Eyes Don't Lie | Charles Leclerc

Part 53 | A Red Bull

July 15, 2023

I followed Max out of the room, my thoughts racing as we moved further away from the crowd. He led me into a small, private room, the door shutting behind us. I was still completely confused as to what he had to say to me.

Max turned to face me, but he didn't speak right away. Instead, he seemed to be gathering his thoughts, pacing a bit in the room. His usual confidence was nowhere to be seen, replaced by an odd expression that I couldn't quite place. Anxious, maybe even desperate.

I waited, arms crossed, growing impatient with his stalling. "Max, if you're going to say something, just say it," I snapped, my frustration evident. He still didn't respond, just kept staring at the ground, avoiding my gaze.

I sighed and turned, ready to leave. But just as my hand reached for the handle, I felt Max's grip on my arm, pulling me back. "Wait!" he blurted out, the urgency in his voice stopping me in my tracks.

I turned back, narrowing my eyes at him. "What is it, Max?" I asked, my patience wearing thin.

For the first time, I saw real nerves on his face. It was like he was struggling with something inside, and I had no idea what could possibly be so difficult for him to spit out. "I-" He paused, taking a deep breath, then met my gaze with an intensity that surprised me. "I think Emma's going to try and cause problems with...Aria."

My jaw clenched at his words, a mixture of concern and anger flaring inside me. "And you're just telling me this now?" I demanded. "What is she planning, Max? And how did you get looped into this?"

Max ran a hand through his hair, looking genuinely troubled. "I don't know exactly, but she's been...talking. She knows how much you care about Aria, and she doesn't like that. I've tried to tell her to leave it alone, but she's got it in her head that she can somehow get between you two. She's convinced that Aria's changed you, made you different."

I stared at him, the weight of his words sinking in. This wasn't just Emma being petty or dramatic...this was personal, a targeted attempt to ruin what Aria and I had built together. I could feel the anger building up inside of me, but I forced myself to stay composed. "Why are you telling me this now, Max?" I asked quietly, genuinely curious. "Why warn me? We aren't friends."

Max hesitated again, dropping his gaze to the floor. "Because...because I don't want to see anyone get hurt. And I don't want to get dragged into this mess." 

His words caught me off guard, and for a moment, I saw a side of Max I hadn't seen since we were kids...one that was unsure. I didn't know if I could trust his sudden concern, but if there was any chance that Emma was planning to cause trouble, I couldn't afford to ignore it.

I took a deep breath, steadying myself. "Fine. Thanks for the warning," I said, my voice colder than I intended. "But if she tries anything, I'll be ready. And I won't let her hurt Aria."

Max nodded, looking like he wanted to say more but holding back. I didn't wait for him to find his words. I turned and walked out of the room, my mind already racing with thoughts of how to protect us from whatever might be coming.

As I re-entered the main hall of the event, my mind was chaotically replaying my conversation with Max. Part of me was highly untrusting of his intentions. Why warn me now? I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that there might be more to his story, or perhaps another motive entirely. One thing was clear, I needed to keep a close eye on both him and Emma.

I was scanning the crowd, trying to locate Aria, when I spotted Carlos making a beeline toward me. He looked a little frantic, his brows furrowed with worry. He grabbed my shoulder, his grip firm as he leaned in to whisper into my ear. "Charles, listen...whatever you do, stay calm, okay? Don't lose your head over this. There's cameras everywhere," he warned.