Moscow Mule - [Pierre Gasly]

XV

             "Mon dieu, I'm so sorry."

Azar was steadied with a pair of hands on her waist before she could stumble over her own feet and break her ankles with the six-inch heels. She looked up to find Charles Leclerc staring back at her. He was quick to pull his hands back and leave them by his own sides. "What are you doing here?" Azar asked, confusion written on her face as to why she would bump into Charles while doing her photoshoot in Paris. "I'm working with Giorgio Armani," Charles replies, which explains the suit on his body that fitted him perfectly. "What are the odds," Azar chuckled, brushing some hair out of her face. "You look pretty," Charles complimented, his eyes quickly scanned her appearance. "Thank you," she gave him a smile. "Look, I have to get back to the set," she added. "Hey, wait." Charles stopped her from leaving yet. "Are you still in Paris tonight?" he asked, making her raise an eyebrow. "Sorry, it's not my place to ask, since you're with Pie-...". "It's okay," Azar replied quickly, not wanting him to say his name, as she hadn't opened the chat with Pierre yet at all.

"I'm still in Paris tonight, yes," she confirmed. "Would you like to have dinner or a drink, maybe?" Charles asked, attempting to hide the hopeful tone to his voice. "Yes, that would be nice," Azar heard herself replying. "Okay, great!" the Ferrari driver said. "Perhaps I can have your number, so we can text about our plans." Azar chuckled. "If you show up at L'Oiseau Blanc at nine tonight, I will be there too," she said. "Yeah, sure, okay, that works," Charles stumbled over his words a little, and she gave him a sweet smile before spinning around on her heels to make her way back to her set. Azar sat down in the chair to get her hair and make-up fixed before the photoshoot continued. Another bag was pushed into her hands and she stepped in front of the camera again. From the corner of her eyes, she saw that Charles had followed her and leaned against the wall. None of the crew members had noticed him yet, and he was just peaking around, looking at her. Azar normally liked the attention, but Charles' stare didn't give her the rush of adrenaline she was hoping for. She pretended as if she never noticed him, and continued with her work before she had to change into another outfit.

"Gorgeous work, Azar, as always, mon amour," the photographer complimented her when she was done and the staff helped her out of her outfit. "Thanks, Natasha," Azar gave her a tired smile. She had worked with Natasha quite often, who always claimed that it was love at first picture whenever she had Azar in front of her camera. "We had one of the neighbors coming over, did you notice?" Natasha mused as she started to instruct how the set and her technology should be put away. "No, I didn't," Azar shook her head, lying through her teeth. "Charles Leclerc was shooting in the other room. I thought you were dating that French driver? It's all over the gossip pages," Natasha giggled. "That's exactly none of your business," Azar said, making her laugh. "Alright, fair enough." Azar shook her head at the curiosity of Natasha and gathered her stuff to leave. "It's been a pleasure again," she kissed Natasha's cheek before saying her goodbye. Her driver was ready in front of the building to drive her back to her hotel. Azar chose to make it easy for herself because the restaurant she and Charles were going to have dinner at was located on the rooftop of her hotel.

The hotel staff took the box of things she had received to promote on her socials to her room for her, and she thanked the driver when she got out of the car. Azar made her way into the lobby and to the elevator to get to her room. She had to admit, her room was dreamy and she was truly blessed that everything like this was just arranged for her. But she had worked hard for it, and that's what she should remember, always. Azar heard her phone ping and she took it from her pocket to take a look at the notification.

[Lucas]: Hey girly, just checking in x

[Azar]: About to go out for dinner with Charles Leclerc in Paris