Her || Charles Leclerc

26. Bodyguards

"You've been to Monza before, right?" Galileo asked when he saw Matilde glancing outside of the car window.

Matilde looked at him. "Yes, once, during COVID," she smirked.

"Aha, it makes sense now."

"What?"

"You look so surprised to see this all happening."

Matilde ran her hand through her hair. "Yeah. It is generally known how passionate the Tifosi are, but I've never witnessed it myself. I mean, we have so much security around the factory for the entire week, and we are all being escorted to the track... I feel like I'm Beyoncé," she said. "I am not even allowed to drive myself to the track." She pointed at the chauffeur in front of her.

"It's Monza, Matilde, the home race of Ferrari. What else did you expect?" Galileo asked, slightly confused by her comment.

A nervous laugh escaped her lips. "I did expect this, but I'm still perplexed by it. It's not like I have been a Ferrari team principal before, or worked for Ferrari," she shot back.

"Wait until you manage to win," he said. "Wait and see..."

"We will see."

They approached the circuit. Matilde couldn't help but feel a surge of adrenaline coursing through her veins, the weight of expectation heavy on her shoulders. Galileo's words echoed in her mind, reminding her of the importance of this race. Winning at Monza wasn't just about the points, it was about capturing the hearts of the fans. And winning as Ferrari at Monza was about capturing the hearts of the Tifosi, the legacy and the country. For Matilde, it was also about proving herself worthy of leading one of the most iconic teams in Formula 1. But amidst the nerves and the pressure, there was also a sense of determination burning within Matilde. She was ready to embrace the biggest challenge of this season, to rise to the occasion and show the world what she and her team were capable of.

"It's like stepping into a different world," Matilde murmured, her eyes glued to the bustling activity around them.

Galileo nodded in agreement, his expression mirroring her excitement. "If you thought the Dutch fans were intense at Zandvoort... There's nothing quite like the atmosphere at Monza," he remarked, his voice tinged with reverence. "We've got quite the reception waiting for us." He gestured to the crowds gathered outside the gates.

She felt a surge of nerves mingling with her excitement. The weight of expectation hung heavily in the air, but she refused to let it overwhelm her. This was her moment to shine.

Inside the gates, the car stopped; they reached their destination. With a deep breath, Matilde squared her shoulders and stepped out of the car, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead. She and her team worked towards this weekend for the entire year.

Matilde was welcomed by a lot of photographers. She just ignored them; she loved working for Ferrari, but she hated the attention from the people and media. One of the reasons for ignoring the media was because her entire family was waiting in front of the paddock gates. Her family noticed her, causing Lars' daughter to run to her aunt.

"Mati!" Ottilie shouted and ran into Matilde's arms.

Matilde's face softened when she saw the little girl wearing a red Ferrari team shirt. "Ottie," she smiled and picked the girl up.

"Look!" Ottilie said and looked down at her shirt. "The same colour!"

"You look stunning," she replied and kissed Ottilie's cheek. Matilde walked to her family and came to a halt when she saw her brothers both dressed up in a black suit, black ties and sunglasses; looking like bodyguards. "What is daddy wearing? He is crazy, isn't he? So is Jensie," Matilde asked Ottilie.