Lana Leclerc, the spirited and determined sister of Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc, is an ambassador for the Speedy Stars Foundation, a charity close to her heart. She's always been dedicated to her work, using her influence to make a difference. Bu...
In the quiet, early morning stillness of Monaco, Lana stood in front of her bedroom mirror, applying the finishing touches to her hair and makeup. She moved methodically, her mind already racing ahead to the long day of travel ahead of her. Fifteen hours. Fifteen hours on a plane with someone who barely uttered more than a handful of words at dinner the other night.
Sighing, she combed through her hair and left it down, keeping everything simple and clean. Dressed in all black, a nod to both comfort and practicality, she gave herself a final once-over. The outfit wasn't just about simplicity—it was armor. A way to shield herself from what was sure to be an awkward travel day.
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Her stomach tightened at the thought. Spending an entire day on a plane with Mr. Doesn't Want-To-Talk wasn't exactly high on her list of life goals. The only silver lining was that other drivers were flying with them—Lando had mentioned it offhandedly. That meant they wouldn't be entirely alone. She could at least find an escape from the crushing silence that was sure to unfold between them.
Heading downstairs, Lana packed a few snacks and water into her carry-on. She wasn't taking any chances, knowing full well that she'd need something to focus on if things got too unbearable. As her phone buzzed on the counter, she grabbed it, seeing a message from Lando: I'm outside.
Her heart thudded once, and she hastily gathered her bags. Deep breath, Lana. You've got this.
Walking outside, she spotted the SUV parked along the curb. Lando sat behind the wheel, his figure still in the early morning dimness. His face, though calm, seemed unreadable as ever. She tossed her bags into the trunk before climbing into the passenger seat.
"Morning," she said brightly, forcing some energy into her voice. He gave her a tight-lipped smile—barely even that—and pulled the car into gear, driving off into the winding streets of Monaco.
The tension between them was palpable, filling the car like heavy fog. Twenty minutes passed in near silence, and Lana could practically hear her thoughts racing in time with the quiet hum of the engine. The silence was unbearable.
Unable to take it any longer, she glanced over at him. "Do you mind if I put some music on?"
Lando barely flicked his eyes from the road. "Oh, sure." He tapped a button on the dashboard, switching it to Bluetooth mode.
Relieved for the distraction, Lana connected her phone and scrolled through her playlists. Something calm. Something easy. She settled on Pink + White by Frank Ocean, a soothing melody that she hoped would ease the tension in the car.
But as the intro filled the air, Lana noticed an almost immediate shift in Lando's posture. His shoulders tensed, his jaw clenched slightly. His eyes darted toward the screen displaying the song title, then snapped back to the road. He looked... unsettled.
Lana frowned slightly. Does he not like Frank Ocean? she wondered.
After a few more beats of silence, Lando finally spoke, his voice tight. "Could you maybe play a different song?"
Lana blinked, taken aback. Who didn't like Frank Ocean? But she wasn't about to push him on it. "Oh, um, yeah. Sure." She hurriedly scrolled through her phone again, landing on her next favorite, Steve Lacy. A safe choice, she hoped.
As C U Girl began to play, the tension in the car shifted, but not in the way she'd hoped. Lando had relaxed a little, but the air between them still felt thick. Why had he reacted so strongly to Frank Ocean? It wasn't like she'd chosen something heavy or weird. Pink + White was practically a crowd-pleaser.
She glanced sideways at him, noticing the tight set of his jaw again, though his eyes remained focused on the road. Something was definitely off.
Deciding to leave it alone, Lana got comfy in her seat and set her gaze out the window for the remainder of their drive to Nice.
AN
Sorry, slightly shorter chapter but I felt like this needed Its moment. Especially with the chaos coming ahead;)
ALSO! If you're a little lost at Lando's rigidness and would like to be enlightened, journey over to Dear Lando Book One, Chapter 2.
While we are here, I love reading when you guys comment or leave thoughts!
