𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 charles leclerc

𝟬𝟬𝟯

VEDA'S POV

The interviews had been rather uneventful, the season had barely just begun so they were just starting to make comparisons to the last season, digging to see if the cars had improved or worsened relative to their competitors.

I stood by the back, notebook in hand to take notes of any important details that might be helpful in future articles, quotes and whatnot. I was also recording it on voice memos with my phone to listen back to later if necessary.

As the interviews came to an end I couldn't ignore Charles' gaze as it pierced into me like a thousand knives. He tried his best to hide it but I could see from here the tightening of his fists underneath the table, the tenseness in his body, how quick and briefly he answered any questions directed towards him before setting his focus back to intimidating me.

It wasn't working. I knew better than to fall for his trap. And now he knew that not even fifteen thousand dollars could get me to shut up or leave him alone.

All the media was done by three in the afternoon and daniel had invited a few people over to his house at six to have drinks by the pool. I'd been surprised when he invited me as well, i would think it to be a driver's only kind of meet but it seemed I'd managed to squeeze my way into the friend group.

I met Arthur by his car in the parking lot where he drove us back to the hotel to get ready to head to Danny's.

"How was your first media day?" Arthur started the car, now going in reverse to leave the parking spot.

"Uneventful. I was hoping it would be juicier, but it's all just starting."

Arthur chuckled. "Trust me, you'll have plenty to talk about by next week."

"The problem is I need something for this week. And with Bree set on me staying away from the topic of your brother's driving, im not sure what that something will be." I leaned back into the seat, closing my eyes in thought.

"Oh. Maybe it's for the best."

I rolled my eyes playfully. "You're just saying that because you don't like me and your brother fighting."

He gave me a pout. "Can you blame me?"

"Let's not talk about this right now." I turned up the volume of the music, humming along to whatever came on the rest of the way to the hotel.

.𖥔 ݁ ˖

Arthur and I were first to arrive followed by Max, George and Lando who as always, was fashionably late. It was a fun night of me watching the boys play chicken in the pool and taking pictures while laughing my ass off. Lando had been on Max's shoulders, Arthur on George's as they fought to make each other lose their balance.

The sun set over Danny's infinity pool and the photos I got of everyone were stunning. I couldn't wait to get back to the hotel to look over them all.

At one point I was convinced to switch spots with Arthur, climbing onto George's shoulders and being able to send Lando into the pool within seconds. We all laughed joyfully enjoying the night before qualifying tomorrow.

I got out of the pool to dry off and go to the bathroom but just as I stopped by one of the lounge chairs to get my towel, I got an incoming call from Bree. Looking at my notifications it had been the fifth one in a row.

Seeing the urgency, I immediately replied. "Bree? Hi, sorry I was a little busy."

"We've got a problem."

I felt my heart drop to my chest within seconds. Like a cannonball unable to defy the laws of gravity, hard and fast. "What is it?"

Arthur, having recognized the slight look of terror on my face, climbed out of the pool to join me.

"Vasseur is giving you an ultimatum."

Swallowing a dry lump in my throat, my brows furrowed in confusion as to what that meant. "An ultimatum?"

"Either you agree to creating a video series alongside your writing with a positive outlook on Charles or he'll find a way to discredit everything you wrote in that article."

All I could do was scoff. "Unbelievable."

Arthur had placed a gentle hand on my back, wet and cold it left a trail of goosebumps on my skin. "What's up?"

I shook my head, covering my face with a hand out of frustration. "What does he mean a video series?"

"He said he'd explain the details in person once you agree." Bree seemed awfully sure I'd be inclined to accept this ultimatum of his.

"Once I agree or if I agree?"

"He's betting on the fact that you won't want to lose your job," she made known. "And I am too."

"So you want me to accept this?" I couldn't believe it. Out of nowhere it seemed like my autonomy had been stripped from me, I had no right to choose in this situation despite not being in the wrong.

Oh the lengths teams will go to protect the reputations of their drivers.

"He said there'd be something in it for you too, so you're more inclined to accept," Bree added as if knowing I still needed a push to say yes.

"And what is that?"

"Meeting at Ferrari headquarters after quali tomorrow . Be there please."

"I-," I didn't want anything set in stone until I'd made up my mind about the situation.

"Please," she pleaded as if there were something on the line for her. "You don't have to agree to anything yet. Just drop by and hear us out."

Us? Had she been a part of this?

"Fine." I hung up before she could say anything else, tossing my phone onto the lounge chair with a groan.

"Hey," Arthur turned me to face him by the shoulders. "What's wrong?"

"Either I agree to filming some stupid documentary about Charles behind the scenes and kiss Ferrari's ass or I lose my job." I hated how black and white it was. No loopholes or negotiations, just an annoying choice to make on my end.

"What? Why?"

"Why do you think?" I wrapped myself in my towel, drying off to stop the shivering. "Vasseur isn't happy about the article and he wants to reverse the negative effects of it on his reputation by forcing me into making him look good on camera for the fans."

"Shit. You don't have a choice then."

"Well I do it's just a hard one."

He shook his head. "No, Veda, you don't."

My brows had stayed knitted together since I'd received the news. "What do you mean?"

"I know you don't want to lose your dream job, you just got it." He helped dry me with the towel, noticing my head was all over the place. "Which means there's only one thing to do."

I looked out into the infinity pool, the beach in the distance. A full moon shone brightly in the night sky surrounded by a graveyard of stars, their light encompassing the earth.

I weighed my options, soon realizing I had none. Arthur was right, there was only one thing left to do.

Do the damn video series.