that august night - c.l.

3. I like you even more now

The day is behind her. All her stuff from station is collected and she brought it home, finally. Well, not her home anymore. Most of the stuff is packed. She only needs to go back tomorrow and give her suit back, keeping her belt and gun, as those come with a cop, not a police station. She'll be having new suit with new country to serve, in few weeks.

Her colleagues prepared her little surprise. When she got back after she dropped off Charles, she found herself surrounded by her dear friends who all said in union 'thank you for your time, officer Neville' and she would lie if she said she didn't shed a tear. They ate cake they brought and she left the station for one last time.

But she was proud. She was being promoted back in Monaco. Her father, who is police officer in retirement, pulled some strings for his daughter. Even easier job for that small country. She assumed there was not much crime happening as everyone lived in peace.

Thank god everyone spoke English. Mainly because the crime that happened in Monaco was linked with another countries. Mainly Italy, France and US with drug sell or even human trafficking. Italian mafias always had business to do in Monaco and it was kind of international hot spot for drug dealers or criminals from another countries.

...

"Isn't he beautiful?" - Elena's friend, Amelia almost yelled out as she looked at where she was pointing at. Posters of drivers in paddock. And she was pointing to Lewis' one. She was a big fan of Formula 1 and Elena mainly attended because of her. And Amelia always mentioned Lewis and no one else. Elena knew about teams but rarely drivers. She also knew Max Verstappen because god knows how many times Amelia told her story about Abu Dhabi 2021. Elena though that if you woke her up in the middle of the night and asked her she would respond without a blink. Defending Lewis' side but supporting Max this year. She always supported him but she thought that what happened in Abu Dhabi was wrong for Mercedes team.

"Oh yeah, he is kind of fine." - She walked and watched other drivers' posters until she came across a face she didn't thought she would be seeing. "Is that Charles Leclerc?" - She pointed as there was only numbers of drivers written underneath and no names.

"Yeah, how did you know? He is also fine as hell. The best looking Ferrari driver along with Carlos Sainz." - Her friend almost immediately responded wanting nothing more but to talk about sport. "Amelia, I arrested him last night." - Her friend stopped and looked at her dead in the eyes after Elena almost yelled out her words out of shock.

"What? And you didn't plan on telling me that? I saw articles but I never entered one!" - Her voice increased as Elena tried to shush her down. "He was speeding so I stopped him and when he did alcotest he was drunk so I had to arrest him. He wasn't giving in on first try, but handcuffs work every time." - She explained as they started walking again, through the paddock observing everything from each side.

"Did he say anything else?" - Amelia asked like she knew Elena was about to tell her more. "Before anything, does he have a girlfriend?" - Elena asked as her friend shot glare at her. "Did he ask you out?" - She raised her tone bringing people's attention to them. "Answer the question!" - Cop's intuition worked as she pressed her to answer her question firstly before she would say anything.

"They broke up in December last year. There had been rumors of him with another girl but nothing was confirmed." - Amelia explained now patiently waiting for Elena to start talking. "You know that I'm into handcuffing joke, well he dropped it." - She started as Amelia scoffed. "He doesn't look like that..." - Elena looked at her with are-you-serious look as Amelia quickly apologized telling her to continue on.

"We had a chat and this morning when I drove him to his car on parking lot, he asked for my number." - Elena finished as her best friend almost yelled out of happiness. "I didn't give him my number, Amelia. I was working." - Her best friend's squeals of happiness died down with her words.