Driven by Fate- CHARLES LECLERC

Midnight Underground Race

POV: Carlotta Damian

The evening was humid, a subtle mist rising from the streets of Milan as I zipped up my racing suit and adjusted the collar. My black Ferrari, glossy as the night itself, stood gleaming under the streetlights, the pink hues catching the light just right. It was a beauty, the kind that made people stop and stare, and tonight, she would carry me to victory—hopefully.

Andrea Kimi Antonelli, my best friend and fellow driver, was leaning against the Ferrari, arms crossed, a sly smile on his face. "You ready for this?" he asked, cocking an eyebrow.

I smirked, tightening my ponytail as I gave my reflection a final glance. "Born ready."

He chuckled, but there was an edge of seriousness in his voice when he added, "Just remember, it's not just us here tonight. There are some big names too."

I paused, narrowing my eyes. "What do you mean by big names?"

"You'll see." He pushed off the car and nodded toward the alley ahead where a crowd had already started gathering. My curiosity piqued, I slipped on my helmet, the visor hiding the determination in my eyes. As I followed Andrea down the alley, the low hum of engines began to echo through the streets.

The crowd parted as we walked, and sure enough, the sight of four familiar figures made my heart race—not out of fear, but excitement. Charles Leclerc, Carlos Sainz, Lando Norris, and Nico Hülkenberg. F1 drivers, all of them. They were leaning casually against their cars, laughing and talking like they didn't have a care in the world. But I knew better. There was always an undercurrent of competition among racers. Even here.

My eyes flickered between them, noting their relaxed posture. They hadn't noticed me yet. Good. I wasn't in the mood to make small talk. Besides, I had a race to win. I turned back to my Ferrari, the beast that Ferrari had gifted me as a sponsor, a reward for my time as a reserve driver for their team. Sure, I was also a reserve for Racing Bulls, where my friends Yuki and Daniel raced, but tonight... tonight was about me.

The cool leather of the steering wheel felt familiar beneath my fingers as I climbed into the driver's seat. The engine roared to life with a deep, satisfying purr. The sound was intoxicating. I revved the engine a few times just to feel its power, and out of the corner of my eye, I noticed Leclerc glance in my direction, his brows furrowing slightly as if trying to place the car.

"Hey, Kimi," I called through the helmet comms. "You sure they're okay with losing their money?"

He snorted. "They're F1 drivers. They can afford it."

I laughed softly, shifting into gear as the crowd began to clear the street for the race. To enter the race, you had to cough up €850—a steep price for some, but for us? Just another gamble. Besides, the prize was well worth it. Winning meant pocketing €2,000 at least, and that was just the start.

The streetlights overhead flickered ominously as we lined up at the start. My heart pounded in time with the engine. Next to me, the other drivers were revving their engines, eyes focused on the makeshift finish line far down the street.

A man stepped out from the crowd, raising a red flag high above his head. He glanced between the drivers, a wicked smile creeping across his face, and then—he dropped the flag.

The tires screeched as we shot forward, the force slamming me back into my seat. I gripped the wheel tighter, leaning into the first corner, the car handling like a dream. My Ferrari was fast, powerful, and it seemed like the other drivers weren't ready for what I had in store.

The streets blurred by as we raced through the city, each turn sharper than the last, each straightaway an opportunity to gain precious seconds. I could hear the roar of the engines behind me, but I was focused—tunnel vision. It was just me and the road.

Andrea was keeping up in his car, but even he wasn't a match for the raw speed my Ferrari was dishing out tonight. I glanced in the rearview mirror, catching sight of the F1 drivers pushing hard, but they weren't gaining on me. If anything, they were falling behind. Sainz and Leclerc were neck and neck, battling it out between themselves, while Norris and Hülkenberg struggled to keep up.

I swerved around a tight corner, my tires screeching as I hit the gas harder, pushing the car to its limits. The buildings flew by in a blur of lights and shadows, the wind whistling past my helmet as I darted through a narrow alley. This was my city, my home turf. I knew these streets like the back of my hand, and it gave me an edge.

As the race neared its climax, I could feel the adrenaline pumping through my veins. The finish line was up ahead, and I was leading by a comfortable margin. The other drivers were still behind, but I wasn't about to let up. Not now. I hit the gas one last time, the car surging forward with a burst of speed that sent me flying past the finish line in first place.

The crowd erupted in cheers as I crossed the line, the black Ferrari slowing to a halt in the middle of the street. My heart was still racing, but I couldn't help the grin that spread across my face beneath the helmet.

€2,000. Easy money.

I pulled off my helmet, shaking out my hair as I stepped out of the car. The crowd went silent for a moment, and I could feel their eyes on me. Whispers spread quickly, and I knew they were putting two and two together.

"Fuck..." I heard someone mutter.

I glanced over at the F1 drivers. They were staring, mouths slightly open in shock. Leclerc blinked, clearly piecing together who I was. "Damian?"

"Yep," I said, smirking as I leaned casually against the Ferrari. "What, didn't expect me to be here?"

Carlos raised an eyebrow, stepping forward with a chuckle. "You really had us fooled there."

Lando was still shaking his head, laughing in disbelief. "You beat us all... and didn't even break a sweat."

"Well," I shrugged, "I had a little help from my friend." I patted the Ferrari, the pink highlights catching the streetlights again. "But hey, racing's racing."

Kimi jogged up, clapping me on the back. "Told you that you'd smoke them."

The F1 drivers exchanged glances, clearly impressed but still reeling from the loss. They'd each paid €850 to enter, and now they'd leave empty-handed. I wasn't about to rub it in though.

"Nice race," Leclerc said, offering a hand. I shook it, feeling the familiar camaraderie of the racing world. We were all competitors, but at the end of the day, respect was earned on the track, and tonight, I'd earned mine.

"Not bad for a reserve driver, huh?" I teased, winking at him.

Leclerc chuckled, shaking his head. "Not bad at all, Carlotta. Not bad at all."

His eyes are so beautiful in the dark. They are... simply beautiful. And he is so gentle and kind.

As the crowd began to disperse, I leaned against my Ferrari, watching the drivers head off, probably nursing their bruised egos. Andrea stood beside me, grinning like a madman.

"You know," he said, "you could probably make a living off this."

I laughed, slipping my helmet back on. "Nah. I think I'll stick to the legal stuff. But this was fun."

"Next time, we'll up the stakes," he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

I shook my head, amused. "Next time, they'll know what they're up against."

And with that, I revved the engine once more, the Ferrari roaring to life beneath me. The night was still young, but for now, I'd had my fill of adrenaline. Tomorrow, it was back to the professional tracks. But tonight? Tonight was mine.

As I sped off into the night, the streets of Milan disappearing in my rearview mirror, I couldn't help but smile.

AUTHORS NOTE:

Hello everyone! As I promised in the last story

(IM HERE WITH YOU- CHARLES LECLERC)

Here is a new story about Charles Leclerc. I don't have specific days when I could publish new chapters.

Hope you will enjoy it

Matts