AGAIN || MAYBE IN ANOTHER LIFE

Chapter 24

CHAPTER 24

Céline

Now

'And it's Charles Leclerc taking home the very first win of the season, winning the Bahrain grand prix!'

Charles did it, he won the first race, and is now standing on the podium in between Max and Lando. The anthems have been played and champagne has been popped. I watched the whole celebration from the garage. Brinette and Oliver are still here with me while Arthur went under the podium with all the mechanics, and after the drivers disappear from the celebration, Arthur comes back running up to us.

'Lin, that's when you disappear from here if you don't want to be seen. The moment Charles sets foot in here there'll be cameras everywhere!' I nod concerned. When Charles got called back yesterday, he asked for everyone working at Ferrari to sign a NDA, and thanks to the guidelines introduced in F1 a year ago, that I didn't know about, prohibiting cameras filming into the garage during every session, I was able to watch the race from here without any fan or paparazzi seeing me. But in exchange Ferrari asked us to stay away from everyone's attention for a while, since he'd broken up with Alexandra not even a month ago. So now that the race is over and pretty much everyone has access in here, I nod following him quickly to the car park.

'Kika is coming with you, she'll be there shortly and you girls can go back to the hotel or wherever you wanna go.' I nod, seeing indeed Kika walking in our direction. The smile on my face has faded. Yesterday was beautiful, me and Charles talked a lot and it nearly felt like these two years never happened. Having to hide, however, is reminding me that time has passed and we have a lot to work on if we want a second chance. Still, that doesn't change the fact that I wanted to be there for Charles right now, and Arthur knows it, smiling at me.

'I know Lin, just a few hours and then you can be with him for as long as you want. The party starts at ten tonight, meet you there?' I nod, already counting down the time. 'Just tell him I'm proud of him? Please.' I ask, fluttering my eyelashes at him. Kika heard my request, and is now standing next to me with a knowing look.

'Yes Arthur, please tell Charlie he drove amazingly and Céline would have really loved to reward him with a kiss!' She jokes, making me blush. Arthur is amused by her idea and I already know what he's thinking from the dangerous expression written on his face. 'Oh yes, I like it! I'm gonna tell him exactly that! Thanks Kika!' My eyes spread open, but I know that even if I try to complain now, he's not going to change his mind.

'Arthur Leclerc, you are not telling your brother this!' But it's too late, he's already running away from us, back in the paddock, and the only thing I can do is stare at Kika, pretending to be mad. But she just laughs delightedly, and when she's done she looks at me with a more serious face. 'You and I are going shopping, because when Charles sees you tonight he'll beg for that kiss.'

'What? No! It's not like I have to seduce him, we're way past that stage. He's seen me in whatever way, he won't even be surprised.' I try to convince her, already knowing it's a lost war from the start.

'Oh please, he won't even be surprised!' She mocks me. 'Your boyfriend just took the lead of the championship and is throwing a huge party in a club where recording or snap pictures is prohibited, just for you! And you are going to look fucking gorgeous, because I'm sorry to break it to you that way, but you're the only prize he wants tonight.'

I gasp at her words, and while a part of me hopes that's the truth, the other is highly embarrassed. 'He's not my boyfriend!' My heart rushes with that word, boyfriend.