Gentle with me | MAX VERSTAPPEN

XIV

Seventh of May, also known as race day in Miami. The paddock seemed to be more alive than it had been the previous days, perhaps because it is today that the race will be held or perhaps it's because of the recent drama that I recently found myself in. Oh, how the public loves to pay more attention to celebrities' lives and activities than their own lives.

Max and Kelly had arrived an hour earlier than me. Mostly because I had insisted on them leaving before me to ensure they wouldn't face even more breakup rumours. I knew that they really didn't care about empty rumours, but Max was fighting for his third championship and Kelly was busy with her modelling and influencer career that I wasn't sure that me entering with them would do them good.

Charles had yet to send me a message regarding that date the Red Bull driver had managed to convince him to take me on. I wouldn't actually blame him if he decided to just not take me out on a date. It certainly wouldn't look good for one's reputation to be seen with someone who is currently under fire for the wrong reasons.

Against my wishes, I had found a website to pirate my ex's latest movie to see if Shattered Stars was worth it. I would have loved to say that it would have been worth the money to go and see it in person but my parents didn't raise me to be a liar.

The movie was horrendous. The plot didn't even exist, the acting was horrible or mediocre, and the poor editing made me believe that I could have done a better job than that. The only good thing with the movie was the songs they had playing in the background even though the songs didn't match the scenes they were used in.

"Fancy seeing you here." Someone behind me said. I turned around and came face to face with the driver that was supposed to ask me on a date according to my dear best friend, Max.

"You can't say that you are surprised to see me again?" I raised my eyebrow at him, inspecting the way he was fully dressed in red. I wonder if he thought racing for a red team meant that he was supposed to literally embody the colour.

"Well, I mean I will be honest when I tell you that I was surprised to find out that you were best buddies with Max. Even more surprised when Max asked me yesterday to take you on a date." He answered. He sent me one of his ridiculous smiles that just were too beautiful. I don't know what God thought when he created him but it wasn't fair that Charles got all the beauty.

I scoffed and crossed my arms. "Imagine my own surprise when Max tells me to expect a message from you that would be about a request for a date and then not actually receive one."
Charles attempted to raise one of his eyebrows as he grinned at me.

"Now, Tatiana, don't tell me that you were expecting a message from me? On another note, what kind of gentleman would I be if I asked you on a date through text messages? No, instead I decided to ask you out in person." He grabbed my hand and lifted it up to his lips to place a light kiss over it, while smiling at me with shining eyes. "Will you, Tatiana Castiello, allow me the honour to take you on a date this evening?" Charles asked, not letting go of my hand.

"And people say chivalry is dead." I jokingly said before removing my hand from his and dragging my hand on my leg. "Pick me up at 8 PM. No sooner or later." I answered. I sent him one last smile before I walked away, heading towards the Red Bull hospitality where Kelly already stood outside waiting for me.

"Dress code is casual!" Charles yelled out loud making people turn their heads in our way to see what was going on.

"Fool," I muttered to myself as I continued to walk towards Kelly while trying to ignore the curious eyes of onlookers.

"Has he asked you out yet on a date?" Kelly asked as soon as I had reached her.

"What do you think? With the way he yelled it, you would think people back in Sweden would be able to hear it." I answered. I linked my arm with hers as we headed back into the Red Bull hospitality.

"Now you're just being dramatic, Ana. Besides, Charles is a nice guy." Kelly said.

"I'm sure he's a nice guy and all Kelly, but I won't turn a blind eye to the fact that he has a history of being a homie hopper." I rolled my eyes. I wasn't even lying or being dramatic by calling him a homie hopper. If rumours were correct from Max, Charles had even been seeing a new girl who had been acquainted with Charlotte somehow.

"Maybe you'll be able to put a stop to it." She smiled at me and honestly, I really couldn't help but wonder if you really had to be undeniably pretty to enter the world of Formula One. "Besides, you can't really say anything. You do have a tendency to date toxic red flag men who shouldn't be interacting with society."

"Shut up. Anyway, when will I be meeting the rest of the women in the paddock?" I asked, genuinely interested in meeting some of them. Especially Lily He. I was hoping to learn how to play Golf from her whenever she had the time and whether we got along or not.

"Ah right, you'll probably meet some of them during the party or I'll try and get us all to meet tomorrow at a luncheon," Kelly replied. "Who do you think will win the race?"

I looked at her and I knew that we both knew that despite yesterday's DNF from Max, he would still find a way to push himself to the podium. And knowing him, he would be hellbent on getting the taste of a win.

"Max will either win or get on that podium. I can't lie." I answered. Kelly just smiled and just like I knew, she herself knew that she had hit the jackpot.

Not only was she dating a two-time world champion but she was also dating a driver that was more of a green flag than some of the other drivers on the grid.

Just by taking one look at how Max behaves around Penelope and treats her makes one realise that he truly is a great father figure despite his occasionally passing fear that he isn't a good father figure.

"I think you might be right." I just snorted at that. Kelly knew very well that so far Max had absolutely dominated the season by either coming in second place or first.

"Let's head down to the garage." She said as she steered me in the grandstand's direction where the pit was underneath.