❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 13

Throwback - 4 years ago

Charles POV

I got out of the car as I reached the garage. My pulse was raising. P2!
I can't wait to see Valerie

I headed to the cool-down room. Lewis and Max were already there, talking.
»Nice race, guys.«, I said as I entered the room.
We chatted a bit and I grabbed a bottle of water.
After a few minutes the door opened and a familiar face was leaning in the doorframe.
»Charles, do you mind coming out for a moment?«
»What do you want, Rebecca?«, I asked the engineer assistant a bit annoyed. She's been going on my nerves for some time now. I told her like a million times I'm in a happy relationship but she always says she can give me more than Valerie.
If that was even possible.
Seriously, this woman doesn't get it.

»I gotta tell you something.«, the black haired assistant said and already walked out of the door.
»Excuse me for a moment.«, I said to the guys and left the cool-down room.
I followed her into the locker room where the crew keeps her stuff.
»What do you want?«, I asked annoyed, my eyes on the door, wanting to leave as quick as possible.
Without having control over the situation, she suddenly pressed me against the lockers and put her lips onto mine.
I pulled away instantly and pushed her from me. »Are you fucking insane?«, I screamed at her and wiped with my hand over my mouth.
But she just smiled and looked me directly in the eyes.
»Seriously, what the hell was that?!« I couldn't believe this woman.
»Oh I had my reasons. Congrats for the podium by the way.« She smirked and made her way out, leaving me standing there.
Raging anger pulsed inside of me. With a bit of disgust too.
I'm gonna make her loose her job!

»Dude, what are you doing here? The podium's waiting.« Max looked through the doorframe and saw me standing in the locker room.
»On my way.« I followed him out.

When I stood on the podium, I looked down on the crowd. I was happy to see all the Tifosi and the situation 5 minutes ago was almost forgotten.
But something got me worried.
No matter how often I looked at the crowd of people, I couldn't see Valerie.
Where is she?

I hoped I would catch her after the podium, but I couldn't find her anywhere.
»Hey Carlos, have you seen Valerie? I can't find her.«, I asked her brother as I caught him on my way.
»Yeah.. she left like 10 minutes ago. She seemed pretty upset. Have you done anything?«
I looked at my teammate blank. What was going on?
Did she went looking for me and saw me in that locker room? God damn..

»Any idea where she went?«, I asked in a hurry.
»No.. seriously, what did you do?«
»I'll explain to you later. Thanks, mate.«
I left the paddock quickly and got into my car. Event though there were like a hundred interviewer waiting for me. I didn't care.
I had to get to Valerie.

I drove through half Barcelona, checking our apartment, bakeries, shopping centers, bars.
My feet were tried of driving and walking though the city but my adrenaline pushed me forwards.
Where the hell could she be?
I just hoped she wasn't on her way back home.
I called her like a thousand times but it was just her mailbox.
It was getting dark outside and I more worried every minute.
I stopped at the next bar I saw and had a quick look.

I made my way through the crowd and looked around. There was no sign of her. I wanted to turn around and leave, when I saw two people walking out of the toilet in the back, giggling.
My heart stopped for a moment as I saw the woman I love with another guy.
She was leaning on him and they wanted to dance with the other people.
Anger grew inside of me.
I walked towards them, grabbed Valerie by the arm and pulled her away from that guy.
»What the hell are you doing here?«
She faced me with an unimpressed expression.
»I've been looking for you for hours!«, I said louder.

»What a pity. You could've invested that time in Rebecca.«, she answered half sarcastically and wanted to go back to this guy I kept in sight.
I held her tight, away from him.
»Who is that guy?«, I asked.
»Why is it bothering you? You didn't seem to care earlier.«
I had to take a deep breath to not punch this guy in the face.
»Fine, you got my attention. Now let's go.«
I dragged her out of this bar into my car.
I could tell she wasn't drunk. If she was she couldn't drop such sentences into my face.

When we arrived at our apartment, she took a glass water and then went into our bedroom, packing her suitcase.
»What are you doing?«, I asked angrily.
»Making room for Rebecca. Did you already give her keys to this apartment?«
»We are talking about this, now!«
She faced me with red, swollen eyes.
»What do you want to talk about, Charles?! Everything is said.«, she said with a shaky voice, keeping her distance from me.
»What did you see in that room?«, I asked, trying to stay calm.
»You mean except you kissing your little engineer slut?« Valerie gestured with her arms to me, avoiding eye contact.

»Then you didn't stay long enough to see that she kissed me and I put her into her place immediately?«
»And you expect me to believe this?«
Tears rolled down her face and I wanted to take her into a long hug. But I was too angry.

»Why would I cheat on the woman I love?«
»I don't know. Maybe Rebecca seems just more fun.«, she said angrily.

I couldn't believe her.
»And what were you doing in that bar? Having fun with your new boyfriend?«, I screamed raging.

»Oh we had fun, trust me.«
»Right, I respect your boundaries our whole relationship, I never take it too far because you weren't ready yet and then you end up f*cking the next best guy? I really can't believe you.«
My eyes began to fill with water and I couldn't help it.

»I never said we f*cked, Charles! We didn't even kiss for gods sake!«, she shouted.
For a moment, I was worried about her heart getting too much burdened. But my rage was too high to think it through.
»And you expect me to believe this?«, I repeated what she said a few minutes ago.

»You know what?«, she said, »You can f*ck Rebecca whenever you want now. I'm out.«

I stood there, didn't know what to do. Anger, disappointment and sadness were rushing inside of me. I could tell we both didn't want this.
But I didn't want to stop her. And she wouldn't have let me stop her.
It seemed hopeless.
I wanted to scream. That there was never anything between me and this stupid assistant.
But she just cheated on me with this guy.
I didn't know how to cope with it.
I didn't know anything in that moment.
I watched her leave.
And I didn't hear anything from her again.