Hope is a dangerous thing for a Woman like me to have

Chapter 13

We landed a few hours later in Azerbaijan.

It turned out me and Charles were staying in the same hotel again. Lando was staying with a friend who lived there and to my utter disgust, he suggested me and Charles get a ride to our hotel together.

I know Charles also couldn't think of anything worse, but we tried to act civil around other, so we both reluctantly agreed and booked a taxi.

We got through security with ease and then parted ways with Lando. As soon as he was gone, Charles' smile turned into a glare and he stepped away from me.

"Trust me, I hate this just as much as you." I muttered. We stalked through the rest of the airport until we saw some paparazzi taking photos of us. I quickly put on some sunglasses as Charles put on a hat, but I knew it was too late and these photos would be out soon.

Our taxi was already waiting for us outside and we bundled in. We gave the address of the hotel and sat in silence. I scrolled through social media and Charles just sat there, but I swear I could feel him looking at me and my phone throughout the journey.

We arrived at the hotel and checked in at the reception, before we got a lift up to our floor. We were both staying on the same floor. The receptionist informed us other drivers were also staying here, like Daniel Riccardo, Lewis Hamilton, and, to make things even more awkward, Max Verstappen. I felt Charles glance at me when his name was mentioned but I made sure my face revealed nothing.

We waited in the lift until it stopped very suddenly, we both stumbled violently and I fell into Charles. I quickly stepped away, hoping the doors would open and I could run away from him. However, they didn't. The lift was definitely not moving.

"This can't be happening." I moaned. "No way am I stuck in an elevator. This is one of my biggest fears." Since I was a little girl, I've hated lifts. I always took stairs if possible but recently I'd been trying to get over my fear as my floor was always super high up and I was always too tired from work or partying to bother.

I could already feel my hands and legs start to shake and my breathing quicken. I put a hand on my chest, trying to focus on breathing.

"You're really scared of them aren't you," Charles noted.

"No shit, I just said that," I said, pinching the bridge of my nose and squeezing my eyes shut. I felt ill.

"I didn't take you for the sort," he replied.

"Well, take me as I am. The sort,"

"I'd love to take you as you are," he smirked but I was too busy focusing on my breathing to really process and understand what he just said.

"Please do something Charles," I managed to get out between breaths. He quickly pressed the help button on the lift and a voice came over the intercom.

"Do not worry. Help is on the way." The voice spoke into the elevator. "Stay calm, and make calm movements, we do not want this lift falling."

"Oh my god, oh my god." I was really panicking now. "The lift is going to fall, the lift is going to fall." I squeezed my eyes shut again, trying not to cry or vomit.

"Hey it's going to be ok," Charles said gently. He reached out and stroked my arm, which I flinched at but he continued. He pulled me into a bear hug, my head at his chest and his arms wrapped tightly around my back. "Help is on the way."

He continued to soothly whisper comforting things into my ear like "focus on your breathing, everything is going to be ok" and "I won't let anything happen to you," whilst he stroked my hair and back with his hands.

Despite hating Charles, I felt much safer in his embrace. If anything the position felt natural and when I heard a commotion outside, I almost didn't want to pull away. However, when the doors where finally opened, I quickly pulled back. I didn't want anyone else seeing me so afraid.

I also didn't want anyone seeing me like this with Charles.

We had stopped just below our floor, so with the doors open, we could climb out. The receptionist apologised over and over to us, promising the hotel would compensate us for this massive inconvenience. She said they would shut this lift, but luckily they had another so hopefully it wouldn't make too much of a difference.

It will. I thought. No way am I placing even a foot in that elevator.

We thanked the help crew and receptionist, who then took the other lift down, and then it was just me and Charles left in the hallway.

"Ummm thanks Charles." I said awkwardly "For actually being kind to me there."

"It's nothing." Charles said with a straight face but I felt like he was holding something back.

"If you tell anyone about this fear of mine, I will rip your dick off your balls." I threatened. The fear embarrassed me and I didn't want anyone else knowing.

"Ok Hakimi." He let out a low chuckle. We walked to our rooms which were next to each other, then parted ways.