Gentle with me | MAX VERSTAPPEN

XIII

"Did you see the podcast?" Max asked as he stormed into my hotel room. Perhaps I shouldn't have given him the extra room key.

"Yes, Max. I have. I was bound to see it eventually, especially considering the fact that he decided to name-drop Rebecka." I answered. I was currently lazing around on the couch that was in the room, staring at the TV that was playing some kind of TLC show.

"You know what?" Max asked even though he most likely didn't ask me to get an answer as he plopped down on the other side of the couch.

"You should totally date Charles." He continued, his face serious while I was trying to hold in a laugh.

"What?" I asked in disbelief. Just a couple of hours ago he was hellbent on making sure that I wouldn't date Charles Leclerc at all and now here he is hours later telling me to date the red Ferrari driver.

"I hate Casimir with a passion. And what would be more satisfying than spreading the news that you are currently dating a famous athlete who has die-hard fans who would literally tattoo his name and face on their body?"

I stared at him, trying to decide whether Max had grown two heads or not.

"I think that's only the Italian tifosi that has gone to that extreme. But really Max. Here I thought you wanted me to try and become a nun instead."

He snorted as he placed my legs on his lap.

"Well, apparently Casimir wasn't afraid to go public and lie about everything just to stay relevant. The man isn't even a good actor. Anyway, if Casimir could do this, then what is stopping Kazian, Jason, and Erik from doing the same?" Max asked, his concern was quite visible in his eyes even though he tried to hide it.

"Well, as long as I mind my own business and don't drag them into the spotlight, they won't do the same," I answered unsure if I was right in my assessment. Max was right though. What was stopping them? They were all quite involved in the celebrity world and before all this drama I had never suspected that Casimir would do this.

"Please, Tia. They are all fucking psychos. Casimir is apparently a lying cheating psychopath, Kazian is a manipulative, narcissistic sociopath, Jason is just a self-absorbent drama queen that craves attention, and then we have Erik, a fucking dog that follows Jason like a lost puppy and would always take Jason's side, who also got ridiculous anger issues and is emotionally abusive. Shall I continue?" Max stated as he raised an eyebrow at me. I smiled sheepishly at him. He wasn't wrong at all.

All of my exes were assholes and have been blacklisted by my father in so many different countries in Europe that the majority of their business, jobs, and contacts are only allowed to be held in the US.

Realistically it shouldn't have been possible for my dad to do that but as people love to say, money can do a lot of things, even in places where they claim that corruption is very slim.

"So, let me rewind the tape. You wish for me to date your rival?"

"Yes. I've already managed to convince Charles to take you on a date either after the race tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. You should be receiving a message from him soon." He answered. Max was completely unbothered by the way my jaw dropped.

"Maxie?!"

"What? I can't take all the credit either. Kelly helped me." Max smiled, his cheeks slightly pink as he said that. I just shook my head. Oh god, this completely went out of my control.

'Fuck you, Casimir.' I thought quietly to myself, silently cursing my ex in my head as I groaned and laid my head on the couch's armrest.

This wouldn't have happened if that dumbass hadn't decided that fame was more important and genuinely believed that me stepping away from the rowing world would mean I would have no support from people.

A genuine idiot is what he is. And if my other three exes decide to join in on this war? Let them. I'll have no problem dragging them down with me.

I've got enough evidence against them that could put them in jail for a few months or be severely cancelled by the public that their return to fame would be much harder than it already has been.

"Just curiously wondering, how did you manage to convince Mr. Leclerc to take me on a date?" I asked while I stared up at the ceiling.

"A little threatening, being each other's support rivals, a promise that I wouldn't hunt him down for his blood, and a little sweet deal that he won't meet Betty." He answered. I didn't need to be looking at him to know that he was smiling while he explained to me why all of a sudden Charles would agree to go on a date with a stranger he only met once.

"Who's Betty?"

"My metallic baseball bat."

"You named your baseball bat, Betty?"

"Yes, you've got a problem with that, Tia? Betty is wonderful!" Max exclaimed as he grabbed my legs and dragged me closer to him. 

I groaned as my head dropped from the armrest.

"Just leave, man."

"You love me too much, Tia, to want me to leave you." He responded. I can't believe he's still smiling. Ugh, whoever said: "Get yourself a male friend, it'll be fun," lied to me. It's like having an annoying brother that starts growing on you like a parasite making you unable to want to leave them.

"Unfortunately I do." I sighed, as I sat up, removing my legs from Max's lap. I didn't want to mention today's qualifying to Max, knowing full well that he probably still was annoyed and disappointed about it.

"Why are you watching a TLC show?" Max asked after a couple of minutes had passed.

"Shut up, Maxie."