Pretending | Max Verstappen

- 37 -

Zoe

The weeks between Singapore and Austin Max and I had spend mostly at home in his apartment in Monaco. We had cuddled all day and watched movies. It was really nice to finally settle down and let my emotions free.

It had been all relaxed and chilled but I knew that would change this weekend as it was another Grand Prix planned, this time in america, to be specific in Austin, Texas. And of course I was right, especially after I got back my job it was even more stressed.

So I was very pleased as I got a little break between the sessions. Max was still at the Media Pen doing some interviews so I walked around the paddock, maybe looking for Lando or Carlos. The two of them had been pretty nice towards me even during this whole shit and somehow Max and I got really close with them.

Back in Monaco we even had dinner together two or three times, like a double date and it was actually really fun, we all enjoyed the time together. Of course the Spaniard wanted all of the detail from our pretending phase to how we actaully ended up falling in love.

Lando had told him some parts, obviously, but we wanted to know the whole story from us and Max and I were more then happy to share it with him and Lando. They were also always there for me and I knew I could count on Carlos as much as I could on Lando, what was really nice.

As I walked trough the paddock I suddenly ended up in front of the Ferrari garage and a shiver ran down my back. I knew Charles had some sort of feelings for me and since Max and I cleared things between us and we posted that statement, we had never talked.

And I wasn't sure if I wanted to talk, I didn't want any mess in my life right now, it was slowly getting better, everything from my past and overall my demons inside, which was why I didn't want any stress with Charles.

But of course the Monegasque driver was standing in front of his garage, talking to a woman, who I could only see from behind. Luckily he didn't saw me at first so I wanted to walk away but then the woman slightly turned and I saw her face.

My breath stopped for a moment and memories of Monaco came back to my mind. Max and I in that bar, in that little cozy booth, how close we were and that we almost kissed, if she wouldn't have been interrupting.

Lilianna. Max's ex was standing there not ten meters away from me chatting with Charles. Unfortunately I starred at them for too long and the Monegasque noticed me. Quickly I turned around and wanted to walk away but it was too late.

"Zoe wait!" he shouted after me and I heard him running towards me.

I sighed before I stopped and slowly turned around, facing him as he stopped in front of me.

"How are you?"

"Fine I guess, how are you Charles?"

"Good." he quickly said before his touched his jaw and looked at me differently.

"What?" I asked a bit more harsh than I wanted to.

"You could have told me, I mean I had known it but you know I would have been there for you. I am still there for you."

Surprised by the topic he choose I raised my eyebrows and looked at him.

"Max and I are fine now and we also were back than, I don't see why I should come to you with my relationship problems."

"So there are problems." he said and started grinning cheeky before he turned serious again.

"Zoe, Max is using you trust me. I just spoke with Lilianna his girlfriend and she told me that they had planned all of this. To get him attention and all that stuff."

"His ex." was all that I said because the rest just confused me.

"Yeah his ex for the media. Like he pretended to be in a a relationship with you he pretended to be her ex, but they never really broke up."

"But... but why then..." I started not knowing where this sentence would lead.

"He all did it for attention. You know mister 'I-need-attention' and a simple break up from up wouldn't have get the attention you little love story is getting now. But this attention also fades away at some point and then he gets back with Lilianna, officially, because in private they never split."

I was just standing there, listening to Charles and couldn't get a word out. It was way to much information at the same time and my heart wasn't sure what to believe, my head already made a decision, it believed Charles.

"I... I need to go back to the garage, Christian is probably looking for me." I stuttered the words out before I turned around.

"Just so you know, I am always  there for you if you need someone to talk." Charles shouted after me be I didn't respond.

As I arrived the garage Christina wasn't there, luckily and since there was some time left before the next session would start, I ran into my office. I shut the door and fell down on my chair, my head buried in my hands, the tears already coming out of my eyes.

I had fallen in another trap, of another man, that I thought loved me. Everything was making sense now. Max telling me not to fall at the beginning of this, because he already knew it had an expiring date on it, that I was just a piece of his plan.

He hadn't been bothered by the headlines, he just wanted the attention no matter what I had fallen for it, for his perfect plan. I had really believed him that he had falling in love with me too, but it was all part of the plan so we could publish that 'pretending-to-lovers' story and he would get more attention.

All these thoughts went through my mind and I almost forgot qualifying but luckily one of the mechanics knocked on my door. Down there in the garage I didn't saw Max, luckily, because he was already in the car.

As his car rolled in front of the 1 after the session I was happy, even everything that was in my mind and I couldn't suppress a little smile. But I was seeing all that on the screen in the garage as I couldn't go to him, not after everything I had heard from Charles.

He probably would straight go to the media so I didn't hurry to gather my things from my place but suddenly he stepped into the garage. His messy sweaty hair standing from his head and his look wandering though the garage, stopping as he saw me.

I wanted to run away but somehow my legs were glued to the floor. A shiver ran down my back as he came closer towards me.

"Zoe, hey babe, why weren't you outside?" he said and wanted to give me a kiss on the hairline but I stepped away which caused him a surprised look.

"I had work to do." I quickly answered, not looking into his eyes.

"Is everything okay?" Max asked and I could hear how concerned he was, I broke my heart.

"Yeah, I am just pretty busy." I managed to say, before I grabbed my stuff, "See you later, yeah?".

Without waiting for an answer I walked out of the garage, up to my office where I sank down on the inside of the door. The butterflies in my stomach were still there, like every time I speak to him but my head hurt on the thought what he was up to.

Fuck, what should I do.