The heiress of the biggest wine and alcohol company has to choose a Formula 1 driver to sponsor. Charles Leclerc just happens to be the rising champion. It is completely professional until he spends a week with her at her family home. Sparks fly but...
I wake up the next day with an excruciating headache. My outfit for the day was relatively comfortable with a white button down, khaki shorts and my favourite hermes slippers. I add a pair of sunglasses to hide the puffiness of my eyes as a result of last night.
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After I'm dressed, i head down to the lobby. Once im there i send Chloe a text asking for painkillers and to let her know that im ready. I had a feeling that quali day was going to be absolute hell.
My expectations were met and exceeded when i had to walk down the paddock in the scorching heat with cameras being shoved in my face. I was so over it all. Chloe who was staggering next to me felt the same. On our way to the Ferrari garage we happened to pass by McLaren. "Lando is so staring you down Belle." I give Chloe a confused look and glance at the McLaren garage. She was right, Lando norris was practically stripping my clothes of with his eyes.
He gave me a cheeky smile when he noticed he'd been caught and waves at me. I wave back with a small smile and continue my walk to Ferrari. As soon as i enter the garage, I'm met with a not so happy Charles leclerc. "Belle." He nods. "Charles." I say monotonously not giving him much attention and head to where Camilla was. We spend qualifying in the garage with the engineers because we felt it would be rude to sit in the hospitality region both days we were there.
I made the acquaintance of many team members. It was much more interesting to watch from the garage where the spirit was really high than with rich people in the hospitality area who dont even care about the sport sat around and drank champagne. Quali went well for the team with Charles landing p2 and carlos p4. Lando, coincidentally happened to be p1.
After qualifying, Camilla offers to take us to a press conference with the top 3 drivers. Though tired, i follow her towards where the conference is held. Charles, Lando and Max are sat on the couch talking amongst themselves. Lando notices me in the back of the room and smiles. So does Charles who chooses to pin me with a dark stare that makes me feel hot in my seat. I choose to not meet his eyes and pay attention to lando.
While the reporters ask the other drivers questions, i can feel charles' eyes on me. He wasnt happy. There was something very wrong with him but i forbade myself from caring about it. Once the press conference ends lando makes his way to the back of the room. "Congratulations on pole position Lando!" I say as he hugs me. "Thanks Belle. I think it was because i saw you before the session. You might just be my lucky charm." I hit him on the arm and he laughs. "You really should be a guest at McLaren, whats Ferrari got?" He points at my vip invite. "You wish Norris."
"Lando lets go." A McLaren team member calls out from the door. "Gotta go, hey do you want to grab dinner some time soon." He asks. "Yeah sure let's sort something out." We exchange phone numbers after which he leaves. Chloe had already headed home because she had a date with some guy she'd met the might before.
"So this is what it was?" I turn to see Charles standing tall infront of me. His eyes dark and his mouth set in a frown. "What do you mean?" I retaliate. "You just wanted to collect formula one drivers one by one and I happened to be your first target. Tell me belle is that why youre sleeping with lando." He backs me into the wall. I scoff at his remark, absolutely dumbfounded. "Do you really think so little of me? Is that why I'm just a stranger now?" I cross my arms in front of the chest. "Dont turn this on me Vincent. You just saw me as an easy target because you were sponsoring me didnt you? Because thats what you are a spoilt brat who likes sleeping around with guys thinking you can buy them with your money. Thats why you were so easy for me as well." He sneers at me as if all of his hatred was pouring out through his words.
I couldnt believe it, this couldnt be the guy i knew a week ago. Tears threaten to spill from my eyes as my brain starts to pulse with pain. I shake my head and push past him rushing out of the room.
The driver takes me back to my hotel room. I crash onto the bed and let the tears flow curling my knees up to my chest. I wanted to be strong and tell him he was wrong but at that point i just let the emotions flow. He'd been so unfair to me. My sorrow slowly turns into anger. He was no one to treat me like that. He doesn't even know me beyond the four days that he stayed at my house. I was not going to let him get the best of me and i was for sure not going to sulk over something Charles Leclerc said. As angry thoughts swirl in my head i fall asleep with damp cheeks.
