Wicked Fate

Chapter 2

Sophia walked away from Lando with a fast pace and a frown on her face. Surelly her bad mood was very visible since Charles Leclerc came up to her to ask her what was wrong.

Even though she was a mechanic, Sophia was actually friends with a few drivers. Having been a driver herself for years she attended many races included the one where Charles won his first Formula 2 championship. At the time she went up to congratulate him. They ended up exchanging contacts and becoming friends.

They met again when she joined Formula 1 and grew a lot closer. He introduced her to the other drivers and she remained close friends with him.

"What's wrong, Sophia? He enquired with concern filing his eyes.

"Nothing, it's fine" she shrugged.

Clearly not satisfied with her answer he stood in front of her, putting his hand on her arm and making her fast pace come to a halt. His piercing green eyes staring at hers. "I know you well enough to know what fine means..."

"I'm surprised you haven't heard about it yet" Sophia complied. "About the pitsop that cost Lando his race."

"Oh merde, was that your fault?" He asked while she lowered her gaze in embarrassment.

"Yeah, it was my fault. I didn't unscrew one of the nuts holding the tyre."

He looked at her with sympathetic eyes and said "I'm sorry, má chérie."

He was always like that, very endearing and supportive. When they first met they went out a few times, but eventually decided to be friends instead. That allowed them to be very comfortable with each other. He was definitely Sophia's best friend in addition to Jennifer, her school bestie. They say you're not true best friends if you haven't been accused of dating which they had been, often.

"And what was that all about?" He asked, his eyebrow arching slightly as he mentioned her conversation with Lando.

"Well, Lando decided I wasn't feeling guilty enough and decided to come and tell me off."

"What did he tell you?"

"Honestly, it doesn't matter, it's not like I care about what he has to say. He didn't even recognise me until I suggested we had met before."

As an attempt to distract her from the terrible day she had had, Charles made a proposition. "Come to the drivers party tonight at our hotel, it'll help you take your mind of today."

"I don't know, Charles. It's a drivers party and I'm not one, obviously. "

"Come on, it's fine" he insisted. "The guys know you and like you, I'm sure they won't mind. And also, you're coming as my guest, what could they possibly do about it?"

She started considering it especially since she really needed a drink to take the edge off. And so she finally said, "Okay, I'll go as long as you pick me up, because I don't want to arrive alone."

"Yeah, no problem. Pick you up at eight?"

"Yup, eight is fine."

At eight o'clock Charles picked Sophia up in his Ferrari 488 pista spider. It wasn't a complete lie when she told him to pick her up so she wouldn't show up alone, but mostly she wanted to go on a ride in his car.

The car rolled out of her hotel in direction to his, where the party was being held. For the better part of the ride they were both silent. She noticed as his body language changed a few times when he looked like he was going to say something to her, but would change his mind.

When he did this for the third time she snapped "Whatever you want to say to me, just say it."

Trying to fake confusion he quickly responded "What are you talking about?"

"Come on, don't play dumb. You clearly have been wanting to tell me something since we left, what is it?"

"I was just curious and wanted to ask you something."He said, slightly shifthing in his seat.

"Just ask, it's fine."

"Do you miss it? Being a racing driver, I mean."

"Well I don't really miss the lifestyle, but I definitely miss the fast cars."

"If you had the opportunity to go back now and take that f2 seat would you?"

"If you has asked me that at the beginning of last year I wouldn't have even hesitated to say yes, but now I think not. I really like my job and I feel like I'm doing what I was always meant to do since I was 6 years old fixing cars with my dad."

After she said this Charles started to slow down the car and it seemed like he was going to pull over, to which she immediately said "What are you doing?"

He smirked and didn't say a word. He pulled over and got out of the car, moving over to her side where he opened her door.

"Come on, get out." He demanded.

"I don't know what your thinking of doing but I'm not letting you leave me here still miles away from the hotel."

"Didn't you say you missed fast cars?" He bit back, the corners of his mouth already lifting "This ain't no racing car but it's quite fast."

Sophia's frown quickly turned into the biggest grin as she got out of her seat and moved into the drivers one.

Soon afterwards, they rolled out toward the party. Sophia gripped the steering wheel with both hands while she kept her smile which hadn't faded one bit.

She started increasing the speed eager to see what his car could do. She was completely zoned out, but she could hear what resembled a voice in the background.

That voice was Charles that had to almost scream in order for her to snap out of her zone. "Slow down Sophia! This isn't Germany, there are speed limits." He said with unease written all over his face.

She smirked clearly pleased with his discomfort and apologised "Sorry, guess I got a little carried away. "

The rest of the car ride was made in silence, but not an awkward one. Eventually they arrived at his hotel and headed toward the party.

Sophia had only come because she figured since she would spend the night drinking her sorrows away she might as well do it at a party.