Dopamine | Adrenaline Book Two

3- Happy Birthday!

MONACO

MAY 11TH

Over the preceding two months, the victories in the ongoing rivalry between Ferrari and Red Bull had oscillated between the two teams. In the span of six races, Lewis Hamilton clinched victory in four, whereas Max Verstappen could only secure two wins for the Red Bull. Ferrari found itself in a seemingly advantageous position, with the team evidently favoring the seasoned British driver more than ever before.

This circumstance exerted not only pressure on Max, who now confronted a resurgent rival, but also on Charles, who observed with dismay the vanishing crowds of adoring fans and the growing tendency of team members to overlook him at the presence of Lewis.

Despite the new common rival, Max and Charles found themselves engaged in nothing more than friendly, casual conversations since the incident in the bathroom of Bahrain. It appeared that a possibility lingered for them to rebuild the friendship they once cherished, yet any indications of the intense romance they had once shared seemed to be buried seven feet underground.

That weekend, an invitation was sent to all drivers, gathering them to celebrate the birthday of Stefano Domenicalli, the CEO of Formula One, in a glamorous party set in Monaco. The event promised to be grand, with a majority of drivers and teams planning to participate, demonstrating their support for the influential figure.

The guest list read like a who's who of the billionaire elite, with captains of industry, tycoons, and influential personalities from around the globe converging together in a massive pile of their fortunes collected in one place.

The venue itself, a palatial estate overlooking the waters of the Monaco, served as a fitting backdrop for the gathering of high-profile attendees. Expensive cars lined the entrance, and supermodels stepped out of them adorned with millions of dollars' worth of jewelry. 

Max Verstappen was one of the first drivers to arrive, accompanied by his girlfriend Kelly Piquet. He wore a tailored black tuxedo that accentuated his athletic frame, the sharp lines perfectly fitting his large, muscular build. Kelly wore an elegant black gown that shimmered with delicate crystals, later proudly claiming to other party guests that it was a gift from Max.

When Max and Kelly finally arrived at their table, he immediately sensed her glare narrowing as it landed on the names of the chairs around the table they were assigned. "Fernando Alonso, Alexandra Saint Mleux, and Charles Leclerc." The sight of the Ferrari driver's name beside Max's seemed to make her blood boil with memories of what had happened between them. They were open wounds that never closed, and Max sensed the incoming intervention she'd try to create.

"Let's ask for them to change us," she suggested, placing her hand on his wrist.

"No, it's okay, I don't mind," Max stated, pulling back his chair so he could take a seat.

Kelly grew increasingly nervous, immediately analyzing the situation. She slowly took a seat beside him, wondering why Max didn't seem as angry at Charles as he was the previous year. It brought a sense of fear to her that maybe, even after everything, he'd forgive the other driver. Insecurity brewed within her as she observed the blond scrolling through his phone.

"Isn't it going to be tense?" she asked, trying to grasp his attention.

"What?" he said, placing his phone back into his pocket.

"Sitting beside him," she said, pointing to the empty chair. "I thought you still hated him."

Max shrugged. "I don't care. I can be professional," he said, leaning back against the chair in a relaxed posture.