Falling for the Leclerc's

11. Charles

                          Grace's pov

Time slows down as the elevator doors open. All the people around me continue doing their own thing while I'm stuck in the middle of the lobby, my eyes on him. I can feel my heart beating fast.

Charles...

He slowly walks out, talking to someone on the phone. I contemplate if I should hide but that would be too childish. Besides, I have to confront him at some point.

He still hasn't seen me yet, busy talking to someone on the phone. I can't help but study his features. He's even more handsome than I remembered. Charles hangs up his phone and looks at something on it.

I know that I should move at some point and not stand in his way but it feels like my feet are stuck and will not move, my body refusesing to listen to me.

Charle's is moving towards me, getting closer and closer with each step until suddenly...

"Oh I'm sorry, I didn't see where I was going." he says when my face bumps on his hard chest. Then he looks up and his face falls when he sees me.

"G-Grace?" he asks and blinks a few times as he looks at me. It looks like he's trying to figure out if i'm really standing in front of him.

I am unable to answer him. My mouth is glued and my feet are shaking. The way he said my name...just like he used to. I missed that.

"Is it really you?" he asks again when I don't say anything back.

"Charles..." is all that I manage to say and it comes out like a small whisper. I start feeling overwhelmed, like I want to cry.

I've always thought of the moment when I'd see him again. But I never imagined it would feel like this. So torturous but so comforting at the same time. It feels like I've just walked into a door that has revealed me my past and for a moment...as we're both standing there, not getting enough of staring at each other, it feels just like it used to.

When I said his name his eyes softened and he raised his hand like he wanted to reach out and touch my face, just to make sure that he's not dreaming all of this. When he realised what he was about to do, he dropped his hand and his face turned cold again. I'd give everything to know what he was thinking right now.

"What are you doing here?" he said while looking me up and down.

"I'm staying here" I tell him quickly. I can feel cold sweat dripping down my neck.

"No, I meant...what are you doing here, in Monaco?" he raises his brow.

I panic. What do I tell him? 'I'm here with your brother' doesn't sound like the best answer to give him. This is excatly the situation I was trying to avoid. My throat dries and I have to force myself not to pull out my phone and book a flight back home.

"Hmm...I'm here because of a job offer." Great. I just saw him for the first time in a year and I already managed to lie to him. I already feel like shit.

Charles only stares at me. He probably doesn't believe me because I've never been good at lying to him. He knows me too well to believe what I just told him but then again he doesn't push further for answers.

"Charles, we have to go." A voice is heard from behind me. Charles leaves my eyes and looks up. A beautiful brunette girl is waiting for him.

My heart drops.

Are they together? Why am I feeling this way?

It feels like something is burning inside of me. Am I...jealous? I have no right to feel this way. Not only because we aren't together anymore, but because I might have feelings for his brother as well.

I turn around and Charles is already looking at me. He gives me a small, apologetic smile and then he starts to leave. I already miss his presence, miss being so close to him. I don't want him to leave, but I know that he can't and doesn't want to stay with me.

Before he leaves, I speak out.
"Charles?"

He stopps and turns his head around. For a second I swear that you could see a small smile on his face.

Was he hoping that I'd stop him from leaving?

"Good luck today." I say, because I truly want to see him happy and win a podium on his home race, knowing how much it would mean to him and how much his heart craves it.

Charles gives me a small nodd, indicating that he appreciates it and leaves.

I'm still glued to the floor, going back and forth everything that just happened in my head.

"Sorry it took me so long, there was a huge line." Cami's voice brings me down to reality and she notices that I'm a bit shaken up "What happened to you? You look like you have just seen a ghost." She says while laughing at me.

"I might just have."

••••••