Fifty Shades Of Red | Charles Leclerc

3. On And Off Track

Hailey's pov

I wake up early to the sound of my alarm going off and I immediately get up from bed, grabbing a towel and heading to the bathroom. While hot water runs down my shoulders, I try to distract myself from the fact that I have to face Christian, my team principal this afternoon, but I miserably fail at it. I try to come up with something to say but I'm guessing that it's going to take more than a simple 'please don't kick me out of my seat.' I should probably save my breath with all the 'I'm sorry's though knowing that with Christian, it's not going to work...Why should I even apologise when it wasn't even my fault? I don't think I could have managed to prevent the crash from happening and save my car either way.

Once I'm done with my shower, I pick out an appropriate outfit and do my hair when my phone starts going off. I pick it up and have a look at the screen, expecting it to be work related but instead...

MAX
hey
I'm at the cafeteria eating breakfast
with the others, why don't you
join us?

I stare at the text, not fully knowing what to do. Breakfast with the drivers? I sigh and rub my fingers on my temples. Do I really want to put up with that right now? But then again, declining Max's offer would be rude since he was nice enough to even invite me.

                                                                         ME
                                I'll come down in a few.

I grab my keys and head out of the door. While I'm walking down the corridor towards the elevator, I try to prepare myself to face the others after the dnf the other day.

Will they perhaps treat me differently?

Obviously it's not like they hadn't had bad days in their racing careers themselves. It comes with the sport, but I can't help but feel insecure about it, knowing they are more experienced than me. Shaking the negative thoughts away, I take a deep breath and head inside. Now is not the time to doubt myself. It will do me no good.

As soon as he sees me, Max gets up from the table, walking towards me.

"Hey you!" He says and gives me a quick hug which I return.

"Good morning Max!" I greet him, trying to ignore the feeling of his arm around my shoulder, immediately taking me back to the night before.

The kiss on the cheek.

I had tried not to think much of it but it's hard when being brought face to face with him. Besides I'm probably overreacting. He probably was trying to be friendly and supportive and didn't even think much about it.

As Max takes my hand, I force myself to forget about it and let it go. He leads me towards the table where Daniel, Pierre, Lando, Carlos and...Charles is sitting.

I take my seat next to Max, ignoring Charles but still feeling his eyes burning on me the entire time.

"Good morning!" I greet the others and they return it, some also giving me a quick hug. Only Charles stays quiet in his seat, not speaking a word to me, my existence not more important than the crumbles of the croissant he's eating on the table.

Rude much?

I place my breakfast order and the conversation soon starts flowing smoothly but I still manage to pick up Charles' line.

"Who invited her here?" Charles speaks up annoyed, but it comes out more like a murmur, for only Carlos who is seated beside him to hear.

Carlos hits Charles' leg with his knee under the table, shooting him a warning look as if to say 'don't start' while Charles grunts in pain.