ALMOST IS NEVER ENOUGH, m. verstappen

002

Charity gala

The buzz of the charity gala filled the air as the who's who of the racing world gathered in the grand ballroom of Monaco's most luxurious hotel. Max Verstappen strolled in with his usual swagger, fresh off his victory at the Monaco Grand Prix. The room was filled with murmurs of congratulations, but Max was focused on one thing: finding Valerie Leclerc.

He spotted her near the entrance, her gaze locked on the room's centerpiece—an ornate ice sculpture. She looked stunning in her sleek black dress, her hair elegantly swept back. But Max knew better than to be fooled by her appearance. Beneath that polished exterior was a woman ready to bite his head off at any moment.

"Valerie," he greeted, his voice dripping with faux warmth.

"Max," she replied coolly, turning to face him. Her eyes narrowed slightly, and he could see the disdain she was barely holding back.

Before they could exchange any more pleasantries—or insults—their attention was drawn to a group of reporters who had been lingering nearby, clearly eager for a scoop.

"Max, Valerie, over here!" one of them called out, and soon they were surrounded by flashing cameras and eager journalists.

"So, Max," one reporter began, "Congratulations again on your win yesterday. How does it feel to conquer Monaco once again?"

Max flashed a confident smile. "It feels great, especially in Monaco. Winning here always has a special meaning."

Valerie watched him, her expression unreadable. She could feel the cameras on her, waiting for her to slip up, to show any sign of the animosity she felt towards him.

"And Valerie," another reporter turned to her, "As a Monegasque, how does it feel to see Max take the win on your home turf?"

Valerie smiled sweetly, though her eyes remained cold. "It's always a pleasure to see someone perform well, especially in Monaco. Max did a great job today."

Max almost choked on his drink at her forced compliment. He knew it killed her to say anything nice about him, and the fact that she had to do it in front of the media was just the cherry on top.

"Thank you, Valerie," he said, his tone just as sweet. "It means a lot coming from you."

The reporters sensed the tension, but they were pros at this. They knew how to dig deeper without crossing any obvious lines.

"Max, the next race is in Canada. What are your expectations for that one?" a journalist asked.

"I'm looking forward to it," Max replied. "The Circuit Gilles Villeneuve is always a challenge, but I'm confident we can carry this momentum forward."

Valerie couldn't resist. "Let's hope you don't crash out this time," she said, her voice laced with a hint of mockery.

Max's jaw tightened, but he forced a smile. "Don't worry about me, Valerie. I'll be sure to keep all four wheels on the track."

The exchange was subtle enough to go over most people's heads, but those who knew the history between Max and Valerie caught the underlying tension.