Heureux - Charles Leclerc

5

🎵 Barcelona Boots - Arlie 

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I rushed home to book a flight after being invited to shadow Mia and Kat this week, Rose wouldn't be on the track as much during race week, but Mia and Kat assured me that they would make sure I got the full F1 PR experience. The train felt like it had taken forever, 2 hours has never felt so long, especially with how much I need to do in the very short amount of time I have. 

I packed as quick as I could, making sure I had an outfit for every possible scenario, my passport and all the paper work I brought with me to London. Probably over kill but can't hurt. I ended up with my suitcase being nearly too heavy for me to drag down the stairs of my flat. I had my suitcase set by the front door with the sneakers I would wear tomorrow and laid out an outfit for tomorrow, a simple pair of blue jeans, a white cotton tank top, and a loose beige blazer. I tried my best to get some sleep before being up 3 to catch a train to London and get to the airport on time, or in my case 45 minutes early. 

To my surprise Kat was already at the airport, sitting by the gate with a coffee, busy typing away on her laptop, her blonde hair pulled into a long ponytail and black glasses framing her blue eyes. I grab a coffee and walk over to her "Hey Kat, good morning" I say, sounding less enthusiastic and more sleep deprived then I mean to. She greeted me, her tone the same sleepy one as mine, I'm glad it's not just me that seems to be not enjoying the early morning. We chatted a bit about the plan for the day once we arrived in Barcelona and I asked about how she got into the industry. Turns out her cousin works as a mechanic, just like my uncle, but in F3 for Prema Racing. He got her an interview with the Head of Media and she started got the job with Prema and eventually met Rose while networking. A year later she was offered a job as an assistant media manager with McLaren.

Within the next hour or so Kat and I talked about anything and everything, she's from Nice and would always travel to Monaco for the Gran Prix her mom and her cousin ever since she was a kid. She also casually dropped the fact that she's dating someone in F1 but won't disclose who it is, I am determined to get that secret out sooner rather than later. Rose and Mia showed up at 7 on the dot, I guess Rose wasn't kidding when she said 7 sharp. We said our hello's and Rose pulled out a stack of paper, most of it consisted of NDA's, safety waivers, and some other contracts. I got about half way through before we had to start boarding, finishing the rest on the plane. Turns out its difficult to get a good signature during take off.

Along the flight, I decided that I would start documenting my week and journey into Formula One on my instagram, maybe it would reach someone with the same goals I have and show them its possible. I took a photo for my story that I would post when we landed , tagging Rose, Mia and Kat in. 

....

We landed in Barcelona and the chaos started, we went straight to the hotel and checked in, planning to meet in the lobby an hour later at 1:00 pm. I got into my room , dropped my suitcases and flopped onto the bed, more tired then I should be. I pulled out my phone and posted the story I took of the four of us on the plane, and turning some music on before getting up an unpacking. I refreshed my makeup adding a little more mascara and changing into black joggers and a white and orange McLaren V-neck Mia had gotten for me. 5 minutes to 1:00 I left my room with everything I needed and headed for the lobby. The elevator opened up into the lobby and I stepped out seeing Mia and Kat talking to Daniel. I suddenly realized that I might be out of my depth here, but pushed the thought aside and walked towards them. Daniel looked over first and smiled "Luna! What are you doing here?" He smiled, I chuckled "I'm here to shadow Mia and Kat! They are letting me follow them around to see the inner workings of McLaren." I explained, my smile somehow getting bigger. "Well welcome to the team! I'm sure that those two will show you how awesome it is to work with an extraordinary, talent, handsome and charming man like myself." He joked, pulling a laugh from the group. I thanked him and the three of us left and grabbed a car to the track, they were going to check in with the team and then show me the track before it was packed with people tomorrow, Thursday being a big day for press. 

We pulled up to the track and I pulled the lanyard attached to my pass around my neck and scanning in entering the paddock area, we walked through McLaren's main operations building and down to the garage and looked around. Kat suggested we take a walk along the track, before heading back. A moment I won't soon forget.

We called it a day and went back to the hotel to change and go out for drinks, when in Barcelona I guess.  I changed into black jeans and a white strapless body suit and pulled on some short black heels, and met Mia and Kat in the lobby. We decided on a bar and went to catch a car, we jumped in the back seat, laughing as Mia complained about the middle seat. As I closed the door I looked up at the entrance to the hotel, I froze for a moment seeing those eyes. The same green eyes I saw years ago locking on mine. Charles Leclerc in the flesh, looking at me, his lips tugged into a smirk shooting me a wink as our driver took off. I felt my cheeks warm slightly and I smiled. 

This week is going to be a whole lot more interesting.