End Game (Charles Leclerc x Max Verstappen)

illicit affairs

Max Verstappen

It's been an incredibly long two hours since the whole debacle with the press and I'm exhausted. Christian and the whole team have been amazing, trying their best to find out who released the information but it seems we're all holding our breath to see if these rumours have any value. The plane just landed in Abu Dhabi, they changed the schedule this year for testing, and for once racing is the last thing on my mind. I meant it when I said I'd give up racing for P, she's the one thing I won't negotiate. 

"I have another meeting with the lawyers this morning, and then something with HR that I'm not really sure about. You're okay to take P to the hotel?" I'm talking to Mira, who's accompanying us once again, but Charles knows I really mean him.

I haven't slept since the news, P's been super confused and sad because I've been in so many meetings, Charles is trying to be supportive but can't really say anything without outing our relationship and, to top it all off,  we've landed in our first Netflix filming country of the year. 

Netflix clearly doesn't understand our sport and the whole world seems to hate me because of it. It's like they turned Dance Moms into F1. And, because of that, I barely watch it, only having done so with Charles or Daniel as a joke and turning it into a drinking game. I can't believe how that's how this whole thing even started. Charles and I, both lonely sad and drunk taking shots during Drive to Survive. We've come pretty far since then. If only that Max could see us now, he'd probably run away screaming.

"Go, I have her." Charles' response is quiet, only for me to hear before turning a little in his seat and speaking more loudly to Daniel, Lando and Pierre, both whom also flew with us to Abu Dhabi. "You are okay with that? It is best if we all take her so my cover is not blown."

They all give quick nods, Daniel clearly restraining himself from saying something wildly inappropriate, before following Mira and P onto the tarmac. 

Charlie turns, standing to grab his headphones and pack them in his bag before we disembark. I don't let him take a single step away. Before he even knows what's happening my arms wrap around his waist and I spin him so we're face to face.

"Max, you are going to be late." His voice is stern but I can see the twinkle in his eyes, he likes this just as much as I.

"They can wait. What are they gonna do? Fire me? Christian would never let that happen." I muse quietly, gently brushing his side up and down with my thumb. "Please don't make me face them. I can't deal with this anymore." I'm whining now, head fallen against his chest as I let myself be vulnerable for the only person who could possibly understand. 

His hand moves to the spot between my shoulder and neck, tracing small circles as I try to compose myself. I hate this. I hate him. They haven't been able to pin it on my dad. Jos, not my dad - he was never a real dad, but I know it was him. There's nobody else it could have been. But what's worse is I think he would actually do it. He would try to take her from me. Not that he would want her but he would do it just so I fail, no matter how bad the collateral damage. My daughter isn't a toy. She doesn't deserve this.

"Charles," I whisper into the silence, an idea slowly forming that could possibly be my salvation. "Would you do it? Would you become her guardian so they can't take her? I- I know we've never talked about it but you've been in her life since she was two years old, she sees you as much as her dad as I am and I know you might not want to and that's okay if you don't cause Daniel said he would but she just knows you so I thought- I don't know. Maybe it's stupid." I'm rambling and the silence I'm met with isn't that reassuring, but when I finally lift my head there are tears of joy sliding down his cheeks.

"Oui, Max of course I would. You know that, yes? There is nothing more I would rather do." He kisses me softly, the salty taste of tears mingling with his orange lip balm. How did I get so lucky?