Fifty Shades Of Red | Charles Leclerc

13. Race To Win

Hailey's pov

I take a sip from my coffee as I'm making my way to the garage, not having had much sleep from the previous night. Today is race day, making the track overcrowded with people, but I'm not feeling a hundred percent ready for it. It's like my mind is clouded with thoughts which is bad because I need to concentrate if I want to do my best on the track.

The night before I texted my team principal, letting him know that I had agreed to his proposal. I could almost hear Christian's laugh through the phone when he texted 'you've made the right decision' back at me and 'I'll help you through it all'. At that moment, I bit my tongue and restrained myself from texting him that I don't need his help.

Inside the garage, Elliot, the team strategist awaits for me. He starts explaining some things to me about the laps and the tires I'll be using today, the whole information that he lies in front of me giving me a headache. Since it's a wet weather here in Silverstone, the team engineers have fixed intermediate tires to my car and while I'm looking at it, I pray for a safe race.

"Hailey!"

I turn around and I see Max walking towards me. Shit. I was kind of hoping that I wouldn't have to confront him today, which is stupid to think since we're literally on the same team.

As he's walking slowly towards me, images from last night go through my head...the way his hand cupped the nape of my neck, the way his lips crushed into mine, the way he slightly moved his head, a little out of breath. All the unfamiliarity of the situation and the confusion it has plunged me into makes me want to run away from him and hide.

"Max, hi!" I say when he's just a few feet away from me now, trying to keep my voice as low pitched as possible.

"Are you ignoring me?" Max says while running one of his hands through his hair. I haven't necessarily been avoiding him but I've definitely been thinking about it.

"I called you earlier but I never got a response." He then continues.

"Oh sorry...I've just been kind of busy today and haven't really checked my phone." I say, which is not a lie but for some reason suspicion hangs in Max's face. I don't blame him. I mean we kiss and I kind of run away and don't answer his calls...I can't imagine what he might think, how he must feel right now.

If anything, I hope I haven't hurt his feelings.

"Listen...about last night-" Max begins to say but my gaze shifts from behind him, my eyes locking with a pair of green eyes and everything around me fades into a blur.

Charles is standing in front of the ferrari garage, an interviewee holding up a microphone for him, probably asking him a question but he gives her no reply, as he's too busy looking at me. Goosebumps run all the way through my entire body.

For a second I could swear that a small smile lingers on Charles' face but it disappears in a blink and it makes me feel as if I imagined it. I try to get myself to break our eye contact but it feels nearly impossible. He stares at me and I stare back just as hard, both of us refusing to break contact. Both of us competing in a silent battle, none of us daring to be the first to break.

This always happens when I'm around Charles. It's like there's some invisible string, pulling me to him, making it hard for me to let go.

Before I can turn my head away, Charles throws a wink at me, his arrogant smile appearing on his face but this time...this time, it's different. He winks at me not in a taunting way, but as if he's almost happy to see me. Almost.

I feel the anger caused by him slowly fade and curse myself for it. It's funny of me to think that Charles would ever feel happy to land his eyes on me. Absolutely absurd.