Love again? |Charles Leclerc|

Chapter 17.

MIA POV

I stood there like a fucking idiot. Cameras and microphones were all around us.
"Are you a couple?"...." How long have you been together?"..... "When did this happen?"
I don't think I could catch my breath for a second.
Max is such an idiot. What the hell is he up to? I was just looking at him, letting him know he fucked up.

His grip on my back tightened as he turned to me, a smile lighting up his face. "Are you serious now?" I muttered through my teeth.

"If you'll excuse us now, we have to go.... I have a final briefing..." Max turned back to the reporter, grabbed my hand and pulled me towards his garage. I thought I was going to jump out of my skin.
Everyone around was looking at us with shock. All absolutely confused, and I was one of them.

I could feel his eyes on me, I knew he was looking at me, and his gaze burned through me.
I quickly turned behind me to see him. Charles was just a few steps behind us.
His stare was terrifying, angry, desperate.

This whole situation is fucked up. I'll have some explaining to do.
I looked at him apologetically and quietly said, "I'm sorry, I'll explain." but his face got even more serious than before. He's pissed. He shook his head in disbelief and walked away.

Max quickly dragged me away so we wouldn't have anyone else around.
"Explain!" I yelled at him when we were finally alone.
"What?" he shrugged.
"What...what the hell happened a few minutes ago...are you crazy?"
"We need to go back and explain.." I continued... "you have to go back and explain the whole thing..." I was totally flipping out.

"Calm down, M." Max was completely calm compared to me.
"Calm down? How do you expect me to calm down. Everyone thinks we're dating..." I threw my hands in the air.
"And that's a bad thing?"
"Of course, we're friends Max. I've already explained that. We can't pretend anything."
"I panicked...I wanted to give us a good image and promote our project, it seemed like a good idea..." he grabbed the back of his neck.
"It was a pretty stupid idea...what are we going to do?" I was starting to panic and that's when Max's assistant came running up to us.
"Huh Max? Next time, please let me know you're planning to drop a bomb like that...everyone's chasing me now." She said and then looked at me... "Mia why didn't you tell me, we could have prepared for this..." she shook her head.

"'Prepare you? I'm as shocked as you are...this..." My hands flipped out toward Max and then toward me.... "there's nothing between us..."
"I'll take care of it..." Max slumped down on the couch and sighed... "Just not now..."
"What? When?" I looked at him, I was angry....really angry...
"Can we just leave it that way this weekend, please?"
Is he serious? No...of course we can't leave it like that. I'm not gonna pretend anything.
I've had enough of him... "We'll talk tomorrow..." I snapped, heading for the exit in a huff.

I was so mad that my vision went absolutely black. Just as I was heading around the corner, I bumped into someone hard. Before I could recover, I heard him speak.

"Max? Really, Mia? You're gonna crawl through all the drivers' beds..." Lando said in pure disgust.
The way he talks to me...I know he's mad at me but this? His words hit me hard.
"Really classy of you Lando.....go to hell..." I felt my eyes start to burn. I couldn't even look at him...

CHARLES POV

That fucking piece of shit. I knew it, I fucking knew it.
How long has it been going on? When I saw it.... his arm wrapped around her waist as he held her close. His eyes were practically undressing her in front of the whole paddock. His mouth on hers when he decided to kiss her before all of them. He was making claims on her, but no way. No fucking way. Over my dead body.

I couldn't think straight. Before I could pull myself together, I was headed for him. Just let everybody see me. I don't care.
Max is a dead man.

I didn't wait for him to let me in, I just barged into his room.
"Hey...really Charles?...." Max got up from the couch in annoyance as his door flew open and I stood in it.
I was pissed, I was fucking pissed. I grabbed him by the hem of his shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"What the hell is your problem?" He yelled at me.
"What's my problem? You are." I snapped at him, gripping him tightly.
"Stay away from Mia... "I said through my teeth.
"Or what?" I could see the amusement in his eyes.
"You're asking for it Max....I'll beat the shit out of you, trust me." My grip tightened.
"You can't do anything Charles... she's not yours. She can do whatever she wants. And if she wants me, she'll have me." He tried to provoke me.
"She's mine, she'll always be mine...don't you dare touch her." I pushed him and stepped away. I really wanted to punch him in his pretty face but I can control myself.
"She's not yours anymore. I already had her once and I might as well have her again." what the fuck is he talking about...his words repeated over and over in my head.
"What?" I was confused.
"I'm not telling you anything.... you can go ask her. Now get the fuck out of my room" he barked at me and straightened his shirt.