Another Love

23 Evasion

Third Person POV

Mia told Charles that he will be flying to Italy with Carlos on Wednesday as they were gonna be recording a vlog about their golf day with Carlos' family on Tuesday.

They then proceeded to a scheduled interview with him and Carlos.

It was already 6:30 pm when the interview ended. Carlos then invited him to have dinner with him and his family while they were walking out to the parking lot.

Charles accepted the invitation and they both drove towards the Carlos' childhood house where he was warmly welcomed by his family.

During the entire duration of the dinner, Charles was preoccupied with his family's stories or questions and Carlos felt at ease knowing that at least for a while, his friend looked happy and free of worries as he knows the amount of pressure Charles puts upon himself every race weekend and he and the others were worried especially since he has been much more harsh on himself after Cassandra abruptly left after the race in Monaco.

They all saw how distraught and distracted Charles was during the days after Monaco until before the race last Sunday but his mood immediately changed when Cassandra appeared in the garage just minutes before the race.

Charles bid goodbye to Carlos and his family then got in the car and drove back to the hotel.

He took a quick shower then wore his boxer briefs before heading to the bed and grabbing his phone and dialed Cassandra's number but just as he expected, she didn't answer, he then proceeded to send her a message saying "Mon bebe, please, let's talk. I'll be in Italy by Wednesday and at the factory on Thursday, I hope we can talk while we're both there, I miss you. I'll go to sleep already as I need to wake up early tomorrow because we're gonna be recording a vlog about our golf day with Carlos' family. Goodnight, baby. I'll see you in Italy."

He got ready to sleep and played the recording of Cassandra singing Talk to Me by Cavetown, it has become like a ritual for him for the past weeks, since she sent the recording, to listen to it before he goes to sleep when she is not with him.

Charles woke up early the next morning to go for a run with Andrea before they went back to the hotel to take a shower and change before heading to the golf course.

He immediately saw Carlos and his father as soon as he entered the building.

The camera men with them have already started recording so he immediately joined them and they talked about their plans for the day.

The activities for the day were finished and they were heading to an upscale restaurant where the rest of the Sainz family would be meeting up with them to have dinner together with the staff that has been with them all day as well.

Everyone said their goodbyes and good nights as they parted ways with Carlos and his family and headed to the hotel.

Charles tried calling Cassandra again when he got to bed but to no avail, she wasn't answering so he sent her a message telling her that he missed her and wishing her a good night's rest while also saying that he'll head straight to her apartment from the airport.

Cassandra's POV

I read every message that Charles's has been sending and I badly wanted to just answer his calls or his messages but I've been restraining myself because I don't even know where I stand in his life, it's better for us to stay like this, where, we only see each other when we need to for work and we don't go beyond the line because one of us might just end up getting hurt.

Of all his messages, his message last night was the one that distraught me the most because I remembered not finding my key when I got back to Maranello so I had to open my luggage to get my spare key which I always put in my toiletries bag only to find out, now I know that I forgot it in his apartment in Monaco when I stayed with him during the Monaco GP before his ex decided to show up and they got to the process of getting back together.

I 'm currently at my apartment packing an entire week worth of clothes before heading to LA to see how the Ricci family, the couple who I helped with the treatment of their son with, were doing.

When I arrived at the hospital, they told me that they have already decided how to repay me.

They told me that they have already transferred their vineyard to my name which I declined and said that I will have it transferred back but they said that their son's life is much more than their business and they can't take care of it anyways so they would appreciate it if I could take care of it as they place it under my care.

"You and I both know that they can't manage a winery while they're here with their son, fighting for his life, now that he had been given an opportunity by you to do so without thinking about the financial burden that it would cause his family." Lei said as I was still contemplating what to do which made me look at their son who was smiling at me through the window of his hospital room and his parents who were now crying.

"I'll take the vineyard, but your house, I cannot. That is the house which you and your son call home and you will continue to do so, the workers will still remain and nothing will change. I will manage it if you promise me one thing, don't be afraid to call me if something happens and if you need more help." I said before giving them a key. "And here, this is an apartment in the building just across the street, it's already fully furnished, use it as a resting place for one of you, you both need to take care of yourselves so you can remain strong for your son." I continued before entering their son's room and talking to him for a while before I told them that I will then be flying to Chianti before going to Maranello to fix everything at the vineyard.

When I arrived at the vineyard, it was already morning so I sat down with the workers for breakfast and made small talk about how they have been then I told them my plans, that I'm not changing anything or firing anyone of them.

I also talked to Aurora, an orphan girl that Antonio and Maria, the couple, has taken in and has been staying in the villa since she was young and have considered it her home now, and told her to keep staying in the villa and keep the place the way it is and wait for the return of its other owners as I wouldn't be able to look after it with all the travelling and working that I would be doing.

I also asked her if she wanted to be the new manager of the winery and as I have been told that she just graduated with a degree in Business Management and has yet to find a job which is in line with her degree so she is working in the winery while waiting to hear from the employers that she has sent her resume to.

I called Antonio and talked to them as I told them about having Aurora be the manager and she was hesitant at first but the old couple assured her that they would be there to guide her and train her to be the best at the job, so she looked at me and accepted the job before she excused herself as she sheepishly smiled and said she left the grapes half juiced so she has to go finish it before it gets too late.

Throughout the six days that I was at the winery, Aurora started her training and I oversee her training when I'm on a break from analyzing data and giving feedback through mail, as it was the only means of communication that I told the team that is open in the week that I am gonna go on a societal break in, or when I don't receive any email from the team.

Luna sent me another email on the night of the 6th day with all the data, videos of how the car performed and a series of photos of Charles in his casual look, in his track suit and him posing for the camera while seating on his car which made me shake my head but then replied saying "He still looks good while all of you have been telling me that I looked miserable. Why?! But anyways, I'll be back by Tuesday afternoon with my own observations and suggestions so I won't be sending it to you via mail anytime today or tomorrow because I shall be spending my time tomorrow relaxing. Ciao."