❥𝑹𝒆𝒅 𝑳𝒐𝒗𝒆

Chapter 74

One week later

Saturday

Narrator

The meeting room was filled with red jerseys that had the Ferrari logo printed into it. In between, both drivers with a bunch of paperwork, their heads heating up. Charles' gaze flew over to Carlos throughout the meeting, wondering what he was thinking. Fred called them in, discussing some things because they were facing the second half of the season now. Redbull still had their nose in front, even if it was just a tiny bit. And Charles' self-retirement last weekend definitely didn't helped at all with getting on top again.

Carlos never dared to look back once for the whole 2 hours. And Charles couldn't figure out why. He didn't do something wrong, did he?

Well, apart from breaking his sister's heart. But that was something between him and Valerie. And he thought they had put that behind them. Somehow, he had also thought that he and Valerie were on better terms again.

But apparently his common knowledge in people fooled him in this case. Since Valerie got taken to the hospital in England, he texted her everyday to check in. Sometimes even twice a day. She got the permission to go home after staying two nights, driving back to Spain. She never missed a message Charles sent.

He knew he shouldn't.

But his nights were sleepless without knowing if she was recovering well.

The contact had been going until Friday. Charles asked if she was spending a nice time with her family. And Valerie answered.
But then he stopped texting.
Out of nowhere. Unexpectedly.

Because when he opened his mails that day, an unknown address sent him pictures of Arthur enjoying some weeks off with his girlfriend. Under the message, a threat.

Another one, Charles thought.

»You okay, mate?«
He suddenly felt a hand touching his shoulder.

Charles' head went around, facing his teammate who was still holding onto him.

»Yeah.«

Apparently it was visible that he wasn't mentally present.
He shook his head to wipe off the thoughts running around his head.

After the meeting, he asked Carlos to grab a coffee in the cafeteria. And he agreed.

Charles slurped the hot drink without letting his teammate out of his sight.
»Just ask.«, Carlos suddenly said and returned his look.

»Huh?«

»You want to know how she's doing, don't you?«

Charles supported his gaze for another second, then looked down to his cup.
As if he would find the answer at the bottom of the coffee.

»How is she?..«, he finally dared to spit out, almost choking on his words.
He had texted with Valerie, but Carlos obviously wasn't aware of that.
And it could never hurt to hear it another time.

»She's okay so far. Still a bit drained from the heavy medication she got in the hospital, but better.«, Carlos replied slowly.

»But you already knew that.«, he added when Charles didn't answer.

Charles rose his head.

»I saw your messages on her phone when I visited her this week.«

»Ah.«

They stayed silent for a moment.

»What is it with you two, man?«, Carlos asked, frowning his brows. »Not that's it any of my business... but I don't get it.«