Driven by Fate- CHARLES LECLERC

The Call of Destiny

POV: Carlotta Damian

It was a warm afternoon, and I was sitting at a bar with the guys—Lando, Max, Daniel, and Charles. We were all laughing and joking about the next race. Max was teasing Daniel about his eighth-place finish, while Lando had just asked me when the F2 season would end.

"So, Carlotta, when's your F2 championship finishing? Got plans to join us full-time in F1 yet?" Lando asked, grinning as he leaned back in his chair.

I smirked. "This year is an exception. We'll finish in Abu Dhabi."

As the conversation continued, my phone buzzed. I glanced at the screen and saw an unknown number, but something told me I needed to answer it.

"Sorry, guys, I need to take this," I said, excusing myself from the table without revealing who it was.

Stepping outside, I picked up the call. "Hello?"

"Buongiorno, Carlotta. This is Fred Vasseur. I wanted to talk to you about next season."

My heart raced. I had a feeling this was it—the moment I'd been waiting for.

"We would like to offer you a seat at Ferrari next year. How would you feel about joining us?" Fred asked, his tone professional yet warm.

I couldn't believe it. It was happening. "Are you serious? Of course, I would love to!" I replied, trying to keep my excitement in check.

"That's great to hear," he continued. "We'd like you to come to Maranello tomorrow to sign the contract. We'll go over the details there."

"Tomorrow? I can do that," I agreed, still trying to wrap my head around the news. But there was one thing I needed to know. "Fred, can I ask... who am I replacing?"

"Sainz," he said simply. "He has been offered a seat at Williams, and he has accepted. This means you'll be partnered with Charles Leclerc next season."

Charles Dickhead Leclerc. The thought made me smirk. This was going to be interesting.

Fred continued, explaining the terms. "Your salary will be competitive, and we've secured some strong sponsors. You'll have to represent Ferrari in various events and, of course, endorse brands like Ray-Ban, which has a long-standing partnership with us. There are a few other sponsors, including Pirelli and Shell, but we'll go over everything in detail tomorrow."

"Sounds good to me," I said. "I'll be there tomorrow."

After hanging up, I took a deep breath, letting the reality sink in. I was going to be a Ferrari driver. But for now, I had to get back to the guys.

When I returned to the table, I couldn't stop smiling. "Sorry, I have to head home early," I told them. "I've got some... important things to take care of."

Daniel looked at me suspiciously. "Important things, huh? Alright, Damian. Go do your thing."

I left the bar and headed home, excitement pulsing through me as I packed my bags for the trip to Maranello.

The next morning, I arrived at Ferrari's headquarters in my Porsche. Fred greeted me at the entrance with a firm handshake and a warm smile. "Welcome to Ferrari, Carlotta."

We walked inside, and after some small talk, he led me to a conference room where the contract was waiting.

"Here's the contract," Fred said, sliding it over to me. "As we discussed, you'll be representing Ferrari at all events and with our sponsors. Ray-Ban will be a big part of your promotional work, along with other key brands. Also, you'll get the same perks as before—uniforms, gear, but Ferrari-branded now. One important thing, though—you cannot have any romantic relationship with Charles Leclerc."

I raised an eyebrow at that. "Understood," I replied, though it was strange hearing that in a professional setting.

"Any questions?" Fred asked.

"No, everything looks perfect." I grabbed the pen and signed on the dotted line.

Fred smiled. "Welcome to Ferrari, Carlotta. How about you try out your new car?"

I was soon suited up in Ferrari red, my name—Damian—written across the door of the locker room. The moment I stepped into the car, I felt the power beneath me. I did a few laps, pushing the Ferrari to its limits. It was flawless, smooth, and fast.

When I returned to the garage, the team applauded. I removed my helmet and gave them a grin. "This car is incredible. You've done an amazing job."

But then I heard a familiar voice behind me. "What are you doing here?"

I turned around to see Charles, standing there with a raised eyebrow. Before I could answer, Fred stepped in. "She's your new teammate, Charles."

His expression shifted, a mix of surprise and amusement. "Well, that just made my day. Congratulations," he said, offering me a handshake. "I heard about Carlos. It's a big change."

"It is," I said, shaking his hand. "But I'm ready."

Charles and I exchanged a knowing look. This was going to be an interesting partnership.

"I think we need to settle something," I said, smirking. "How about a quick race? One lap around the track. Let's see who's faster."

He chuckled. "You're on."

We suited up again, and soon, we were both on the track, our radios linked. The competition was fierce, and neither of us held back. I could feel the adrenaline coursing through me as I pushed every corner, every straight. In the end, I crossed the finish line just ahead of him.

"Good race," Charles said over the radio. "You've got some serious skill."

Back in the garage, the team manager, Luca, approached us. "Carlotta, we need you to film a quick announcement. We're going public with the news that you're our new driver."

The camera was on, and I stood proudly in my Ferrari suit. "I'm beyond excited to announce that I'll be joining Ferrari as a full-time driver next season. It's been my dream to race in Formula 1, and to do it with such a legendary team is an honor. I'm ready to give everything I have and can't wait to get started. See you all on the grid."

Within minutes, social media exploded with the news. My phone buzzed constantly with notifications from fans, gossip sites, and Formula 1 pages, all tagging me and giving me a new nickname—La Predestinata.

Charles showed me his phone, laughing. "Look at this, I've saved your name as 'La Predestinata' now."

I couldn't help but laugh. "Alright, Dickhead Leclerc, I'll save yours as well."

That evening, Charles invited me to dinner. I dressed in a simple black dress and boots. When I arrived, he gave me a once-over and smiled. "You look amazing."

We sat down, and as we talked, I noticed something—he was still wearing the bracelet I had given him, and I realized I had mine on, too. Our eyes met, and for a moment, there was a shift in the air, something unspoken between us.

His hand brushed against mine, lingering just a bit too long, and I could feel the warmth spreading between us. We were close—too close.

Our eyes locked, and everything else around us seemed to disappear.