❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 14

Present tense

Narrator POV

It was a sleepless night. Thoughts were running 'round their heads.
They both couldn't figure out what they should do.
Go back to hating each other? Find a way to live with each other? Be friends?

Valerie got up late after the night talk with Juliette.
She was relieved that she could tell someone she trusted what happened and why things were like that.
She would've really wanted to tell her brother too. Since he's the person she trusts the most on this earth. He's always been there for her.
But something told her that it would be better if he didn't know everything. It would only ruin his friendship with Charles, she thought.

Carlos was standing in the kitchen, making breakfast.
»Good morning, sleepyhead.«, he greeted her.
»Morning.«, she answered shortly, yawning.
»Do you have in mind that mom and dad are coming to the race this weekend?«, her brother continued as he grabbed a toast out of the toaster.
»Are they? I thought they wanted to visit at the next Grand Prix.«
Carlos laughed. »You are very well informed, like always.«, he said jokingly.
»I can hear them already.«, Valerie chuckled and sat down at one of the kitchen seats.
»They are so gonna squeeze us out about any kinds of relationships.«, Carlos added.
»Why don't you have a boyfriend, Valerie?«, she imitated her mother.
They both chuckled and had breakfast together.
»I have a meeting this evening.«, Carlos mentioned.
»Alright. I gotta work anyways.« Valerie remembered something as she brought up this topic.
»Hold on, I gotta call someone.« She stood up and walked a few steps out of hearing range.

»Yes?«, she heard out of her phone.
»Good morning to you, too.«
»What do you want?«
»You asked me something about work? I am done and wanted to share my ideas.« Valerie walked in circles while talking on the phone.
»Good. Tell me.«
»How about we meet up and I show you.«, she said back and kept her brother in sight in the kitchen, who didn't seem to notice her call really.
»Are you asking for a date?« His voice sounded offended and flirty at the same time.
»Shut up, Leclerc.«
Valerie could literally hear his smirk on the other side.
»This evening, 6 p.m., my place.«
She hung up and accompanied her brother again.

»Was that Charles?«, he asked immediately.
»It's about work.«, Valerie said clearly and took a bite of her toast.
»Okay, okay.«

»Are we doing something for the fans before the race?«, she asked while they cleaned the kitchen.
»What do you mean?«
»Like a little meet-and-greet. We could organize something where you and Charles are together with the fans, they get autogrammes and pictures and you have a great time.«, Valerie explained.
»You know that we have a massive fan-base? Not only 10 people will come.« Carlos seemed skeptical.
»I know, I know. But there would be security and I think the fans will be really happy about that.«
Her brother thought about it for a moment.
»Actually it doesn't sound so bad. But we should organize it as soon as possible if you want to do it in the next few days. Have you asked Charles yet?«
»No... but I will talk to him about it later.«, Valerie tried to avoid this topic.
»Later? Are you guys meeting up?«, Carlos asked curiously.
»Like I said, it's about work.«

5:45 p.m.

Valerie POV

Carlos just left for his meeting and I sat down on the couch, going through my papers.
When the doorbell rang, I stood up quickly and headed past the kitchen to the front.
»Come in.«, I said as I faced my brother's teammate.

He wore a grey hoodie with black cargo pants.
How I love cargo pants...
And they looked really attractive on him though.

Charles headed to the living room and I followed him.
»You wanna drink anything?«, I asked as we came past the kitchen.
»If you have some water.«, he replied,  sitting down on the couch.
I poured water in two glasses and placed them on the small table that was standing by the couch.
»Sooo...« I sat down next to him but made sure I kept my distance. I pulled out a paper out of a folder. »Here you are. They are just some ideas and if you don't like them-«
He interrupted me as he laid eyes on my notes.
»These are actually pretty good.«