The Bolter | Charles Leclerc

Chapter 9

Mila and I sat at the bar of our favourite club in town. It was rammed with every kind of person, mainly paddock guests and a few drivers. However there was an increase in the number of influencers this year, not the good kind who were actually interested in the sport, but the kind who went because they thought the drivers were hot.

"You're drinking a lot tonight," Mila commented as I was handed my fourth drink of the night. "Something happen?"

"Got into a fight with Max, then Rupert showed up, got into an argument with him, then Charles appeared and took me home and then, Jos called me and we've got a family dinner next week," I said, taking another sip of my drink.

"Oh," Mila nodded her head. "That's a lot to happen in one night. Wait, Charles took you home?"

"My shoes were killing me, and he saw me arguing with Rupert."

"Right," she raised an eyebrow, "that's normal between you two."

I shrugged, not really thinking too much of the interaction between me and Charles. "He's not evil," I said, "just completely insufferable."

"Mhm," she muttered, "when's that ever stopped you?"

I gasped jokingly, pretending to be offended. "Well that's all gonna change, no more men for the foreseeable future, especially not assholes like Charles Leclerc."

"Ok, ok," Mila put her hands up in fake surrender. "I will support you in your endeavours, I hope you get your apartment and your plane."

"Me too," I looked around the room, my eyes landing on the face of the subject of our conversation. I scoffed. "He's practically got his own harem."

Mila shrugged. "He's an F1 driver, and like it or not extremely attractive, what do you expect?"

I shrugged, finishing the last of my drink. It infuriated me that other women still fell for his act, I felt the overwhelming need to run over there and warn them to stay far, far away in order to hold on to their dignity and reputation. But, I stayed sat, as I was drunk and didn't want to make another fool out of myself because I knew it would surface as a topic of conversation at the family dinner next week.

Mila's voice snapped me back into reality. "Worried about the dinner?"

"Not worried more wishing a flaming ball of rock would strike my dad's house and burn it to the ground so I never have to go there again."

"I'll pray for you," she laughed, " but I'm sure it'll be better than you think, you'll have Max right?"

I nodded. "I love Max, but he doesn't stand a chance against Jos. Don't get me wrong, he was worse when we were kids, but now he's turned his powers of aggression into complete manipulation."

"Ok, but it's one day, and before you know it you'll be flying back to Monaco and forgetting all about it," she smiled.

"How are you so positive all the time?" I smiled back, thankful I had a friend like this or else I would constantly sink into the pits of doom.

"I have a lot to be grateful for," she squeezed my hand, "you'll be fine, Dani."

"Thank you."

I looked back across the room, Charles was no longer in the spot surrounded by a gaggle of girls. I assumed he'd left, spun round, and ordered another drink.

"Last one?" Mila asked looking a little concerned. "I thought you weren't drinking like we used to?"

"Special occasion," I replied, convincing myself this wasn't like the other times. "But don't worry, this is my last one."

Or that's what I thought before Charles appeared at the bar.

Mila signalled with her eyes that he had come closer and I spun round a little too quickly, nearly falling off the stool.

"You're drunk," he said.

"Good observation," I replied bluntly, not in the mood for his snide comments or remarks. "By the looks of it so are you."

I liked him up and down. His hair was a mess, his shirt was buttoned too far down and he had a smug grin on his face. "I'm celebrating, this is the third club we've been to."

"Seen any friends of your ex's yet, I'm sure they'd be willing to celebrate with you."

Mila kicked the back of my chair. "I work with him," she hissed into my ear. "Play nice."

Charles didn't seem to care, he ordered a drink and sat down. "No, not yet. But I am surprised that you're not being shadowed by a hoard of men tonight. Or have you slept with all of them here?"

I scrunched up my face, trying to figure out the words to say something smart to say back, but my brain was foggy with all the alcohol, so I just ended up staring at him, opening and closing my mouth like a fish.

"I'm joking," he said. "You look like you're going to have an aneurysm."

I felt Milan's hand on my shoulder. "I need to go home now, I've got an early flight tomorrow , why don't you come with me?"

"No, no," I replied, not wanting Charles to think he'd won. "You go, I'll get a taxi home later, I'll call you."

"Are you sure, because I think it's best if," she didn't finish the sentence before I interrupted her.

"No, I'm fine Mila, see you soon." I hugged her hut she didn't leave, so Charles spoke up.

"She can stay with us, my brother Lorenzo doesn't drink so she'll be fine."

"Are you sure? You two aren't going to kill each other?"

"We're too drunk for that," he replied.

"Ok, see you soon," she waved and left.

I turned back to Charles, who was now drinking. "There you go, trying to save me again."

"I wouldn't need to if you weren't intoxicated or arguing with stalkers on the street."

"You don't need to full stop, I can handle myself."

"Clearly not," he scoffed. "You can barely stand up, you look like a rag doll."

"Why do you think you're so much better than me?" I asked, my mouth started poring out words without any control of my brain. "You're just as insufferable and self centred as I am. Why do you think you can call me a whore?"

He sighed and rolled his eyes. "Grow up Danique, then you maybe you can see how crazy you act."

"You sound like my father."

"I'm nothing like your father," he snapped, taking offence very quickly. I had obviously struck a nerve.

"Then why do you act so superior? Why do you continue to bother me, it's like you're obsessed with me or something."

He got up from his stool. "I can't be bothered talking to you. Do you hear yourself?"

He walked through the crowd of people towards his brothers and friends and I followed quickly behind.

"This isn't fair Charles, you can't talk to me the way you do, then take off and ignore me. Charles you can't just walk away from me."

Then the night faded into a blur.