𝙎𝙄𝙓𝙏𝙀𝙀𝙉

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𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘽𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙀𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙐𝙄𝙏 ᯓ★

𝙀𝙇𝙀𝙉𝘼'𝙎 𝙋𝙊𝙑

STEPPING OFF THE jet, the warm Mediterranean air wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. Monaco's harbor gleamed under the sun, and I could already feel the electric excitement of the upcoming race week. Lando's driver met us on the tarmac, ready to take us to his penthouse.

The ride through Monaco's winding streets was filled with the chatter of Oscar and Lando, discussing everything from race strategies to favorite local restaurants. Charles and Alexandra had opted to take their own ride to their hotel after having joined us on the same flight, leaving the three of us to our thoughts.

I kept mostly to myself, staring out the window at the beautiful scenery. The prospect of staying in Lando's apartment for the next few weeks made my stomach churn with a mix of both excitement and dread.

I stepped into Lando's penthouse in Monaco, my suitcase rolling quietly over the polished floors. The space was as impressive as I'd imagined—modern and sleek, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a breathtaking view of the city and the Mediterranean beyond. I couldn't help but feel a bit out of place in such opulence.

Oscar was already making himself at home, tossing his bag onto the couch. Lando followed us in, his presence commanding the room as always. He gave me a brief, almost polite smile. "I'll show you to your room."

I nodded, following him down a hallway. He opened a door to reveal a spacious bedroom, decorated in cool, calming tones. "This is you," he said. "Oscar's next door, and I'm down the hall."

"Thanks," I replied, my voice a bit strained. The tension between us was palpable, a mix of unresolved emotions and the awkwardness of our forced proximity.

Later that evening, we headed out to meet Charles and Alexandra at a beachfront restaurant. The walk to the restaurant was filled with idle chatter about the upcoming race, and the warm breeze carried the scent of the sea, calming my nerves slightly.

The restaurant was beautiful, with an open-air terrace that offered a stunning view of the sunset. We were seated at a table with a perfect vantage point, and as the evening sky turned shades of orange and pink, the mood lightened.

Charles and Alexandra were charming and easy to talk to. Alexandra was animated as she recounted their recent trip to Japan, while Charles chimed in with amusing anecdotes about their adventures.

"So, how are you finding Monaco so far?" Alexandra asked me, her eyes twinkling with genuine curiosity.

"It's beautiful," I replied, glancing at Lando. "I'm looking forward to exploring more."

Lando leaned back in his chair, a small smile playing on his lips. "We'll have plenty of time for that."

Mid-conversation I felt Lando's foot brush against mine from directly in front of me. I ignored it at first, pulling away as I listened to Charles. But as he did it again, it became clear it had been intentional.

I looked up to find him engaged in the conversation as if nothing were happening. He was clearly toying with me for some reason, trying to get some sort of reaction.

"I can't wait to cruise around in a McLaren," Oscar said.

Alexandra smiled, seeming to have recalled a moment. "This is a good time to tell you about the time Charles crashed into the curb here. He almost dented the Ferrari."

Charles gasped, surprised she'd brought that up. "It was one time. And to be fair, you were distracting me." We all laughed as he tried to deny it.

"Next time I'll just have El drive," Alex joked, reaching over to squeeze my hand in hers.

𝙁𝙊𝙍𝘽𝙄𝘿𝘿𝙀𝙉 𝙁𝙍𝙐𝙄𝙏 𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘰 𝘯𝘰𝘳𝘳𝘪𝘴Where stories live. Discover now