Gold || Charles Leclerc

7

After witnessing charles' reaction i chose to stay in the hospitality region praying that i wouldnt have to cross paths with him again. This was worse than what I'd dreaded. He had estranged me completely.

"Whats up with Leclerc? He looked like he saw a ghost when he met you." Chloe asked and i shrugged. I seriously didn't know what the matter was with him. The margarita swirls in my glass as i take small sips. My phone had been buzzing repeatedly in my purse and i finally pull it out to see calls from my dad's PR manager.

"Looks like someone already posted an article about my attendance at this race. " i sigh and throw my head back. "Dont tell me." Chloe laughs in disbelief. She takes her phone out and clicks away. "Wow it hasnt even been fifteen minutes since we came here."

"The media never rests." I laugh and chug my drink. "Did they at least get a good picture?" She shows me the article. It was a picture of me on the paddock and the text was just explaining the sponsorship deal.

FP1 and FP2 go by smoothly for ferrari. Charles manages to set the fastest lap time and get to P1 in the first session and landing p2 in the second session. Professionally speaking he was the best choice. A fan favourite rising champion, with a romantic image which was exactly what Vincents needed. Personally speaking i had started wishing that i had never met him or chosen him for this sponsorship. I roll my eyes when they announce his name and get up to leave. 

We head to our hotel room early to prepare for a night out. The white minidress hugs my curves in all the right places and i feel confident and ready to forget all about Charles. I grab my purse and head out. Chloe had sent me the location of a club an hour ago.

Loud hiphop plays from inside the club as all sorts of people go in and out of the doors. I take a deep breath and step inside. The place is filled with people swaying their bodies to the music. Some are sat on the side at the bar. I spot Chloe almost immediately and wave to her. "Bella! Kika this is belle and belle this is kika." She introduces me to the model sitting next to her. She had gorgeous features and beautiful tan skin. She flashes me a smile and rises from her seat to hug me.

"Hi Belle, chloe just told me about you. You're here with Ferrari right?" I hug her back. "Yes i am. Are you here for the grand prix too?" We chat for a while and she tells me that she has a thing with a french driver Pierre Gasly. We clicked instantly and she was already telling me all the details about her and Pierre's complicated relationship. "All men are full of shit. They give you hope to hold onto and then they snatch it away within a second. Bella do you think guys have brains?" I throw my head back laughing at her question.

"I hope I don't count as all men then." We hear a man's voice behind us. I spin around coming face to face with a curly haired guy. "Lando!" Kika exclaims. "You gonna introduce me to your friend kika?" Francisca giggles. "What else could i expect from you Norris. Belle this is Lando he drives for McLaren and Lando this is Belle, she is representing a sponsor of Ferrari." I shake his hand and he passes me a cheeky smile.

"Nice to meet you Lando." I say politely. "Oh trust me Belle the pleasure is all mine." His flirtatious tone makes me blush. "Join me for a dance?" He puts his hand out and i take it. Lando leads me to the dance floor and we start moving our bodies to the latin music playing through the speakers. He alternates his dancing with silly moves to keep me entertained which make me burst into laughter every now and then.

His hands are on my hips and mine on his chest as we move to the beat. He keeps his eyes on me the entire time scanning the way i move. "Beautiful." He mumbles into my ear. "Huh?" I smile acting clueless. "Oh dont act so innocent Belle." Lando tugs on my hips pulling me closer. Our moves now relatively slower, our focus completely on each other.

What i feel with lando is completely different from what i feel with Charles. This is slower, more thought out. While with charles it was explosive. My thoughts of the Monegasque ruin  the moment as i take a step back. "How about we grab a drink from the bar?" I smile up at him. He looks confused but smiles back and follows me to sit on the barstools.

"I drove here, and i have quali tomorrow but you knock yourself out Belle. I'll take you home." I laugh and nod. "Dont mind me then." I order a drink to wash out the bittersweet memories that had popped up out of nowhere. I drown Charles out with my drink and a long conversation with Lando.

Turns out we have a lot in common. Our interests and passion for our lines of work. By 1:30 am, my words start to slur and my head grows a little heavy. Lando notices that im drunk and offers to take me back to my hotel room. I stumble over to chloe who is deep in conversation with a guy and let her know that im leaving. Lando then walks me to his car and helps me settle into the passenger seat.

When we reach the hotel i give him a light kiss on the cheek, the alcohol in my blood making me act up. I smile at him one last time and step out of the car leaving him flustered. "Tell me I'll see you again." He calls out through the window. I turn around and shrug. For some reason i feel as if someone is watching our interaction but i shake the feeling off and walk into my hotel.