I barely touched him and he burst into flames.' He explained.

I stood up, but he pulled me back down. We were both currently in my hotel room, as he was worried she'd turn up to his if we'd met there. I dreaded the Saudi race, knowing she was going to be sleeping in the room next to me.

'Did you ever date her in the first place?' I asked, knowing I'd asked the question before.

'She released an interview saying that we were in a relationship, but we'd never had that conversation. It's easier to agree when people ask, but I didn't lie to you when I told you I'd never exclusively dated.' He said, linking back to our plane conversation.

I felt guilty for how I'd treated him, but then my mind snapped back to how he spoke to me in the car.

'And the acting like a dick?'

'She was sat besides me, Mia. The only reason she went to McLaren was because she saw the YouTube videos, and the photo of me kissing you on the head. She knows she can use you against me.' He said, moving his hand to my leg, this time I let him.

'How? Why do you let it effect you?'

'Because I care about you so fucking much.' He sighed.

I let a small smile tug at my lips.

'So we've got to pretend to hate each-other in public now? Because that could really help me let off some steam.' I smiled.

'More than hate. You've got to act like you can't stand me. She needs to think she's winning, Mia. All until we get enough evidence to send to Zak, and then maybe we can tolerate eachother again.' He teased.

I rolled my eyes, my face turning even more serious when he moved his hand up to my neck and held me tight but not enough to hurt.

'I've missed you.' I mumbled, letting my eyes slip to his lips for just a second.

'You have? You were doing a pretty good job of hating me.' He whispered, leaning forwards so that his forehead was touching mine.

'Because you gave me plenty of reasons to.' I responded, trying to ignore the fact that my heart was threatening to jump so far out of my chest.

'And now?' He asked, smiling a little.

'You've given me a few less.'

He pressed his lips to mine just the way he had a week before, in Bahrain. I didn't waste a second, allowing him to slip his tongue into my mouth, exploring me even more than he had the time before. He felt like he was made for me, and it was so wrong, but so right at the same time.

He groaned against me, forcing me to freeze, snapping back into reality.

'I missed you as a friend, Charles. We can't be doing this.' I said, slowly climbing up from ontop of him, stumbling backwards.

His face dropped and I knew that he was no longer sure on what to say or do.

'Mia.' He began.

'This whole Layla thing is so complicated, and I just can't let myself get any closer.' I stuttered.

'I'm not sure what's going on.'

'I don't do this. You know I don't.' I said, signalling to us both.

'Why? You've never told me why!' He said, raising his voice.

'Because I cannot! I won't, Charles, and nothing you say will ever change that. So please, let's just go back to hating eachother because that might be easier for the both of us.' I responded.

'What is fucking wrong! Why do you deny everything that we have?!' He shouted.

'Because I saw how broken my aunt was when my uncle died in Singapore and I won't let that fucking happen to me!' I shouted.

He was mid reach for me, but stopped when I finished my sentence. I remembered speaking to him about my uncle whilst drunk, but never gave him the story. Now, he had both pieces of the puzzle.

His face relaxed and I allowed him to pull me into a hug, as he cradled my head against his chest, as if trying to protect me.

'I'm so sorry, love.'

I shook my head, not wanting to speak because I knew that the tears would follow. I knew he'd have questions, and I would answer them, but speaking now would break my entire defence system I'd spent all day building up.

Don't cry, don't cry, don't cry.

I heard Layla's voice outside, and both me and Charles stood still, as if she'd be able to see us through the walls if she moved. She was banging on Charles's door, getting angry he wasn't opening it.

'Maybe I've got the wrong one.' She mumbled, suddenly beginning to bang on my door.

I looked at him in horror and he shook his head warningly, looking at me with wide eyes, telling me not to make a sound. She exchanged brief words with Lando, who told her that Charles was at the track, before heading off downstairs.

I took a deep breath and Charles looked at me, confused.

'I don't want to ruin your plan by being seen with you.' I responded, ignoring his smirk.

Lando: Just sent the witch downstairs, she was looking for Charles and I KNOW youre both in there. You'd better send him down before she starts casting spells 🪄

I laughed at his text, showing it to Charles, who rolled his eyes and grabbed his jacket. I ignored the urge to reach out for him and keep him all to myself, and stood silently, watching as he got ready to leave.

'Dinner? Tonight? We'll talk this all through, I don't like how long you've bottled your emotions up for.' He said, firmly.

'I haven't bottled anything.' I argued.

'I've known you a month and this is the first I've heard any real emotion from you. I want to allow you to get to know me better.' He said, giving me shoulders a squeeze and looking at us both in the mirror.

'Won't your girlfriend notice you're gone?' I asked.

He took out his phone and took a photo of us both in the mirror, giving me a soft kiss on the side of the head. I looked at him as he pocketed it, smiling at me.

'Saving it for the day we start dating.' He shrugged.

'You're so cocky.' I said, shaking my head.

'You don't even know the half of it.' He winked.

I reached out to hit him but he dodged me, laughing at my attempt before pulling me closer.

'I'm not gonna go back on my word, Charles.' I said, seriously.

'We'll see. I'll have someone pick you up tonight at 8. Anyone asks, you're at a board meeting, and I'll say I'm at a sponsor event.' He said, eyebrows raised.

'Won't Layla want to go with you?' I frowned.

'She never shows interest in that kind of stuff. See you tonight?'

'See you then.'